Applebee's

Meh, it's been many many years. But I don't remember Apple Bees being any worse (or better) than any other of those 90s chains. ( TGIF, Chilli's, Ruby Tuesday, etc)

Well, yeah. They are all shit.
- Hey now, don't you be talkin' shit about Chili's
- Did that person think this was some killshot solely on Applebee's?
  
  They've probably never seen a forest either with all the trees in the way.
They ALL suck. Then on top of that you get assaulted with tipping culture. I don't understand why people go to those places, aside from being morons.

Similar feeling about movie theaters. It's literally less comfortable for me and less picture quality than my home TV and couch.
- We found a gem of a theater tucked inside a dead mall. Tickets were like 6 bucks. Popcorn was similarly cheap. Like 25 bucks total for 2 tickets, popcorn snacks and a drink. Sadly it shut down. Now my options are shitty expensive theater or fancy expensive theater.
I'm kinda the same, only for me it's been decades. But I will forever remember Applebee's fondly because that's where I first discovered fried mozerella sticks and marinara sauce. It was a religious experience, and for a couple of years I went whenever I had money and opportunity just to eat those. Can't say I remember eating anything else there; I must have, at least the first time.

Applebee's mozerella sticks are like Taco Bell tacos: they may not be the best quality, but if that was your introduction, nothing else can be quite as good in quite the same way.

The only way this story makes sense is if it occurred in the south, where they have club Applebee's. Otherwise, I have a lot of questions about how this would even occur.

I'm sure this is possible, any specific reason you think this couldn't happen at a normal Applebee's in the northern US?
- I didn't say it couldn't, just that it is improbable for myriad reasons. Not many beverage druggings occurring in well lit, highly staffed, low customer restaurants. Unless the drugger was in this person's group, it would be pretty unusual.
Southerner here. We have "club Applebee's?"
- Yeah, it's after 9 or 10pm, I forget. They have music, lights, and drink specials.
- It’s enhanced

I don't understand how anyone can eat at there. The food is actually terrible. It was one of two non-fast food restaurants in the town I grew up in and my parents always suggested to meet up there for dinner and I was still always like.... I'd rather eat at mcdonalds than that place....

I haven't eaten at and Applebee's in well over a decade but in our late teens early 20s my friend group used to do half priced appetizers at Applebee's once a week. It was cheap and we knew a couple of the servers so they were very tolerant of us. This is actually how one of my close friends met his wife.
Boomers with zero discernment have kept some zombie companies alive for decades beyond their natural sunsetting. The same goes for said Boomers.
- I have to imagine these places served real food at some point. Like they have fond memories of eating and drinking there, pre enshitification.
A friend lived in a similar small town and if I went down to see him Applebee’s was the only place with TVs where we could watch sports. We were so happy when they got a Buffalo Wild Wings, even if they’re overpriced and I can go to better, local sports bars at my house, it’s a dramatic upgrade for his town.

Whenever someone invites me to Applebee's I just tell them "No thanks. I can microwave the hell out of my own food at home for free if that's what I wanted to eat."

I'd hit up a Golden Corral before an Applebees.

But seriously I infinitely prefer the non-brand local diner, usually named after the street it is on, over just about any sit-down chain.

Applebee's has a decent bar and accommodates the picky people in a group. I can get an acceptable burger and fries, and they can get whatever chicken finger or Mac and cheese dish they want.