We decided to give this Applebee's another shot (even though we haven't had the best luck at this…read morelocation) because my kids love their chicken tenders--and I was really craving a solid burger. Unfortunately, this was another disappointing takeout experience.
First thing: I don't recommend ordering through their website. There's no place to add special requests (condiments, extra toppings, etc.), which is a big deal when you're ordering burgers. Ordering through DoorDash was also a no-go because the pricing was way higher (I'm not paying around $20 for a basic burger). If you're set on getting food from here, I'd honestly recommend calling the restaurant directly so you can confirm details and make requests.
Here's what we ordered:
* Classic bacon cheeseburger (requested pink) with fries
* Mushroom Swiss burger (requested pink) with fries
* 2 kids chicken tender meals (one with applesauce, one with fries) + apple juice
* Triple Chocolate Meltdown
* Extra side of fries
Total was around $67, which is a lot for takeout--especially when the food misses the mark.
Timing was fine on paper: ordered at 3:38, ready time said 3:58. I arrived at 3:55. But even after checking the order before leaving, I didn't realize how bad the temperature issue was until we got home--because somehow the fries were already ice cold right out of the gate. I'm not overly picky with takeout, but cold fries immediately is a rough start.
Burgers
My wife's Mushroom Swiss looked like it had been cut to check the temperature, which I appreciate in theory--but it was still overcooked. The bottom bun was completely soggy and basically fell apart, so it wasn't even something you could pick up and eat like a burger. She did say the flavor combo was good (mushrooms, Swiss, and sauce), but the patty was dry and the texture just wasn't enjoyable. If you order this, I'd honestly suggest getting the sauce on the side to avoid the bun turning into mush.
My Classic Bacon Cheeseburger was also a letdown. I ordered it pink, and it was nowhere close--fully cooked through, dry, and it had that hard seared/crusty exterior that just screams "overdone." I also tried to customize it (no tomato, extra onions, extra pickles). The pickles were an upcharge and you get three pickles... and the "extra" onion (also an upcharge) didn't look extra at all. The one bright spot: the bacon was actually the best part--nice smoky flavor and tasted fresh.
Kids Meals
The chicken tenders are what they are--standard pre-made tenders--but my kids genuinely enjoy them, so that part is fine. What wasn't fine: their meals were ice cold too, and the portion of fries in the kids meal was honestly tiny. Thank goodness I ordered an extra side of fries to share.
Also, we found out they were out of apple juice, so we switched to chocolate milk (the little bottles). Not the end of the world, but it's another small thing that adds up when everything else is already off.
Dessert
The Triple Chocolate Meltdown was the highlight. My wife really liked it, and I did appreciate that the ice cream came in a separate container (smart for takeout). That said, it was a small scoop for the price, so it felt a little overpriced--but at least it tasted good.
Overall
For the price, this was a miss. I understand takeout isn't going to be perfect, and burgers can continue cooking a bit in transit--but these were overcooked, dry, and not enjoyable, and the cold fries/kids meals were the final straw. When you're paying $17+ per burger, I expect better consistency from a major chain.
If you're going here strictly because your kids love the tenders, I get it--but if you're hoping for a satisfying burger night, I'd suggest looking elsewhere. (Photos included--forgot to snap one of the dessert.)
And I forgot to mention, when walking inside to get my food, there was a terrible smell. I'm not sure if it was someone or something , but it was almost unbearable.
