Applebee's Menu Items Even The Staff Won't Eat

It doesn't matter how high class you are, even if you prefer your martini shaken and not stirred. Few can resist the allure of half-price apps as the day slowly comes to an end. With tantalizing promises of one buck beverages, Applebee's has rightfully claimed its stake in the world of affordable chain restaurants since it opened its first location in 1980 (via Applebee's). 

While many restaurants tailor their menus to simplicity with a focus on the type of cuisine, Applebee's, touted as the "Neighborhood Bar and Grill," has a menu that reads like a laundry list of all-American delights, complete with plenty of fried delicacies. As you navigate the potential minefield of a menu choice that could potentially result in a freezer-burned entrée or disappointing appetizer, what should you really order? 

Though the restaurant chain may have received some flack over the years, like the one former line cook who, according to their Reddit post, calls it 'Microbees' for the chain's alleged use of microwaves to cook darn near everything on the menu. However, Applebee's does, in fact, have appliances other than the microwave and dishwasher. You've just got to know what to avoid. We're spilling the tea on what dishes the employees of Applebee's won't even eat so you can be better informed for your next visit. 

Are you that picky customer who's always badgering the waiter with requests and modifications? Well, dear picky eater, you may want to avoid this type of dish on your next visit. In a Reddit thread where current and former employees dish all, one Applebee's staff member gave us good reason to never order anything stir-fried. According to this user, many of the items at Applebee's are precooked and even pre-packaged, making it impossible for the customer to make any substitutions. They explain that "It is impossible to take out certain ingredients i.e. peppers in the stir fries."

Employees go on to explain that while they could remove the undesirable vegetable from the mix by hand, it would certainly not be time effective. In addition to time management, this could also cause issues when it comes down to the customer's dietary needs and allergy concerns. The moral of the story is that, if you think a particular meal is pre-packaged and might contain something that you want to be modified, move right along.

With calorie counting, the usually delightful task of going out to dinner can be drained of any fun. Many restaurant chains have been quick to adapt to the dietary needs of their customers, ready to hop on board with in an attempt to attract customers. What was once impossible to do years ago is now feasible as dieters can dine out with ease thanks to many spots now offering a selection of clearly marked items just for them. So, to welcome dieters trying to lose an extra few, Applebee's launched a new low-calorie menu back in 2012 (via Foodbeast).

With this under-550 calorie menu, diners were led to believe that they could still have that same great flavor with much less guilt. The health-conscious could finally indulge in some sizzling chili lime chicken or even a roasted garlic sirloin, ads implied. Yet, according to Redbook, one employee divulged that not all of the offerings are actually under 550 calories. The dishes are calculated using the Weight Watchers point system, an arguably inefficient method that means some items have well over their claimed amount of calories. Furthermore, just because an item is lower in calories does not mean it can't max out your daily allotment of fats and salt. One former Applebee's employee joked on a Reddit thread that "most of it is loaded with so much fat and sodium that it'll kill you just by looking at it funny."

A side of mashed potatoes sounds innocent enough, doesn't it? Heck, we're not even so holier-than-thou that we can't enjoy a side of instant mashed potatoes from time to time. But, when we eat out, don't we all expect something as simple as mashed potatoes to be made from scratch? Are we asking too much? We think not, since there are precious few ingredients that go into the ultra-simple dish. Yet, that may not be the case for the side of mashed potatoes available from Applebee's.

One former line cook explained on Reddit that because of the sheer amount of pre-cooked and pre-packaged items the workers would refer to it as 'Microbees.' Another employee went on to explain: "the location I worked at switched from making mashed potatoes from scratch and started using frozen, pre-made red-skin mashed potatoes in a bag." If you absolutely must have the mashed potatoes along with your sirloin, we get it. But, you've been warned. It's not exactly fine dining if it comes out of a plastic bag in the kitchen.

Chips and dip are a safe bet when looking for an appetizer that is sure to please everyone, as long as you promise not to double dip. A staple at many parties, chips are an affordable way to get the evening going. But, there is absolutely no reason you should ever order it when dining out, as the price markup alone is enough to send us running out the door. Applebee's does claim that their chips are freshly made in-house from white corn, but they still arguably taste just like the standard bag of chips you could pick up from any grocery store.

In a Reddit post from an Applebee's line cook, one user poses the question about which menu item is the most improperly priced offering. The employee doesn't hesitate and states simply, "Chips LOL." If you've got a hankering for chips and absolutely must have it, may we suggest pairing the chips with something other than their standard jarred salsa? Their spinach and artichoke dip is actually pretty decent and remains a safe bet from their appetizer list.

Gluten-free is a term thrown around often in the diet industry, but for many, their gluten intolerance is critical. People with celiac disease or other gluten intolerance issues must pay close attention to their foods in order to live a long, healthy life. Navigating a menu's gluten-free options can prove to be a difficult challenge. Besides the item needing to be free of all gluten, it also can not be cooking in the same fryer or grill. One mistake with cross-contamination and this could be a big-time liability for any restaurant. Allergy issues are nothing to joke with, especially in the restaurant biz. 

On the blog Find Me Gluten Free, which discusses the challenges of dining out on a gluten-free diet, many readers have taken to the forum to discuss how terrible the gluten free offerings are at Applebee's. One user claims: "They told us they got rid of their separate fryer. They also couldn't say if the meat was safe, even without buns. They seemed to have no idea about dealing with food allergies and the manager seemed annoyed" Another reader warned: "Speak to a manager about your allergy. Otherwise, I'm not confident in their ability to prevent cross contamination." Over on Reddit, one employee further confirmed other diners' suspicions when they wrote that "the chips are fried in the same oil as everything else, so watch out for that one."

Who doesn't love a perfectly fried mozzarella cheese stick? We'll wait. In the best version of this dish, ooey, gooey melted mozzarella cheese is encased in flavorful bread crumbs and crisped to perfection in a fryer. It's then served with a side of marinara dipping sauce. Sounds nearly impossible to screw up, doesn't it? Well, Applebee's isn't exactly known for its freshly prepared dishes. Like their other fried offerings, these arrive at the restaurant from a factory as rather sad frozen bits of cheese and breading. A user on Quora explains, "I refer to this type of 'casual' restaurant as 'factory cooked'. Most of the food that you buy in chain restaurants is cooked in a factory and reheated at the store."

A general rule of thumb when deciding upon what to order can be summed up by this Applebee's employee writing on Reddit, who states that "most anything that comes out of the fryer goes into it frozen."