Applebee's - Ruining a Memory

I was quite excited when I first heard that Applebee's was coming to Manila, not for anything else but sentimentality. See it was one of the restaurants that I dined in during my US trip a few years back. Quite memorable because it was my first solo trip out of the country. I didn't know that I had it in me to venture into unknown territory with just my wits, my communication skills and a few hundred dollars in my pocket. It was a "coming of age" of sorts, and I drew strength from the food that I ate and the dining establishments that I frequented (thanks to the generous meal allowance that my previous company provided).

I was so excited to eat here, but the rain stopped me from doing so a couple of times before.

I believe the branch in Eastwood isn't the first in the Philippines, but it's the most accessible one for me. So when I met a couple of friends earlier today, I immediately suggested the place. The first things that I noticed was the bright lights. I remember the Applebee's of my past to have dim lights, which made it almost impossible for me to see what I was eating (it felt more like a bar than a restaurant). This one felt a lot like Fridays or Chilis with a lot more lights. Not that I mind - it made it a lot more comfortable chatting with my friends.

Loving this sign.

We asked for the specialty of the house, and got the expected "burgers and steaks" response. We weren't too hungry so we settled for an appetizer, some pasta, and steak with sides. No rice, if you can believe it. For our appetizer, we decided to get the Spinach and Artichoke Dip (P375). I'm not a big fan of veggies but this is one of my favorite starters (thanks to Cyma for introducing it to my "must have" list). The dip wasn't as creamy as I wanted it to be, and nachos weren't as filling as pita bread, but overall it was a good dish. It set the mood for great expectations, which ultimately may have caused the disappointment in the end.

Yummy, though presentation could be improved.

And by disappointment, I meant the USDA House Sirloin Steak (P975). The price wasn't as steep as some of the "better" steaks in the market so I wasn't expecting anything phenomenal. The menu, however, promised marbled meat so I was ready to have the steak melt in my mouth. What we got was poorly seasoned meat that wasn't exactly on the tender side. I had to resort to adding salt and pepper, and even the A1 steak sauce just to make it taste better. Now I'm no steak expert, but I definitely had better. My friends agreed with me 100%. Should have gone with the burger.

So sad.

I was glad that we ordered the Three Cheese Chicken Cavatappi (pasta dish, P375). I actually wasn't expecting a lot from this dish because the price is relatively cheap (compared to other "high end" restaurants), but it turned out to be the saving grace of the evening. After all, how can you go wrong with cheese? I loved it, and I wish I ordered three plates of it instead of getting the steak.

A new favorite.

Service wise, I'd give them a 6/10. While we were immediately seated and given menus, it took a while before we got the attention of anyone when we were ready to order. I think there were only 2 or 3 servers, all of whom were busy doing their stuff. It wasn't too easy to get an iced tea refill, nor was it easy to find someone when we wanted to get the check. Perhaps we caught them on a bad day (lots of absences, perhaps?), but this wasn't the kind of service I was expecting.

Where is everybody?

Overall, this dining experience pretty much ruined the Applebee's memory etched in my memory. But I'm all for second chances so I will probably try the burgers and the yummy looking appetizer samplers next time.