APPLEBEES
5502 S Broadway Ave
Tyler 75703
903 509 4848
Applebees is a chain of restaurants serving a variety of American cuisine. The one in Tyler is centrally located on South Broadway just a little way down from the Mall.
Applebees calls itself ‘casual dining’ which means that it is family friendly with no frills. The atmosphere is typical of many American eateries – with private booths, low lighting and a TV at a bar area. It is always clean, the food is pretty standard and, in my experience, the service is generally good.
The menu offers a variety of appetizers, burgers, pasta, chicken, beef and pork entrees and some great salads. One big bonus is that it also offers a selection of meals which are guaranteed to be under 550 calories and there are also Weight Watcher points listed on a selection of items. You can also order half portions, which is great for smaller appetites– but the reduction on price is not reflected in the reduced quantity of food, so you are better off splitting a full portion with a friend or taking some home in a carry out box.
My favorite meal is a Pecan crusted chicken salad. Complete with fruit and blue cheese, it really is mouthwatering. My husband prefers to order ribs or one of their selection of juicy burgers and fries.
Lunches are good value at Applebees – I like the lunch combo where you can pick a soup and salad or sandwich and pay around $6.
There is a kids menu at Applebees but sadly it offers nothing new – just chicken strips, mac and cheese, cheeseburgers and no vegetables. When are they going to wake up to the fact that we need to offer our children healthy alternatives as well as adults?
Applebees is fairly good value and they often have special deals so that you can dine without breaking the bank. Currently they offer a 2 for $20 deal which is an incentive to people who want to dine at low cost in pairs. It includes one appetizer (to share) and 2 entrees. There are also small desserts called ‘shooters’ which can be added to your order for an extra $2 each. These are a perfect size to treat kids too.
Applebees also has ‘Carside to go’ – a service for the strictly lazy which basically means you can order a carry out by phone and they will bring it to your car on your arrival.
All in all, Applebees is a safe bet for taking your family out to eat. The portions are a decent size, the menu is varied and the service good. It is a good venue for a quick and filling lunch too. However, for a date night, it is uninspiring and would disappoint most romantics – there are no surprises here. My advice -if you don’t have kids around – forget the chain restaurant experience and try something different – there are a few good unique places to eat in Tyler so why not take a risk and enjoy something different!