I can hardly believe the Applebee’s branch we visited on Sheikh Zayed Road is part of the same franchise as the one in Festival City. The lack of consistency from one branch to another is shocking. The branch in Festival City, next door to TGI Friday’s, is brilliant. I felt this one, however, was tired, and in need of an overhaul. Even the wait staff wore different uniforms, a yucky pale green.
But it was when they served us our food where the biggest difference was noticeable. My wife, usually a self-imposed vegetarian, occasionally craves meat…in this case a burger. Having enjoyed Applebee’s humungous Cowboy Burger at Festival City, I recommended it to her…and also to my finicky daughter. But what they were served was nothing less than a greasy, overcooked catastrophe. Completing this culinary tragedy, were stiff strips of leather-like beef bacon which, instead of enhancing the flavour of their burger, overwhelmed it completely. Needless to say, both daughter and wife were utterly disappointed. Together they rewarded me with daggered looks suggesting: after all these damn reviews, you bring us HERE for a burger. I’m pretty sure they were happy that the over-sauced Caesar salad I had was arguably worse than their burger.
The irony of the situation was that our Thumbelina sized waitress was so sweet and accommodating, that my two bosses did not allow me to highlight our grievances to her; suggesting I do ‘all that’ in my own time, in one of my ‘stupid reviews’ (their exact words). Applebee’s you have a problem. Fix it. And if anyone actually reads this review, avoid Applebee’s Trade Center. The food sucks! There are so many better places to get a burger on SZR, starting with Burger Fuel two minutes away. If Applebee’s is a must, go to the one in Festival City – it’s brilliant.
Waste NOT. Want NOT.
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