TOTALLY GEEKED!

Wow, we probably would have just gotten up and left.

Yep. The least the waitstaff could have done was get busy cleaning tables instead of sitting around talking. I've been at places that were really busy before and they would bring out chips and salsa on the house to tide you over. Even little gestures make you feel like they're doing something.

LL~
Had they been swamped earlier? (Fathers' Day) Your experience is one reason why we NEVER NEVER EVER go out to eat on: Valentine's Day, Easter, Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day, etc. unless it is one of our favorites, and they take (and HONOR) reservations.

That's the result of poor training, poor management and poor support for the managers.

Have you noticed a marked decline with this particular place?

I've seen it. Usually means the owners just don't care anymore.

You know, the more I think about it, corporate would want to know about this. You should go online, let them know your experience.

I know we got a lot of things accomplished in the store when the big bosses got wind of things.

I've had that same scenario play out at Chile's! Got up after 1/2 hour and walked out. I would not have stayed as long as you did. You have patience.

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:

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I've had that same scenario play out at Chile's! Got up after 1/2 hour and walked out. I would not have stayed as long as you did. You have patience.

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 We were already on our 2nd restaurant.  It was too late to go somewhere else.  We kept our humor, though.  When that plate came out with potatoes on it, we all started cracking up. It was so bad, it was comical. 

 

Honestly, the manager looked so beaten down, and so apologetic, we felt sorry for him. 

Wow, LL. What an experience!

I don't blame you for not tipping.

That was bad!

I would have left. I don't have that kind of patience. Our Applebees closed years ago. The last time we went to Chili's the service was almost that bad. It was like we weren't assigned to any wait person. We waited close to a half hour before anyone noticed we were just sitting there. I think they are trying to make it sort of self serve with those kiosk things on the table where you can place your order & pay. I don't like that.

I love Applebees.

I would not be caught dead in Waffle House.

flan

flan327 wrote:

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I love Applebees.

I would not be caught dead in Waffle House.

flan

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 I don't think either one are exactly cuisine. The last time I ate at an Applebees, I pulled two bugs out of my salad. They offered to give me another. I declined, my appetite was ruined. They still had it on my bill, I had to ask for it to be comped. They didn't want to comp it because "they offered to give me another salad". Pretty typical of their food and their service in my experience. 

The food at Applebee's is pretty blah.

The service is blah as well.

The cost is ridiculous for what you get.

Our Waffle Houses are clean, friendly, the food is made fresh right out in the open and the cost is reasonable.

No. It isn't 5 stars. But it's good food without the pretentiousness.

I haven't been to Applebee's in years. We used to have one by where I worked and I would get to go food to take with me for the night shift. They were always messing up my order so I quit going. DH won't go to either Applebee's or Chili's. He won't go to a place with a bar. His ex SD worked at the Applebee's here and told the manager to fvck off. I have no idea what those restaurants are like. We either go to IHOP or our favorite steak place.

We don't have a waffle house. It's DH's favorite.

He won't go to a place with a bar
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Is he worried he'll be tempted to order or does it just bring back bad memories?

We have 4 just minutes away.

I'm waiting for one to be built up here in this little area. That and a Walmart and I won't have to leave the 2 mile radius around my home for anything.

Lexxy wrote:

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He won't go to a place with a bar
____________________________________________

Is he worried he'll be tempted to order or does it just bring back bad memories?

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 I think a little of both.  It's just so familiar it's kind of like a trigger.  He would drink at one place till he got kicked out and then go to another and drink till he got kicked and so on.  There were certain places he hung out at a lot.  He doesn't go to those places.  Applebee's and Chili's were two of them.  Our favorite steakhouse has a bar and that doesn't seem to bother him because he never hung out there.  He's been sober for ten years so I don't make a big deal of it.  We don't go out to eat often anyway.  I think the only thing that bothers me sometimes is that he won't eat anything that's made with alcohol even if the alcohol is cooked out.  The flavor is still there.  I got him to try fondue one time and he immediately put it down.

I LOVE Waffle House. I've yet to have a bad experience there. So quick and like LL said, you watch them cook your food. Ours are always REALLY clean too.

VetteGirl wrote:

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When I used to be a cook I hated working at places where the customer could see me cook. There would always be people who would approach and tell you exactly how they wanted their food done in a micro managing way, or "correct" you if you aren't doing it the way they would do it.

I just had to resist the urge to tell them if they want it done their way to pull their hair back and come do it themselves!

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 I would not have resisted.  But I would have added a "bless your heart" to soften the blow.  "Bless your heart, honey, why did you come pay for me to cook your food when you could so obviously have done it better at home yourself???!!!"

Lawyerlady wrote:

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Nobody Just Nobody wrote:

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Lexxy wrote:

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He won't go to a place with a bar
____________________________________________

Is he worried he'll be tempted to order or does it just bring back bad memories?

---

 I think a little of both.  It's just so familiar it's kind of like a trigger.  He would drink at one place till he got kicked out and then go to another and drink till he got kicked and so on.  There were certain places he hung out at a lot.  He doesn't go to those places.  Applebee's and Chili's were two of them.  Our favorite steakhouse has a bar and that doesn't seem to bother him because he never hung out there.  He's been sober for ten years so I don't make a big deal of it.  We don't go out to eat often anyway.  I think the only thing that bothers me sometimes is that he won't eat anything that's made with alcohol even if the alcohol is cooked out.  The flavor is still there.  I got him to try fondue one time and he immediately put it down.

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 I think that's good of him.  He recognizes his own limitations.  And having the flavor there can make him want the real stuff.

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 Yes it is good of him.  I'm proud of him being sober.  I know it's not easy.  I usually substitute coke in all the recipes that ask for beer like chili and stuff.  Works just the same.  Some things we just don't do.  I've heard stories of him being drunk and hear he's quite the bastard.

The worst waiter I ever had was at Bob Evans. I placed my order for breakfast & it comes with choice of biscuit, toast or English muffin. I ordered an English muffin. The waiter asked which I wanted so I repeated English muffin. He asked me again which I wanted so again I repeated English muffin. Then he YELLED at me do you want toast, biscuit or English muffin. I looked at my SO & he said she has told you 3 times she wants the English muffin. He wrote it down & stalked off. No apology or anything. When he brought our food he just sort of plopped it on the table & sulked away. It was really weird. He got a tip but probably only the minimum 10%.

lilyofcourse wrote:

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Waffle House after prom is a tradition around here. Has been forever.

And after concerts, bar hopping, late movies.

It's the place to chill and relax with your friends.

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 Ours was Denny's.

Never been to Waffle House...skeeves me out thinking about eating there.

flan

LOL. Our Waffle Houses consistently have the highest health scores. It is snobbery, plain and simple over the IDEA of Waffle House. It's hilarious.