My family went to Applebee's a few times. The food and service were only fair at best every time we went. The last time we went I discovered a paper napkin cooked into my food. After that I saw no reason to ever go to an Applebee's again and I don't think I'll be changing my mind.

Maybe Applebee's will now be open for breakfast.

@meghann marco

And does this mean Applebee's is going to start having sticky tables?

That is hilarious -- all this time I thought I was the only one who was bothered by this.

They're the national leader in locations? Really? I eat out ALOT, & have never even thought of eating at applebee's. Something about it just seems so Ruby Tuesdays (i.e. stodgy).

applebee's sucks.

I know this is going to sound bad, but I love IHOP with a passion. I can't stand Applebee's, so I guess anything at this point would be an improvement.

If there's any restaurant worse than Applebee's it has to be IHOP. The only thing redeeming about Applebee's is the 1/2 price appetizers after 9 p.m. The only thing redeeming about IHOP is . . . nothing!

I wonder if we will see combined Applebee's/IHOP restaurants like the combined Yum Brand restaurants (A&W/KFC/Long John Silver's/Pizza Hut/Taco Bell)? I guess everybody would then be able to find something on the menu to eat, right? Of course, IHOP offers more than just pancakes. Where's the synergy in this deal?

I just like going to Applebee's for the Happy Hour (2 hours) that comes around just about the time I could use half-priced appetizers and a couple of beers :-)

About 20 min late to the game guys. Stock spiked before I saw this post (fortunately I was already an owner speculating on a buyout from IHOP). Buyout px is 25.50 though last trade was at 24.90 indicating that the market is questioning whether this acquisition will really happen.

does conglomeration of blandness equal more or less blandness overall?

Wonder what this means for my job? (I never liked IHop.)

Although corporate's revenues have declined, I suspect Applebee's gains/losses over the last few years have been highly uneven depending on how long a certain store has been there etc. That said I do think the menu does need more signature items. And then there's competition from TGI Friday's and many other similar chains for the same market niche....

@josh1701: Well, if AppleHOP does go that route, it just means all new and inventive ways to find screws in my food, if they really are following the example of A&W...

IHOP > * > Applebees.

Although, on the bright side, your toddler may be able to get a shot of tequila at IHOPs now.

Sorry, it's going to take more than being bought by IHOP (corporate slogan: "Worse Than Denny's") to make me forget that the food and service at Applebee's is uniformly vile.

They don't call it Crapplebees for nothing. Of the "wear some flair" group of restaurants it has the longest waits, blandest food, and worst service. Somehow I don't see being owned by IHOP as improving any of these. Forget the decorations, improve the meals.

In our family, IHOP is understood to mean International House of Old People. Bland food, bad service, and sticky tables were what I found the last time I ate in one some years ago. And yes, it was the last time I ate in one. I haven't thought of a reason I should ever go into an Applebees.

So IHOP is supposed to HELP Applebee's update its outdated restaurants?

Talk about the bland leading the bland...

(In the interests of full disclosure, IHOP is near the top of my list of Places To Go To For Drunken Grease Cravings.)

The irony of being bought out by IHOP and simultaneously considering a move to attract higher-end customers is plain painful. And it's possible that this could work, but there seems something a little off about a move to aspirational offerings when their customer base is having trouble affording them. There are fewer upscale consumers, and my guess is that they aren't going to flock to Applebee's under any circumstances. And their base customers would be the ones to take advantage of aspirational offerings, but they can't afford the mid-range menu, so they won't eat there either. Death blow.

Huh. Applebees must vary a lot from location to location; the one near me has some very good food (I remember the first time I had a steak there commenting that Applebees had no right to making a steal that good) and I've never had a problem with service.

IHOP is aiight, but the few times I chanced applebees, the food was drier than the placemats. Maybe IHOP can juice up their food with a little syrup.

@backspinner: Heh. Exactly. I actually like IHOP once in awhile but I've never regarded them as an establishment that's in the now.

This brings back the fond memory of when my husband and I were dating, broke up and since Denny's was the "IT" place, we both skipped it in favor of IHOP, only to run into each other there.

Anyway, never been too fond of either IHOP or Applebee's, generally farther away from my home and food not as appetizing. Just give me Denny's and TGIFridays...

I get that they can save some money with supply, admin, real estate, etc.

But the market aspect is baffling. I don't how IHOP owned Applebee's is going to move upscale. You've got two categories of upscale:

1) City folk and more adventurous eaters who would never go there anyway because they prefer better/different food.

2) Small towners and suburbanites who are so class/brand conscious that they would never eat at Applebees lest they look "middle class."

If IHOP can clearly maintain separate brands, they might have a shot, but then you lose some of your overhead cost savings.

So one craphouse buys another so-called craphouse (I never had a bad experience at Applebee's) and will then sell off the 500 stores to help pay off the debt over buying them?

Great. Now we have 500 different owners all doing what they can to cut back on the food so they can pay for the loans they took off to buy the place!

My sister got food poisoning from Applebee's, so I don't eat there.

I do eat at IHOP occationally, so now I must decide if I should stop eating at IHOP or start eating at Applebee's.

Applebees used to be good several years ago. Like every other company tho, they've cheapened their food quality to make $. I heard a rumor that their steaks are not cooked on a grill, but microwaved due to customer specifications (button for med rare, well done, etc), and that they have a branding iron that makes the grill marks. I don't know if it's true, but the way the steak tastes, I believe it!

@drjayphd:

Must be an isolated incident. The A&W here (a drive-in) has great food and service. And did I mention it's a drive-in? The coolest of all restaurants?

I love both IHOP and Applebee's, but alas I do not see any economy of scale benefits to IHOP owning the Applebee's, especially if Applebee's is going to be franchiesed out.

Applebee's used to be good? When? I ate there twice in college (longer ago than I care to admit). One time I found a hair in my food that was clearly not mine, and the other I got food poisoning. I can't think of a viler restaurant.

After seeing all of the IHOP complaints, I guess the one by me is just one of the few good ones. I've never had a bad meal there.

Applebees, on the other hand. We had a bad meal. Gave it a second chance. Was just as bad. Then a couple months later, that crappblebees closed up. Good riddance.

Life is too short to eat at chain restaurants.
Why I would I spend time and money eating at these places? The food and service is generally horrible.
Eating out is supposed to be an enjoyable experience. Part of the fun is finding a new restaurant you have never been to before, and trying different wonderful foods. I would much rather seek out a privately owned restaurant that takes pride in its cooking, rather than eat some mass produced crap.
And the first and only time I ate at Applebees, the food was terrible, and I found a hair in it.

Where the hell did IHOP get 2.2 billion dollars??

I put them in the "Howard Johnsons" catagory a long time ago. I loved IHOP when I was a kid. Remember the "Alice in Wonderland" theme and the big peaked roofs they used to have.

The other posters are correct about Applebees. I do not expect to ever step inside one again.

After years spent on the road I just can't eat the JackDanielsMargaritaCoconutPepperJack fajita slop they sell at Applebees, Chilis, TGI Fridays,Bennigans etc.

I tried the bruschetta burger, when asked how it was I honestly told the waiter that the burger was dry as cardboard & the fries too greasy to eat. He said "oh, OK," left the check and walked off. Problem is that during my travels Applebees is sometimes the only non-fast food option available. I always come out saying "never again!"

My brothers and I always called IHOP "International House of Phlegm". Gross.

Everybody seems to be wondering why IHOP even bothered, especially considering it's taking on Applebee's $155 million in debt. Found this interesting on NewsVisual: ([www.newsvisual.com])

Looks like IHOP's CEO/Chair and her past president position at Applebee's may have played a role in this deal.

Am I the only one who likes IHOP? Applebees is ok, but nothing special. I'd rather go to Fridays and get some Jack Daniels anything.

The only thing worse than eating at IHOPplebees is actually waiting in line for the privlege of a sticky table.

The last two times I went to Applebees I felt some major stomach cramps. The food is just not worth the money. We tend to eat at Costco and Sams Club for the pizza slices more often than anything else. Otherwise, we go to Checkers, Burger King, McDonalds, or wherever else is quick at the time. If we have time to do a sit down meal, we would rather get some groceries that day and cook a meal. Unless its a special occasion, we don't often go out anymore. Its not even a financial thing, its just we are bored with all the local places to eat. Nothing really is all that unique and exciting. IHOP and Applebees are clearly not unique.

Applebee's sucks. Chili's FTW! mmm, mushroom jack fajita... *homer drool*

We have an Applebees and an IHOP in our area. We never eat at either place. The Applebees's food is ok, but not that good. Service is hit or miss.

IHOP: Sucks. I will never eat there again. I prefer Denny's (our local ones are excellent) and so do the kids.

Most of our sit down restaurant dollars are spent at Red Robin or Chili's. But when it costs $40 for us to eat out we don't do it as often. I can make a dinner that's as good or better for a lot less money.

@floofy: Do you believe every stupid rumor you hear? I think you do.

It breaks my heart to read all of the above comments about how bad people's experiences have been at Applebee's. Not because I care particularly about the brand and my employer's good name (ha), but because there's no excuse for bad food and service. Serving people good food and being attentive to their needs is not rocket science.

I would ask everyone who has had/does have a bad experience there to either talk to a manager about it face to face or talk to the general manager of the store (they're usually there during the day, usually not later than 8-10pm) about what happened. That way, people have a chance to improve. Blowing off the management and staff at the place doesn't help the restaurant or the next set of hapless customers who will get the same treatment because no one spoke up.

@ FLOOFY, I used to work at an Applebee's as a host, and I never saw that occur. The steaks were cooked on a grill, just like everything else.

I'm sorry everyone here thinks that Applebee's is full of nasty ass food - guess you gotta pick and choose what you eat there. It's very hit and miss.

I've eaten at Applebees 5 times in my life, and have never had a meal that was warmer than room-temperature. God, I hate that place. IHOP, on the other hand, is the shiznit. the food ain't great, but you can fill your face for $5, and leave satisfied.

New name: Apple iHop

Calling it the "Apple iHop" might attract Jobs.

Applebee's just never has served me anything all that great. The food has all been previously frozen like a Stouffer's meal, as far as I can tell. I live in a town with only a few restaurants, but we have a bunch of great mom and pop places. However, Applebee's gets all the ads, and people are convinced that the food must be good. It's just not worth the money.

As for IHOP, the pancakes are just okay. People should not have to go out for those, because pancakes are the easiest thing to make.

@anita_job:

No I don't believe every "stupid" rumor I hear. I base my comments on having eaten at many Applebees in various parts of the country (and abroad, there's one in Dubai) and NEVER had anything but a below average experience with either the food or the service. At which point you switch from "isolated incident" to "systemic problems."

Applebees really and truly is horrible. They microwave their food. I could stay at home, microwave dinner, give myself lousy service and save $20 instead.