Asked whether the health department thought the lizard came with the lettuce, or whether it was placed with the lettuce later, Davis said, “I don’t want to speculate or place blame.”

The health department has not fined or sanctioned the restaurant, Davis said. The sanitarian’s investigation revealed that nothing appeared out of the ordinary and that Applebee’s staff did nothing wrong, she said.

Employees showed how they wash the lettuce, cut it, then wash it again. “They couldn’t fathom how it (a lizard) got through the process…and they profusely apologized,” Davis said.

Applebee's officials promised that "the report was being taken very seriously."

Lizard reportedly found in salad at Applebee's [Pantagraph]
(Photo: Getty)

So we took our five year old to an Applebees in Charlotte, NC last night for his fifth birthday. He ordered their "mac & cheese" and when it arrived we noticed that it did not have the usual breadstick. We asked why and were told that corporate felt that "they weren't healthy for kids" so they have been dropped from the menu. So the dinner cost the same as before, just that the kids get less. Very nice.

Then the real kicker. He wanted chocolate cake for dessert. I told the waitress that it was his birthday but when they started coming out with the cake there was no candle. I asked that they put one in. They went back into the kitchen and came back out five minutes later - again no candle. They sang the song and he ate his cake. I asked "why no candle?" and was told that "Applebees doesn't supply birthday candles anymore. If you want a candle in your cake, you have to bring your own." Amazing. Things are so tight that they can't put a candle in a five-year olds' cake. I guess every penny counts today.

(Thanks to Glenn!)

UPDATE: After reading the negative vitrol posted in the comments, Glenn sent in the following clarification:

Chris, it appears the my original post yesterday was completely taken out of context by the vast majority of those that posted comments in response. I was not upset that we didn't get a candle. My five year old was not upset. It was simply a candle. Not a big deal. I didn't feel that Applebee's "owed" us a candle. We stuck one in a cupcake for him at home and there was no issue. The point I was trying to make was that chains such as Applebee's must be hurting financially if they are cutting back on things such as bread and candles. They told me that they used to supply them and now they aren't - I just found that interesting that a chain as big as Applebee's is looking so closely at small things, such as candles, to save a few dollars. I understand that every expense impacts their bottom line, but things must be worse than we thought if they are proactively removing candles from their kitchens.

And as far as the bread, again, I just found it interesting that it used to be part of the kids meal, but now they have removed it, while keeping the price the same. If McDonald's removed fries from their "Happy Meals" but didn't drop the price, I am sure that people would complain that they are paying the same but getting less. That was all I was trying to say. My son got along just fine without the breadstick. He wasn't upset.

As for taking my kid to Applebee's for his birthday - he turned five. He likes their "mac & cheese." As a parent, I just wanted my kid to be happy on this birthday. Nothing more, nothing less. It certainly doesn't make me a bad parent. Is Applebee's the best restaurant in the world? No. Are there better places to go? Yes. But he asked to go there, and it wasn't a big deal. It was his birthday. I wish the people that posted responses would either remember what it was like to be 5, or had a 5 year old of their own. When you have a young kid, you do end up going to restaurants like this. That is why they are called "family friendly."

(Photo: jemsweb)

I went to dinner at the Applebee's in Woodland, CA a couple nights ago and ordered their bruschetta burger. As soon as I saw my order, I immediately took a picture and thought Consumerist needed to see it because it fits so well in the ad v. reality posts. The burger itself was a bit sloppy, but still looked similar to the menu picture. The fries, however, were a different story. In the menu photo, "garlic parmesan fries" are served in a ramekin and look quite tasty. Instead, I was served a cylinder of slimy, greasy fries with a couple pieces of parmesan cheese on top.

Enjoy!

(Photo: defective burger)

Read her email inside.

Hi Meg- I wanted to let you know that thanks to The Consumerist, I did receive a call Friday from the district manager affiliated with the Applebee's that I purchased my insect leg salad from (she mentioned she saw it on the internet). Ms. Goodwin was very apologetic and reassured me that they have added some new "quality control" processes to hopefully reduce significantly the probability that anyone else gets an insect leg in their salad. She gave me the details on how it happened and what is happening now: Salads purchased by Applebees come in pre-packaged, vacuum-sealed bags. The contents are washed by their supplier five times, then sealed and distributed to the restaurants. From what I understand, in the past, contents were taken from the bags and distributed on to plates for the salads. Now, and going forward they will be emptying the contents into bins to double check the contents prior to placing on the plates. Ms. Goodwin has asked if she could bring lunch into my office, since there is no process in place to refund our money. I am hesitant myself, but am going to check with my co-workers to see what they would like to do since a number of others in my office also threw their food once they saw what I had in mine. I would like to extend a thank you to you and The Consumerist for posting my concern, which again was more about why it happened in the first place and how Applebee's failed to follow-up after vs. the having leg itself in my mouth. Although it took about a week and a half, I did receive what I believe was an explanation of why it happened and an appropriate apology from Applebee's District Manager, Ms. Goodwin, and she is working to gain back the trust and business from my co-workers and me. Thanks for looking out for all of us!

Thanks for following up, Stacie. We're glad that Applebee's is going to take steps to weed out the bug legs! (At least the really, really large ones... ) —MEGHANN MARCO

PREVIOUSLY: Applebee's Apple Walnut Chicken Salad, Now With Free Insect Leg (Caution: Gross Photos)

It's gross, but we could understand how it could happen. Not that it should happen, but Stacie did not find a lost Picasso painting or a severed finger in her salad. Insect legs are within the realm of possibility. We understand how that could happen. What we don't understand is Applebee's response to Stacie finding a huge insect leg in her Applebee's salad.... offering her more salad. Read her story inside. (Warning, gross pictures.)

This is an email Stacie wrote to her friends and then sent to us:

On Mar 6, 2007, at 10:21 PM, Steve and Stacie wrote:

You all know me. I am, in general, not one to complain and pretty much have a positive outlook on life. Well, something so disgusting happened to yours truly today that I just can't keep it to myself and wanted you all to be aware...

My friends and I have a habit, about once a week, of ordering Applebee's To Go for salads when we are at work (in Warren, MI). Today that ended.

Famished after a conference call, I was happy to see my friend had dropped off my order of the full size apple walnut chicken salad. As I perused my emails, trying to catch up, I dove in (as I typically do). However, on about the third bite, I bit something hard.

"Hmmmm...chicken bone," I thought. It was, as you know, a "chicken" salad. So I opened my mouth to pull out the bone and well...see for yourself. I about died—spitting my salad back into the bowl. My boss, who sits right behind me asked what was going on (because by this time I was ranting going, OH MY GOD!!!).

Well he freaked about as much as I did.

So, of course, being the trouper that I am, I gathered myself, as much as I could after having some sort of HUGE insect leg in my mouth, and called the restaurant, asking to speak directly to the manager.

I told Ann what I had found. She was a little quiet and then said, "Well, would you like to come over and pick up another salad?"

I about came out of my chair. "Are you kidding?" I asked. "I'm not sure that I ever want to come into your restaurant again."

Now, truthfully, after that, I can't remember a whole lot of the conversation—yes I was pleasant, even offering to bring in the "leg" so they could see it—uncomfortably laughing in horror and disbelief of both the "finding" and the "response." But the conclusion to all of this is that my name is now in the "Red Book" so I can come in and get my free salad whenever I want—and no, she didn't want to see the leg!!

So, you know me, not being satisfied I called the corporate Customer Assistance number and told them my story. The person who answered my call was empathetic, but the answer he gave was upsetting as well— he did take my name, address and phone number and told me that he would immediately contact the District Manager for the Store (WARREN—12MI & Vandyke, btw). However, he couldn't say for certain that I would hear from the district manager. And at the time of this note—about 12 hours later—I've gotten nothing.

Final call today was to the Macomb County Health Department. When I told my story, the person taking the information seemed not to be phased what-so-ever. She even went so far to ask if I'd like to leave my name and address so they could send me a letter to let me know what they had found. Lets see, I had a two inch insect leg in my mouth— DUH!!! Of COURSE I would like to see the resolution.

What a crazy day. I guess the moral to all of this, besides AVOID APPLEBEE'S, is pay attention to your food while you are eating it when you do not make it. Yes the leg would have been there...but I wouldn't have been nearly as traumatized if I'd found it before it entered my mouth.

And yes...I still have the leg.

Take care (and say a little prayer for me and my sanitized mouth!!),
Stacie

Any insect experts want to tell us what the heck used to own that leg? Is it, you know, native to Michigan?—MEGHANN MARCO

ATM Reverse PIN Panic Code
Lead in Lipstick
Applebee's Gift Certificates
Various Target Myths
Uses for WD-40

And some new ones:

New Mercedes
Most Valuable Brand Names

Oh, Internet. —MEGHANN MARCO