Applebee’s offers the classic American grill and bar experience

‘All I hope for is that our customers at Applebee’s appreciate what we have to offer, which is better quality food at better prices,” says Archie Rodriguez, president and CEO of Global Restaurant Concepts, which also owns the IHOP franchise under the Dine Equity umbrella.

MANILA, Philippines - It’s the quintessential American restaurant.

“At Applebee’s, we offer the classic American grill and bar experience,” says Connie Mann, Dine Equity manager for international opening and training, who was in town to oversee the opening of Applebee’s Grill & Bar in its first location in the country at W Global Center in Bonifacio Global City. Since it opened its first store outside Atlanta, Georgia, in 1980, Applebee’s has grown to become the largest casual-dining brand, found in over 2,000 locations worldwide.

Applebee’s is well-known for its ribs, burgers and steaks. “These are our signatures,” Mann says, “but we also have our appetizers, such as the Sriracha Shrimps, which are absolutely delicious.” If you like it hot and spicy, you will surely find this shrimp cocktail, with its rich chili-lime dip, hard to resist.

Then there’s Applebee’s Wonton Taco, spicy chicken chunks stuffed in crispy wonton shells with slaw and cilantro. This is made from what Mann calls a “scratch recipe.” “They’re not pre-made. They make those here from scratch. That lends to its freshness, which adds to its appeal because people are more and more looking for fresh food,” she explains.

The Quesadilla Burger is another example of an innovative dish that has the burger patty encased in a tortilla instead of the usual bun. For the real deal, there’s the Cowboy Burger, a true western burger topped with crispy onion strings, melted white cheddar cheese and smoked bacon served on a toasted brioche bun with honey-barbecue sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles.

Other handcrafted burgers listed on the menu include the Classic Burger, Triple Bacon All-In Burger, Bourbon Black and Bleu Burger, Korean Burger and All-In Hawaiian Burger.

The grill choices include the BBQ Pork Ribs served with corn on the cob, French fries and coleslaw with a choice of honey-barbecue sauce, smoky chipotle, spicy-sweet Asian chili and Korean BBQ sauce, as well as the world-famous Applebee’s Riblets. And for the main course, there’s Applebee’s bestselling USDA House Sirloin and the USDA Ribeye Steak. A variation would be the Blackened Ribeye with red wine and mushrooms.

Applebee’s also has an “Under 600 Calories” list on the menu, which includes the Cedar-Grilled Lemon Chicken, Savory Cedar Salmon, as well as the Shrimp and Broccoli Cavatappi Pasta. And if you’re looking for comfort food, there’s the Four Cheese Mac & Cheese with honey pepper chicken tenders.

The wide selection of drinks from the bar is a special feature. Mann makes particular mention of the sangrias and margaritas which, unlike in other places, “they make in one big batch and then pour all day,” Mann says. “Each one of ours are made individually. Everything is made to order. We pride ourselves on having basically scratch recipes for our drinks.”

Applebee’s also serves wine and beer. She learned that San Miguel is very popular here. “It’s good to have some local favorites included in the menu,” she says. “Ingredients are sourced locally, which also helps the local economy. What’s important is to be able to provide the highest quality product at the best price,” which is exactly what their local franchise partner, Global Restaurant Concepts, is able to deliver.

“All I hope for is that our customers appreciate what we have to offer, which is better quality food at better prices,” says Archie Rodriguez, president and CEO of Global Restaurant Concepts, which also owns the IHOP franchise under the Dine Equity umbrella. He adds that “attentive service is also part of the dining experience. Filipino diners now are so discerning. There are so many restaurants to choose from, and people don’t go out anymore just because they’re hungry. They go out because they want to be entertained. They want to be treated right. They want to have a great time. And service plays a key role in making that happen.”

A local team was sent for training in the US where the parent company, Dine Equity, is based in Glendale, California. They in turn trained their own teams when they returned before the store opening. Trainers from the US also came to ensure that the standard of quality is set and followed.

The new restaurant will embody Applebee’s new 360-degree brand evolution, with the idea that “there’s always a reason to celebrate,” whether it’s a birthday, a new job or simply surviving traffic.

“This will be reflected in every aspect of the guest experience,” Mann says, “from design and décor to promotion to menu innovation to service and hospitality.”

In this land of fiestas and year- round celebrations, this is not an unfamiliar concept. “We love to eat,” Rodriguez says, “and we find every excuse to celebrate.”

Applebee’s caters to families as well. “I want children coming here as much as adults,” says Rodriguez, who has three young daughters. They have a children’s menu, which is not just a smaller version of the adult menu. One item, for example, is called “ham-bear-ger,” which is shaped like a bear so it is visually appealing to kids. Applebee’s desserts such as Blue Ribbon Brownie, Churros S’Mores, Ice Cream Sundae and Triple Chocolate Meltdown will surely be a big hit among kids.

“We hope that our customers will enjoy our service and the food that we provide,” Rodriguez says. “If we continue to deliver on our commitment, our guests will keep coming back.”

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Applebee’s Grill & Bar iis located at W Global Center in Bonifacio Global City.