Free isn't always a good thing
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
United States
September 10, 2016 7:58am CST
We have United Healthcare medical insurance. The last few years they offered some 'perks' which are nice. When we got our annual 'wellness' visit we each got a $15 Amazon gift card.
Right now they are doing it a little differently. There are a few ways to earn your way to a $15 gift card such as: Agreeing to go paperless with United Healthcare, or taking an online course (regarding health). There are some other ways and I completed mine about a week ago. Therefore, I was able to choose a $15 gift card from either Kohl's, Home Depot or Applebees (there were a few other options which I can't think of right now).
Since we like to eat out I took the Applebees gift card. We went there yesterday for dinner, knowing one meal would be paid for through the gift card. I have never really been a fan of that particular place but with all the advertising they have done on TV recently I was hoping for a better experience.
Wrong - for me anyway. Our server wasn't all that pleasant, maybe he had a rough day or he was in a lousy mood. When he talked it was like he was reading from a script, cold and not personable.
We both ordered the 8 oz sirloin steak which came with two sides. Their sides leave a lot to be desired. They don't serve backed potatoes until after 5:00 pm. That left a few 'fried' potatoes which I can't eat. The only veggie was steamed broccoli. I love broccoli but I had it at home for two days in a row and I had enough of it.
I asked if I could 'trade-in' the two sides for a nice size dinner salad. He said no problem. The problem was they do their steaks on an open fire. That means the steak has that smoky flavor that I don't care for. But the main issue was that the the steak was so tough more than half of it came home for Ruby. It was also cold, almost as cold as our server. The portion of salad wouldn't fill up a small child.
About an hour later I told my husband I was hungry - after all 4 ounces of steak and a small bowl of lettuce doesn't fill me up. Good thing we keep a stocked pantry LOL.
So the $15 gift card did pay for one steak dinner, if we had paid full price I would have been a lot more unhappy. That's the last time we eat at Applebees and the next gift card I get it won't be for that restaurant.
Photo: pixabay.com/en/waiter-restaurant-gastronomy-tray-1015622/
15 people like this
16 responses
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
10 Sep 16
Perkins years back was good but they, like so many others, changed...glad we don't have one anywhere in our area.
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
10 Sep 16
Sometimes I get that feeling that if you got your gate pass through a voucher or a coupon, or raffle draw prize win, most places do not extend the same courtesy as they would afford to a proper paying customer. I hope that wasn't the case and that they are just a lousy restaurant with crappy service regardless.
I would go back there as a normal paying customer just to see if they treat normal paying customers differently.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
10 Sep 16
They had no idea I had a gift card - you don't present it until you get the bill. As far as they knew I was a paying customer. I am done with them.
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
10 Sep 16
@AbbyGreenhill There you go, a lousy restaurant then. Smh
Yeah, don't waste your time. There are better places to go to
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
10 Sep 16
@Theresaaiza Where we are within 45 minute ride there are only a few choices, that's why I hoped applebees had improved.
@LeaPea2417 (40020)
• Toccoa, Georgia
10 Sep 16
We have an Applebees in our town and anytime we have eaten there, it is so so.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (40020)
• Toccoa, Georgia
10 Sep 16
@AbbyGreenhill I don't think so. But, then we have not been to eat there in awhile , so it may be the new way to pay.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
10 Sep 16
@LeaPea2417 The swipe your card and you add the tip and sign. I guess that makes less work for them.
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
10 Sep 16
Does yours have the little 'machine' on the table so you pay right at there?
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
10 Sep 16
@AbbyGreenhill I think that they focus on younger customers, I will never go there anymore.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
10 Sep 16
@LadyDuck And so so much fried food....
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
10 Sep 16
We were the only 'old folks' in there lots of 20 or 30 somethings drinking. I'm done there...
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
10 Sep 16
If I had I would have complained loud and long.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
10 Sep 16
@jaboUK Well, I guess because you read my posts and know I don't take any BS LOL
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
10 Sep 16
@AbbyGreenhill Why does that not surprise me?
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
11 Sep 16
I haven't eaten there in years, don't remember it being good or bad, but I suppose restaurant chains can have good and bad individual restaurants too.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
11 Sep 16
A friend of mine just told me he found a plastic glove in his salad at Applebees...ugh.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
10 Sep 16
Personally I think that experience is not completely wasted.
Some people may like the smoky steak but not for others. At least you get to know that this is a restaurant that you will not go again, and you will get the gift card for it again.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
10 Sep 16
You are sure right there...I'll take the Home Depot card next time, and my husband can spend it at that store.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
11 Sep 16
I had United Healthcare previously, we had no perks! 
That's nice incentive but would prefer Amazon than. Lol. Applebee's has been our go to nearby spot but we'd order to-go. So far, it's a hit/miss. We usually do the 2 for $20 but it'll be a little more because my boyfriend upgrades his sirloin steak to 8 oz. The two sides he gets no matter the time, he was able to order the baked potatoes.. Not sure why they gave you a problem! They have a lot of choices actually - I wonder is it because it's smaller or less people at the location? I usually order the 3 cheese cavatappi and the appetizer we share is the spinach artichoke dip. :)
Next time, what gift card will you go for? And you're right FREE isn't always all that great!
That's nice incentive but would prefer Amazon than. Lol. Applebee's has been our go to nearby spot but we'd order to-go. So far, it's a hit/miss. We usually do the 2 for $20 but it'll be a little more because my boyfriend upgrades his sirloin steak to 8 oz. The two sides he gets no matter the time, he was able to order the baked potatoes.. Not sure why they gave you a problem! They have a lot of choices actually - I wonder is it because it's smaller or less people at the location? I usually order the 3 cheese cavatappi and the appetizer we share is the spinach artichoke dip. :)
Next time, what gift card will you go for? And you're right FREE isn't always all that great!1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
11 Sep 16
@AbbyGreenhill He-he. Yes, I think all locations vary! I wonder how they make business if they have so many not available until after 5pm. Home Depot next time would be a better choice. 
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
11 Sep 16
The United Healthcare we have is for us 'old people LOL. My problem is I can't eat fried food and many many other things - so that limits their menu considerably. I don't eat pork, not big on fish. Menu at the rest. says in black and white no baked until 5 pm. Home Depot next time.
You are lucky your location is ok. They are not all created the same I believe.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
10 Sep 16
I wish they had any other restaurants than that one LOL
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
10 Sep 16
Sometimes I just get tired of complaining!
1 person likes this
@Drosophila (16568)
• Ireland
11 Sep 16
@AbbyGreenhill true.. though I must, a good complaint charges me up with energy lol
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
11 Sep 16
I didn't say it was the insurance company's fault;.....its is the restaurants fault, and mine for going there.
1 person likes this
@akalinus (44366)
• United States
11 Sep 16
@AbbyGreenhill It is not your fault either. You expected a decent meal with choices for sides. The restaurant did not do right for you. I would email corporate headquarters and tell them about your miserable experience. They might send you coupons to help compensate.
@Rohvannyn (3098)
• United States
11 Sep 16
I'd be picking Home Depot all the way! Thanks for the tip about Applebee's. I've had the same general bad feeling about Olive Garden. High prices, horrible service. Give me a good mom and pop restaurant any day.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
12 Sep 16
The only issue with Home Depot is the closest one is over an hour away, which is why I didn't take it - if it was Lowe's I would have grabbed it in a heartbeat. Never ate at Olive Garden, I don't 'do' Italian LOL.
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
10 Sep 16
Yes, now if I was drinker I could ave drank $15 worth of booze LOL
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Sep 16
@AbbyGreenhill Now that is a wicked, wicked waste!
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
11 Sep 16
In the three plus years we've lived in this area that was only our second visit - so it wasn't on my 'fav' list to begin with.
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
10 Sep 16
They can't be used for tip or tax as far as I read.
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111937)
• United States
11 Sep 16
I loved this United Health care.Was on it for awhile.Then when I got married.Then this put me on Mike's insurance.
Not good as them.But saved a lot of money and they pay the bills.That all I need.
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
11 Sep 16
We have had good luck with united and we have zero premijms
