I tried Applebees on a recent trip to Portland and was pleasantly surprised with the steak they serve. Its one of the most tender and flavorful steaks I have eaten at a moderately priced restaurant. Try it.

Generally speaking, I dislike just about everything at Applebee's, except their "Bourbon Street Steak". Though not a dish for steak purists, it's enjoyable on its own merits.

Next time try the ribs, those things are delicious.

Saltgrass and Texas Roadhouse get my votes.

Remind me to take you to Taylors some weekend!

Outback is decent. I was raised on K-Bob's, which had pretty high quality steaks (and the salad bar is a wagon! :D ). The chain appears to be slowly shrinking, but I recommend it if you're ever in random small towns in OK, NM, TX, or CO. I've never been to Texas Land & Cattle but have heard good things.

Wow, haven't thought of K-Bob's in years! :D

Spent two years in Monahans, Texas (I'll bet there are very few who know it!) and it was indeed decent. The thing I remember most, though, is walking into it on a 110 degree summer day and loving the cool and air-conditioned dark.

I have only been to Applebees once. I went there for lunch and ordered a grill chicken sandwich. The chicken was pressed meat-gross (even fast food restaurants have real chicken breast).

So I can never go in one again, but the ravings on its steaks has spiked my curiousity. It it really that good?

K-Bobs is ok but there is not a lot of competition where it is located. In Fort Stockton, Texas it is either McD's, Dairy Queen, K-Bobs, a horrible truck stop, or the Best Western.

It does bring back good memories. When I went to Highschool in Roswell, New Mexico, our away games were pretty far away. New Mexico is fairly spread out. We would stop at K-Bobs for a pre game meal. It was a big treat, because otherwise the food at my HS was really bad, plus we never got steak. So it was a big treat to eat there. The school paid so we would gorge (probably why we went 1-9).

Steak N Ale is great and they are not that much higher than the others listed here and cheaper than some.

Wow. How long ago was that? I've never seen anything but real boneless skinless chicken breast at Applebees. My kids order steak at Applebees and keep ordering it. They're not gourmets, but they know tough and flavorless when it's placed in front of them.

I honestly don't get all the anti-raves for Applebee's/Olive Garden and the other moderate chains. I'm never amazed and thrilled, but also never disappointed with what I get there.

I think it was 1998 or 1999 in Laredo, Texas. They had just opened their location there. It was more of chicken pattie than breast. I bit into it, and it fell apart. Gross.

For me, Applebee's and its kind represent the same level of mediocrity, no matter where you are, right down to the memorabilia on the wall. In most places where Applebee's exists, you can go to a nearby local restaurant, spend the same amount of money, and eat something new and different that is likely to taste better.

On the other hand, if the people you're with aren't as gastronomically adventurous as you (this happens to me a lot), there are worse lowest common denominators :)

I made the mistake of eating at the Times Square Applebee's once. Paid far more than the usual prices and the food was even worse.

Wow, didn't think that anyone else on these boards had grown up with K-Bob's. Leave it to FT.

I grew up in Las Vegas, NM and all the high school sports teams we played ate there while they were in town. Maybe we need to thank K-Bob's for that year we almost became AAA State Football Champions! :D :p

I don't see Sizzler around anymore....but of the list, I'd pick Outback.

Yeap... Great steak... And lots of peanuts too... lol....

Hey, anyone know the name of the steakhouse that cut off your necktie if u wear one to the restaurant??? I went to one in San Diego...