John S.
Yelp
This was my virgin visit to Applebees. They look nice on the outside and on commercials, but I always figured they were a grade below Chilis. Well, I was wrong in every way.
The best way to describe the 610/290 Applebees is casual dining at a reasonable price at a front for an illegal business. Determining what type of illegal business was a part of the allure. From the moment I smelled the weed in the parking lot, I knew this was going to be interesting. When I realized that the weed smell was actually coming from inside the hot box of an Applebees, it was on!
The food was actually very good and the staff was super nice and provided great service. Honestly excellent. (Can you say Los Pollos Hermanos?) I mean, how often do you get to enjoy a bourbon street steak in a drug front.
The vibe was awesome. The restaurant had about 10 people eating/drinking and 6 people "working". The TVs were all on the same random basketball game except for one that was tuned in to some kind of soft porn. There was nothing wrong with the decor, it just felt weird that the place was empty. The nicest/safest part of the restaurant was the bathroom area, but the group of children hidden away at a booth near the bathroom hallway made me feel uncomfortable (I didn't include them in my 10 customer number.) The musical selection was outstanding. It's hard to move seamlessly move from Elton John to Cardi B, but they made it work and then moved straight to that country song about Applebees.
My favorite conversation overheard was from the guy who came in "just to drink" (by himself) and hit on the waitress. After talking the waitress into getting a shot with him, a long debate took place about the type of shot. After they shared a buttery nipple, he immediately offered her another shot but she declined because she said she would end up going home with him. Now, the booths by the bathroom entrance were already full of young children so this was probably a wise decision.
I could go on. There was endless entertainment. I can best sum up our dining experience with a quote from my son after returning from the bathroom: "I don't feel safe here."
I don't think I'll make the 290/610 Applebees a regular dining location. However, if I start a meth addiction or get involved in human trafficking, that may change. For now, I just enjoy swinging through the parking lot with my son to hear him gasp "please...no, dad." Then he pretty much appreciates any place I take him.