"Our Christmas week gathering at Elk River Applebee's with an old friend started off quite well. Our server, Britnie S., was attentive, and when our meals arrived, everything looked appetizing. However, my fish and chips, while visually appealing, revealed a concerning issue: the first bite of fish was only slightly warm, the second was cool, and the third bite was cold and appeared undercooked. When Britnie checked on us, I mentioned that my dish was not at the right temperature and seemed uncooked. She promptly apologized and took it back to the kitchen.
After a while, the manager came over to inform us that a new meal would be brought out shortly. By this time, my companions had nearly finished their meals. The manager presented the replacement dish about 4 or 5 minutes later, accompanied by an apology. Unfortunately, by this point, my friends had already completed their meals. I tasted one piece of the new fish, and it seemed to be cooked properly.
When Britnie came back, I asked for a to-go box, which she provided along with the bill. The bill included my meals, showing two fish and chips, with one comped. I paid for the three full meals and tipped Britnie appropriately. Reflecting on this experience, I feel disappointed with Applebee's not only for the issue with the undercooked food but also because, considering the disruption to our meal and the extra wait time, I would have expected at least a discount on my meal or for the entire dish to be comped. At this point, I'm uncertain if I will return in the future."
