A Review: Applebee's 2 for $20 Plus an Appetizer Vs the Old Country Buffet

A recent trip to a local Old Country Buffet chain all you can eat restaurant in Duluth, Minnesota left us less then satisfied with both the food offerings and the complete lack of ambiance the feeding frenzy provided. We were equally dissatisfied at finding recent price increases had priced our meal at the same level where we could have eaten at Applebee's for the same amount. At that realization we vowed to never return again.

Today we made a wiser choice and headed to Applebee's in Superior Wisconsin. Recently we saw a TV advetisement for their new 2 for $20 plus an appetizer menu. It offered a combination meal which included one appetizer and two entry's for a total price of $20.

Greeted at the door by a polite host we were quickly seated in a comfortable booth. The first thing we noticed was the quiet of a small polite clientele and lack of over exuberant kids and pushy people trying to crowd around the buffet line.

The 2 for $20 menu gives you a choice of 4 different appetizers served with plates for two and a group of 9 different entry's choices including steak, chicken, shrimp, and pasta.

We chose the Crunchy Onion Rings for our appetizer, the Oriental Chicken Salad for one meal, and the Riblet Basket for the second meal. Our Onion Rings arrived in short order complete with a warm container of their house barbeque sauce. Crispy and hot, there was plenty to satisfy both of us.

Our main course came just as we finished the appetizers. This is no reduced quantity meal, no half portions being served. The Oriental Chicken Salad filled a good sized platter. Fresh crispy greens topped with plenty of grilled chicken sliced into bite sized pieces. The Riblet platter included some real tasty smoked ribs and a generous portion of crispy French fries. When our Server offered us the desert menu we had no choice but to pass, there just wasn't any room left.

Where would you rather eat for the same amount of money? At an over crowed buffet with hordes of people crowding along the food trough like a bunch of animals climbing over eat other. Or would you rather eat at a sit down restaurant where you chose from a quality menu and polite friendly staff bring your meal hot out of the kitchen directly to you.

The clientele at the two places was inducement enough to eat at Applebee's, the Old Country Buffet crowd left you feeling like they emptied out the zoo as by far they were more animal then human in both their appearance and mannerisms. On the other hand Applebee's clientele were polite, well presented, and acted as if the impression they left behind mattered.

The 2 for $20 with appetizer menu is more then adequate to meet the dinning desires of most people. The quality is top notch and the service friendly and expedient. This is very good dining in comfortable surroundings at a very reasonable price. Two thumbs up to Applebee's, they have mastered the art of customer satisfaction.