Applebee's - Jacksonville

Having visited several remodels of Applebee's, I can confidently say they’ve made significant improvements. The wall decor features photographs from local high... read more Having visited several remodels of Applebee's, I can confidently say they’ve made significant improvements. The wall decor features photographs from local high schools and universities, along with images of professional and college sports teams and various community organizations, which really enhances the sense of local community. I brought a friend along, and naturally, we started with some drinks! Applebee's has introduced "Wine Wednesdays," offering $10 Sangria pitchers and $10 off bottles of wine. Since it was Thursday, we opted for their fantastic Happy Hour special—2-for-1 drinks! I enjoyed margaritas while my friend chose Bahama Mamas, which were both delicious! For appetizers, we decided to share the "pick three" option, and of course, we had to include the chicken wonton tacos. These tacos are absolutely amazing! They strike the perfect balance of spice, and the crunchy wonton shells are a delight—I'd happily visit Applebee's just for these! We also tried the shrimp and pork dumplings, but they were just average. The ends were a bit too crunchy for my taste, which isn't what I expect from dumplings, although I did enjoy the Thai dipping sauce that accompanied them. As for the main course, we took our waitress's recommendation and ordered the Bourbon Cajun Chicken and Shrimp. It arrived sizzling and was quite tasty! This dish comes with potatoes, but I swapped mine for rice. For dessert, we had ordered the S'more Churros as part of our appetizer selection, but they brought it out as a dessert instead. I was a bit disappointed that they were miniature versions instead of full-sized churros (sad face), but they were still enjoyable.

I don't quite understand the negative reviews from before. I'm staying at a nearby hotel and ended up eating here for two nights in a row. The food was good, co... read more I don't quite understand the negative reviews from before. I'm staying at a nearby hotel and ended up eating here for two nights in a row. The food was good, comparable to Applebee's quality, with reasonable prices and excellent service. I tried their pretzels with beer cheese dip—just like you'd find in Milwaukee!