Applebee's Grill + Bar image

Applebee's Grill + Bar

Restaurant Cafe Hamburger restaurant Family restaurant American restaurant Bar and grill Diner Steak house Traditional us american restaurant

One of the Most Revieweds in Ottumwa


Address

1303 Vaughn Dr, Ottumwa, IA 52501

Website

restaurants.applebees.com

Contact

(641) 683-1711

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

3.70 (1.2K reviews)


Working Hours

  • Thursday: 11 AM to 11 PM
  • Friday: 11 AM to 12 AM
  • Saturday: 11 AM to 12 AM
  • Sunday: 11 AM to 10 PM
  • Monday: 11 AM to 11 PM
  • Tuesday: 11 AM to 11 PM
  • Wednesday: 11 AM to 11 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: wait (10) minutes (9) order (9) table (9) good (8) experience (8) waitress (8) time (7) great (6) waiting (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Bill E. 2 years ago on Google
    Very good food. At a great price.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Brookelynn S. 11 months ago on Google
    Ordered curbside pickup to be ready at 7:40pm. We arrived at 7:35 and got on the app to let them know we were there. By 7:50 no one had brought our food out so we just went in thinking someone might not have seen us. When we got inside and told someone we had been waiting for 10 minutes but never received our food they acted like they were going to go figure it out but just ended up never coming back. At 8 we decided to go to the bar and ask someone there what was going on and has it turned out they hadn’t even started our order. Will never be returning.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 christina j. 1 year ago on Google
    Would have liked to try your establishment but decided against it since my initial interaction was poor. Walked into your establishment at 7:55 and wasn’t greeted by any employee. After physically making eye contact with four employees yet no one decided to at least greet and get the server. I went to the bar at 8:03 and asked if we are to seat ourselves. The bartender stated that we were to wait on a server named Isaac. After waiting some more time, another individual was assisted who was picking up an order… in which we were not acknowledged. After waiting some more, Isaac informed us that it would be an additional 10 min wait. At that point we left. I’ll never spend my money where I’m not wanted.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Verla k. 1 year ago on Google
    Service a little slow but friendly. Food was good however pasta a little dry. Need to use more sauce.

  • 1/5 Gabriel H. 1 year ago on Google
    I recently placed an order for pickup at Applebee's, with a scheduled pickup time of 9:25 pm. I arrived promptly at 9:23 pm, and a person I assumed to be the manager, identified by their different colored shirt, took my name and went into the kitchen. However, they never returned to provide an update on my order until I approached them myself. It was already 9:45 pm, a full 20 minutes after the designated pickup time, and my order was still not ready. This incident clearly indicates a lack of proper management and customer satisfaction at this particular Applebee's location. Considering the restaurant wasn't even busy, there seems to be a failure in organizing and fulfilling orders efficiently. The indifference shown by the staff is disappointing and does not contribute to a positive dining experience. If you are seeking quality service and attentive treatment, I would suggest exploring other options instead. Order #19367952291119107

  • 5/5 Andy J. 1 year ago on Google
    Got service right away. Very nice & clean restaurant. Food was hot & tasted fantastic! Really enjoyed our eating experience. Our Waitress was Excellent!

  • 1/5 Andy R. 1 year ago on Google
    My business partner and I showed up for lunch, right at noon. When we walked in we were informed there was a 10-15 minute wait to let the kitchen catch up, and asked if that would be ok. We said that was fine. It was explained that they had gotten busy all at once and needed to catch up (I guess getting busy at lunch is unexpected?). We were handed menus and left standing at the door. The irritating part was that the restaurant was maybe 50% full, probably closer to 40% capacity. We weren’t seated to wait, just left at the door, with another couple who has been told the same thing. After a couple of awkward minutes we left. The service hasn’t been great there at times before but this was ridiculous.

  • 3/5 Audrey H. 1 year ago on Google
    It was an interesting experience. We waited about 10 minutes at our table before anyone got to us, and there were a few mistakes on our order. The biggest thing I noticed was multiple tables around me sending food back, not getting the right food, sitting there waiting for someone to pay attention to them, etc. The place was decently busy but nothing too crazy. As a former server I try not to be overly critical. I would say the kitchen is more of the issue that the front of the house.

  • 2/5 Samantha B. 1 year ago on Google
    We were there took a good bit of time to be seated yet the whole half of the place was empty. Greeter kept trying to seat people before us even though he clearly knew we were waiting. Took more than a bit of time to get order. Short staff or not when our cheese balls came out and staff took it to the wrong table then proceeded to take back to kitchen then bring SAME tray of cheese back out to our table was well gross. Wan ton tacos were like chewing on a sock even waitress agreed. They fixed that. Food was fine but shrimp on my chicken wasn't done. So I just didn't eat them. Cathy was a nice waitress. She really did a good job. Very nice and attentive. We appreciated that

  • 2/5 Kinda S. 10 months ago on Google
    This place has went way down hill since covid. We used to enjoy coming here. It's freezing, the staff was not friendly and it took forever to get our meals and refills. The place wasn't even busy

  • 1/5 don k. 1 year ago on Google
    Food was cool and not very tasty, needed a large table for 6, asked to use large table over in sw corner, told "no"! Server didnt want to walk that far. five minutes later they got busy and seated people anywhere they wanted. Worst experience ever in there. Our table was so crowded waitress had us place plates on table behind us. Very disappointed in there service. Will let others know about my experience. Was there at 11:50, 1/3/2023 following wife's aunts funeral.

  • 3/5 amanda 1 year ago on Google
    Most of the food was decent (except the wings with a hair on them). Our waitress was not kind, I have no idea what her name was. It took quite awhile to get our drinks from the bar, but they were good.

  • 5/5 Autumn D. 1 year ago on Google
    I went in yesterday and had a great experience. My server was Riley and she was super friendly! My food came out hot and fresh. I ordered a steak medium rare and it was cooked perfectly. Great job Ottumwa team!

  • 5/5 Charlie D. 2 years ago on Google
    The food was great and so were the drinks. Our waitress and her trainee were very prompt and attentive but not overbearing(while also dealing with other customers), which is nice because a lot of places seem to have waitstaff that are either completely absent or nearly sitting with you during your meal. The food was great and so were the drinks. Overall, it was one of, if not the best, experience my wife and I have had at this location. We will definitely be returning in the future.

  • 1/5 Nick F. 1 year ago on Google
    Managed to make my wife's steak well on one side and rare on the other. Service was slow and hat to wait 40 minutes to get seated. All other food at the table was subpar.

  • 1/5 James B. 2 years ago on Google
    I was very disappointed. The service sucked our waitress needs to go work for taco bell and work the drive thru so she doesn't have to do more then take an order and hand out a bag of food. She kept coming to our table telling us she'd be right back to refill our empty drinks and forgetting we were there. The food wasn't good at all. Our chicken strips were cold and tasted like they were recooked, my hamburger wasn't done how I ordered, and my son's nacho's were soggy and the meat looked like yesterday's taco bell scraps. There probably won't be a next time because KFC, Burger King, and Arby's is just on the other side of the road. $85.00 mistake! but on a positive note the place was clean and comfortable.

  • 3/5 Lon K. 1 year ago on Google
    Had lunch there because my 88 year old father likes 1 of their dishes. I ordered a bourbon style chicken and shrimp w/garlic mashed potatoes. Chicken was hard on 1 side, I'm thinking it was precooked and set aside on the grill. You can image what that's like. Onions and mushrooms were also done a head. Super heated skillet. Throw this collection of culinary catastrophe on top and run it out to me, the customer. I ate it because Mom & Dad were happy with their meals. Neither of them can smell or taste for the record. Server was personable and did her job well. She is the reason for the rating from me. Overall, for the cost per person, I feel we didn't get our monies worth and the blame falls on the kitchen and whomever is in charge of the hot food. Sister ordered a Asian style salad and said it was perfect. Take a chance if you want, but check the roster first. My opinion

  • 4/5 Samantha C. 2 years ago on Google
    Food was wonderful but they were short staffed so it took awhile to get food and because we had a gift card it took a while but still would recommend

  • 5/5 Jet 2 years ago on Google
    It was okay but the price you pay for a steak you'd expect it to not be full of fat. The waitress was awesome!! Very pleasant, knew her job and always smiled!

  • 2/5 jessie m. 2 years ago on Google
    We stopped in for dinner. We waited 10 minutes to be told there is a 10 to 15 minute wait. 30 minutes later we were told it's going to be another 20 minute wait. Over half the tables were unoccupied and less than half of those unoccupied tables were clean. I don't know what they're facing as far as staffing issues, but it sounded like the kitchen was behind on some take out orders? I know of the 15 some odd groups that came in and then left because of that wait time... that is the number one reason why wait staff leave for more stable employment. At least $150 in tips walked out the door. We went to another restaurant and tipped 40%, and then missed our movie. We feel so sorry for the staff at Applebee's and what they lost for potential customers, but are even more disappointed in the lack of communication.

  • 1/5 lynn S. 2 years ago on Google
    We ate here before a concert on Friday. My cheeseburger come out red in the middle. I ordered mashed potatoes and got French fries. I had to flag waiter down. It took 25 minutes to cook another cheeseburger. I had to take it to go. I ate it on the way to concert. An hour later, I got a bad headache, bad taste in my mouth, and terrible stomach ache.

  • 1/5 Eli H. 2 years ago on Google
    Horrible experience the waitress was great at the start and welcomed us. When she entered out orders into the machine she missed multiple orders therefore we were waiting for 2+ hours for our food and drinks. We should have had a huge fifty percent off discount for our whole order but we ended up just getting a free Desert. It does not make sense you should not have to wait 2+ hours for beer and appetizers. Would not come to this Applebee's again.

  • 5/5 Cheryl E. 3 years ago on Google
    Got herevaround 630pm. We were sat right away. Our server was awesome, can't remember her name but her wing was on point. Margaritas were sooooo good! Tortilla Chicken soup was spicy but good. (Shoulda asked for sour cream) food was Amazing!! Wel will definitely be back!!


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Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free parking lot
    • ✓️ Plenty of parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Hard liquor
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Happy hour food
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Late-night food
    • ✓️ Happy hour drinks
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Catering
    • ✓️ Breakfast
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Takeout
    • ✓️ Delivery

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