Applebee's Employee Reviews

This was the perfect summer job for a newly graduated high school student. I started as a host, and quickly worked my way up to a server. Though it was a simple job, the fast paced work environment taught me skills that I have carried onto other professions.

Was this review helpful?

Great job

Server (Current Employee) - Mankato, MN - October 3, 2023

Great place to work, worked here for years good management and coworkers, job can be stressful at times but overall good customers. Learned a lot about customer service

Was this review helpful?

Applebee's insights

Based on 10,984 survey responses

What people like

Clear sense of purpose
Ability to meet personal goals
Feeling of personal appreciation

Areas for improvement

Overall satisfaction
Fair pay for job
Sense of belonging

Get Experience, leave.

Server/Bartender (Former Employee) - Warwick, RI - October 3, 2023

Way underpaid and overworked. Corporate brags about how they found ways to work servers for less than minimum wage and get more out of them. Get experience, move on.

Was this review helpful?

Good Coworkers, Management mostly great people

Kitchen Supervisor (Former Employee) - Philadelphia, PA - October 3, 2023

Worked there for a couple years. Management team at my store were great people, but some of the other managers that would be assigned to our store to cover for vacations ect. could be tough to deal with. Expect to be always busy. Menu changes and additions happened pretty consistently. Most of the employees were good, and the ones that weren't tended not to last long.

Was this review helpful?

fun place

Hostess/Server (Former Employee) - Hazleton, PA - October 2, 2023

typical day at work was fun never felt horrible going in only thing is they weren’t making me a server am cause they were filled so only reason i left management was fun

Pros

free food

Cons

short breaks

Was this review helpful?

Rate your recent company

Share your experience to help others

Great place

Cook (Former Employee) - Clarksville, TN - October 2, 2023

Great place to work for love the atmosphere fast paced great pay and benefits would still be there if I didn’t move states for other opportunities treats you like family

Was this review helpful?

It’s a job

Server (Former Employee) - Fort Myers, FL - October 2, 2023

Not a lot of pros or cons it’s a job. You go in to make money, then leave. Applebees does attract cheap clientele looking to dine on a dime. Don’t expect big check averages or tips.

Was this review helpful?

Sad depressing overworked

Cook/Prep (Former Employee) - Las Cruces, NM - October 1, 2023

Management only has selected few that they help and care about if you aren’t on their favorites list your set on back burner worst management ever. Management only cares if you have them as priority if you need days off or sick time they will make you feel bad about needing to take a day off

Pros

No free food

Cons

No breaks

Was this review helpful?

Stressful and it’s one of the worst places I’ve ever worked at

Cook (Current Employee) - Durant, OK - October 1, 2023

What is the best part of working at the company?Best part of working there is getting off from work it a stressful and toxic work environment What is the most stressful part about working at the company?They are always short staffed u never get off at the time you’re scheduled because they show favoritism What is the work environment and culture like at the company?Very toxic they let the servers disrespect the cooks just an all out bad experience What is a typical day like for you at the company?Stressful I only recommend work there if you don’t have another choice

Was this review helpful?

Amazing team

Server (Former Employee) - Smyrna, GA - September 30, 2023

Working with great managers and other servers was amazing. It was always a busy location being next to the braves stadium so it always brought in many different guests even some TV stars. Great place to work

Was this review helpful?

Jobs at Applebee's

See more jobs

Cooks - Evening and Weekend Availability

Terrible management overshadows every part of the job

Dishwasher (Current Employee) - Derby, KS - September 30, 2023

While the job itself is an average quality position in terms of satisfaction and work/life balance, the laughably unprofessional and out-right untrained management undermines everything. In addition to the afformentioned managers, who are untrained to the extent of not knowing the company even has an Employee Orientation Guide, you can expect your employment to be plagued by persistent staffing and basic supply issues. 'Cleaning' your work space and tools without the necessary chemicals, while being pressured about labor so management can get a bonus. Your coworkers will feel like family, but to management, this is an amazon warehouse.

Was this review helpful?

Horrible management, awful tips, no hours.

Server (Former Employee) - Plainfield, IN - September 30, 2023

The management sucks, their favorites get away with anything and everything weather or not it's against the rules. They do not care about their employees.

Cons

Everything

Was this review helpful?

Overworked and Stressed

Line Cook/Prep Cook (Current Employee) - Cedar City, UT - September 30, 2023

If you get a job here be ready for burnout and co-workers constantly giving you attitude for every mistake you make, that's only the half of it they work you till closed and your always expected to be doing over time to clean up the big mess at the end of the day because everyone just throws food and crumbs on the floor for the the night crew to pick up so don't even bother looking at the schedule all you got to know is when you clock in and you'll clock out when management sees fit . The worst part is they start you off in the frying position dropping chicken and frys but you are also in charge of the salad station, dessert station and also any other additional things the other cooks need to finish there food on the burger side of things mean while your other co-worker are laughing and joking around because they have a lesser work load than you. Your almost guaranteed to be under valued, unappreciated,overworked for the amount of pay you get I would not recommend anyone being a cook here you'll be in so much pain and stress and if ask anyone there. they just say it's part of the job, Seeing how this poorly managed establishment is run i wouldn't want anyone I love to eat at here because their so much pressure to get things out the door I feel hygiene has kinda gone out the window here with food being dropped or poorly being taken care of. Absolutely nothing was enjoyable about this job and am looking forward to finding anything else!

Was this review helpful?

Good

Manager (Former Employee) - Martinsburg, WV - September 29, 2023

Good place. Support people. Lots of money to be made. Can work your way up if you put forth the effort. Long hours, but always moving making the days go by quicker.

Was this review helpful?

Bad environment, worse schedules

Bar Manager (Former Employee) - Pennsylvania - September 29, 2023

Guests that come in are rude and demeaning and you’ll be expected to comp their items when nothing was wrong in the first place. If the restaurant gets shut down for sickness it takes your vacation time accrued.

Pros

None

Cons

Everything

Was this review helpful?

Good employees will make this job worth it or not at all. The bad would be the corporate policies that hinder everyone at times

Server (Current Employee) - West Saint Paul, MN - September 29, 2023

Typical work day consists of appropriate uniforms and being part of a team. Everyone helps everyone to make the night go smooth. You'll also get at least one person calling off per shift so prepare to work hard as a team to ensure success and happy customers. The management are people that have moved up through the ranks to that position. You'd think it'd be nice, but in terms of corporate policy, management does not follow a couple of them. Employees turned managers should move to a new store to start their managing careers, some will be allowed to stay at their original store which causes issues and rifts, I've seen it from experience. Which is why I'd assume it's policy, but it's unfollowed. I'd say management needs to work on some things to ensure they have the right people in the right places working with the right people. I even know managers that were friends before the job and are managers together at the same store.

Pros

Food

Cons

No breaks for 6-8 hour shifts due to management capping overtime hours at 39 hours every pay period.

Was this review helpful?

Productive & fun workplace

Cook/Prep (Former Employee) - Princeton, WV - September 29, 2023

Decent pay. Somewhat flexible schedule. Very hectic when busy. Some downtime between shifts to prep items and clean. Most management is good. Depends on day or night shift

Was this review helpful?

Productive and Fun Workplace

Server (Current Employee) - Atlanta, GA - September 28, 2023

Working at Applebee's has been both a rewarding and challenging experience. As a server, I've had the opportunity to interact with a diverse range of customers and build valuable customer service skills. The fast-paced environment has taught me to think on my feet and handle high-pressure situations effectively.One of the highlights of working at Applebee's is the sense of camaraderie among the staff. The team is generally supportive, and we often help each other out during busy shifts. Management is approachable and encourages open communication, which fosters a positive work atmosphere.However, it's important to acknowledge the downsides. The job can be physically demanding, requiring long hours on your feet, and dealing with difficult customers can be challenging. The pay, particularly for entry-level positions, is often at or slightly above minimum wage, making it necessary to rely on tips for income.Overall, working at Applebee's can be a worthwhile experience, especially for those looking to gain customer service and teamwork skills. It's an environment where hard work is rewarded, and it can serve as a stepping stone for those seeking a career in the restaurant industry. However, it's essential to be prepared for the demands of the job and be resilient in the face of its challenges.

Was this review helpful?

fun place to work not a high paying one

Hostess/Busser (Former Employee) - Orem, UT - September 28, 2023

well it on the day if its slow or busy on a busy night it can get stressful and emotions can run high . but on a slow day there never enough to do. the management was good they were understanding and worked with me work place was funny some times we don't get along or we get frustrated with each other. the culture was very diverse and eye opening the hardest part when we didn't get along or co workers arguing or not happy at the management.enjoyable part the people working with so many people and being freinds

Was this review helpful?

Server

Server (Current Employee) - Orlando, FL - September 28, 2023

Money is ok management is horrible i would not recommend working here, you basically do everything run ya food bust ya tables the customers are horrible

Was this review helpful?

Terrible Management

Server (Former Employee) - Rohnert Park, CA - September 28, 2023

The manager would change hours so you wouldn’t get overtime, favoritism was extremely high, and the cops would show up at least once a week. Tips are hit or miss, even if you give all the refills and check in often.

Was this review helpful?