Opinion: Applebee’s “Realburgers” Are “The Real Deal”
June 4, 2010
A review of the newest additions to Applebee’s menu
By Christopher Boyle:
(Long Island, N.Y.) I’m going to preface this article with an honest admission: among chain restaurants, Applebee’s is a favorite of mine. This was true long before I ever walked into their establishment as a critic as opposed to a customer. The service is always fast and friendly, the prices reasonable, and the food quite good (I myself possess a strong weakness for their Boneless Buffalo Wings). However, when Applebee’s graciously invited (in the interest of full disclosure: free of charge) yours truly (as well as several of my fellow staff writers) down to their East Farmingdale location to try out some of their new Realburgers, I approached the invite with a degree of skepticism. After all, in all my years of frequenting various restaurants, I’ve discovered one truth: for the most part, a burger is just a burger. I expected these so-called “Realburgers” to be no different.
Hey, even I’m wrong once in a while…these Realburgers are GREAT.
What’s a Realburger, you ask? According to Applebee’s recent press release, Realburgers are “handcrafted burgers made from scratch and packed with flavor.” That may sound like simple marketing spin, but there’s actually much truth to that statement. Realburgers are Applebee’s attempt to stand out in the rather crowded hamburger market, and they are indeed worthy of your notice. Realburgers are seven ounces of 100% fresh, seasoned meat, cooked to order (rare, please!), and come in several different taste “themes” inspired by various well-known neighborhoods nationwide.
Last Tuesday, a group of writers from both Long Island Exchange and NewsLI.com descended upon the East Farmingdale Applebee’s to sample some of their highly-touted Realburgers. The first thing I must point out about this location is the cordial atmosphere, readily apparent the moment you saunter inside. The door was opened by a smiling staff member, and the hostess immediately greeted us in an ultra-cheerful manner, making us feel right at home- and all this was before they even knew who were actually were! Once we identified ourselves to Tom (the assistant manager) and Michelle (their Marketing Manager), we were shown to a large table and introduced to our servers, Kirsta (a trainee only on her second day) and Lisa. Everyone from management on downward was charming, accommodating, and quickly filled every request we made. However, I must point out that this is pretty much the usual treatment I experience at Applebee’s…even when I’m just some average Joe walking in off the street.
Seven ounces of meat on a bun with all the fixin’s can be rather daunting (especially when it’s your job to eat several of them in one sitting), so in order to cover as many bases as possible, we ordered numerous Realburgers (including two samples without cheese for Kirsten, the lactose-intolerant member of the writing staff), all cut in half, and divvied them up among the group. Each burger was HUGE (you need a good grip to contain all the tasty goodness!), prepared exactly as we requested (and we were quite specific, assuredly to the point of being annoying), and mouthwateringly tender.
Originally, we intended to forgo the seasoned fries that come standard with each burger (after all, this is a lot of food to squeeze in!), but accepted one basketful at the insistence of our servers (honestly, they didn’t have much trouble persuading us). However, the big surprise was the addition of a basket of their signature onion rings. Big, crispy, and surprisingly not greasy, Applebee’s onion rings are a huge step up from their mushy, batter-dipped counterparts found in diners across the land.
Another thing about Applebee’s burgers that set them apart from the competition is their nearly obsessive level of detail when it comes to using the freshest possible ingredients. According to Tom, the assistant manager of the East Farmingdale location where I indulged in my little taste test, their burgers only use fresh, high-quality chopped meat that is never frozen. Unlike most restaurants, Applebee’s Realburgers have their meat shipped to each location multiple times each week, delivered below 40 degrees (but not frozen) to ensure peak freshness. Each burger ordered is taken from a meat loaf, fashioned by hand, and made exactly to order. It’s not often that you can find a chain restaurant with food that doesn’t feel mass-produced; the personal touch in each Realburger makes a world of difference between Applebee’s and other joints where they simply toss a frozen hockey puck of two month-old chuck on the grill.
I’ll give you the rundown on each burger we tried, in no particular order:
The Cowboy Burger
My personal favorite of all the burgers we tried. That’s not to disparage the quality of the other Realburgers offered, but this one especially struck a chord with a few of our staff members. This burger is topped with crispy onion strings (these things are AMAZING), melted white cheddar cheese, and Applewood smoked bacon. It’s served on a toasted bun with BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles. It was perfectly cooked, tender, juicy, and delicious. To be honest, I’m sorely tempted to run back this weekend and eat another.
Philly Burger
Now THIS burger was a surprise. I didn’t really expect this twist on such a classic sandwich to work as well as it did, but I was pleasantly surprised when I bit into it. This burger is smothered with grilled onions, sautéed peppers & mushrooms, all covered in creamy cheese sauce and aged white cheddar. Served on a toasted hoagie roll, this was also a big favorite among the staff.
Southwest Jalapeno Burger
Finally, something that promises a kick- and delivers! This burger is topped with pepper-Jack cheese, candied jalapeños, chipotle mayo, and served on a toasted bun. If you’re a fan of spicy foods, this is the burger for you.
Steakhouse Burger with A.1.® Steak Sauce
Another solid and tasty entry in Applebee’s Realburgers line. Topped with cracked peppercorns, a blend of seasonings and A.1.® Steak Sauce with crispy fried onion strings (did I mention that these were amazing?), melted Jack cheese and mayo on a toasted bun. Served with lettuce, tomato, pickles and onion, this one had a nice tang to it.
The prices of these (and their other) burgers are quite reasonable, but for those who are on an especially lean budget, Applebee’s offers their “2 for $20″ special. A mix-and-match menu which offers an appetizer and two entrees for one low price of $20, the “2 for $20″ special is the perfect choice for the occasional dinner out in these hard economic times. Word is that Applebee’s is soon planning to expand upon the items offered in this menu as well, adding even more variety and value. And did I mention that my beloved Boneless Buffalo Wings are included as an option on this menu?
Aside from the food and service, I must also comment on the East Farmingdale Applebee’s itself. Everything was orderly and clean, from the tables to the restroom. The decor is typical of your average mid-range chain restaurant; various knick-knacks and memorabilia adorn the walls, but it all helps to provide a homey and entertaining atmosphere. Also, fans of Mixed Martial Arts take note: Applebee’s is currently featuring live Pay Per View broadcasts of each monthly Ultimate Fighting Championship event in their bar areas. Featuring multiple wide screen TVs, it’s the ideal place to head to when you wish to take in the bone-crushing action of what’s becoming America’s fastest-rising sport.
There you have it, folks- fast, friendly service, fun, and some fresh, great food. And you can’t really call yourself a burger lover if you haven’t tried one of Applebee’s Realburgers. In the same shopping center that Applebee’s is situated near, there’s a burger joint called Cheeburger Cheeburger, and until now they had been rather high on my list, albeit very overpriced (example: 2 average-sized burgers, 2 sodas, and one order of onion rings: over $30). But their high status has been easily usurped by Applebee’s Realburgers, in terms of size, taste, and price. So please drop by your local Long Island Applebee’s (21 and counting, each offering their complete kitchen lineup through midnight or later) and try ‘em out. You won’t be disappointed.
Applebee’s Long Island locations are: Nassau County in Baldwin, Bellmore, Hicksville, New Hyde Park, Rosedale, Valley Stream and Westbury and in Suffolk County in Bohemia, Brentwood, Commack, East Farmingdale, East Islip, Farmingville, Huntington, Lake Grove, Lindenhurst, Miller Place, North Babylon, Patchogue, Riverhead and Shirley.
Photo 1 (L to R):
Tom, Kirsta, Lisa, with writers Kirsten, Chris, Don, Brian, and Rob enjoying a great deal of delicious food.
Photo 2 (L to R):
Lisa, Kirsta, two of the many fine waitresses waiting to serve you at Applebee’s.
Posted by News LI Editor · Filed Under Entertainment
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