Applebees

This is now under new management and has improved significantly since the time of the last review. Gone is the Moroccan menu which never fitted in, as is the abundance of meat which has little place on the menu of a fish restaurant. The chef has reverted to type and the menu brims again with fresh fish cooked simply but excellently. For those who vowed not to go back to Applebees under the Moroccan regime - of which I was one - it's time to enjoy it once again.
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8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Thursday, September 23, 2010

It is true that this restaurant is not what it used to be but we still had a nice evening for 6 people. The menu is quite varied (and we had a special Moroccan menu also). The food was quick to arrive and all very warm, nicely presented and tasty. The wine list was though pathetic - very limited choice and stunned to receive a "Vin de Pays" for £17!!! Service could have been more attentive - but the surroundings are as nice as ever and I would recommend this - just don't expect what you might be used to.
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Nick
7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Saturday, May 22, 2010

Went to Applebee's last night determined to prove the previous reviewer wrong. Unfortunately, it's all true. Applebee's as Wanstead knew it is no more, despite the valiant efforts of the always-wonderful girls front-of-house.

An OK, if slightly dull menu, but truly sub-standard cooking and the whiff of 'watching the bottom line' at every step, from the much-reduced wine list to the lack of those always welcome little appetisers and nibbles with coffee. No one actually goes out to order prawn and avocado do they? Sirloin in two slots on the menu?

Duck salad to start was dominated by salt, and the fish and chips (yes reduced to ordering that) could have been delivered by Brake Brothers Catering I'm afraid.

The whole evening made all the more tragic by memories of great meals eaten here and the atmosphere made curious by regulars catching each others' eyes, confused. Let's hope the new owner takes a hit to margin and employs a chef to create a menu and then cook it. Fast.
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Paul
6 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Saturday, May 15, 2010

I hate to leave negative reviews. Restaurants and their owners undoubtedly put a lot of hard work into their business, so to slate it seems unfair. But unfortunately, they're in a business of getting reviewed, for better or for worse.

And in this case, sadly, it is for worse. We came here a couple of weekends back on a Saturday night, having discovered just before we came that it was under new ownership. Spoke to the restaurant and were assured that nothing had changed and on first look, very little had. The room was still the same, welcoming and light, and the staff (although rushed and a little confused) were charming and very friendly.

Unfortunately though, for a restaurant which used to be know for its fish and stylish cooking, on receiving the menu it seemed pretty clear that the new owner had repositioned it in a firmly non-descript bistro bracket. Only three out of the six main courses were fish (and one of those was fish and chips) with the others being just grilled fish and seabass with vegetables. Of the starters, they just had cured salmon and a prawn dish as a nod to seafood.

More sadly though, the other dishes were incredibly non-descript. Rump steak and chips and gravy and stuffed chicken breast for example and I think (perhaps I'm wrong) every non-fish dish on the main courses came with gravy. Okay, you know, maybe fine, but hardly the sign of great or imaginative cooking... and so, unsurprisingly, when the food came, it just wasn't that good. The cured salmon was fridge cold and tasteless (maybe because of the cold, maybe because of the quality), the sea bass didn't really taste of anything and the fish and chips was, well, fish and chips, albeit with the batter very, very underseasoned.

Maybe this is a conscious choice in repositioning and hey, it was very busy and probably busier than it used to be before so maybe it's working! And to be fair, the food was (generally) reasonably priced. It is not, however, the Applebees it used to be and I'm afraid I won't be going back again.
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Sam
6 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Wednesday, March 31, 2010

8 for lunch Sunday before Christmas.

I live a stone's throw away and like this place - especially for it's opening hours on Sunday when you can eat a relaxed lunch nice and late.

It's pleasant inside, and the staff are great but I have to say I think the food has gone downhill. They are capable of skillfull cooking, but it's not infalible. I lifted the crackling off my belly of pork and the gush of steam that came off the meat had to be the product of a microwave, and if it wasn't, the taste and the texture said otherwise. Chewy and stewey. Not nice, and nothing like it was the last time I had it here. My partner's salmon was a hefty piece but overcooked (he likes it like that so was happy).

It's not cheap al la carte and I don't necessarily believe it is the best in the immediate area any more. A little re-focussing is needed methinks.
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Trev
7 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Sunday, January 03, 2010

This is the best restaurant we've been too in ages! And better yet it's within walking distance from home - if you live further afield it's worth travelling to.

Four of us went to Applebees for dinner on Friday to celebrate my uncle's birthday, three of us had the set dinner menu and one ordered from the a la carte. For £21.50 the set three course menu is absolutely incredible value, portions were much bigger than expected and everything tasted sensational.

Service and atmosphere was also great, the staff must have overheard us saying 'cheers, happy birthday' to my uncle and brought out his dessert with a birthday candle in it. Little touches like that really made it a lovely evening. Will definitely be going back.
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Des - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, October 13, 2009

This is definitely the best restaurant we've been to in the E11 area - great seafood, cooked and presented to a very high standard. Its not all fish, there are some meat options as well - though fairly limited in number. Scallops with mushrooms, crab with advocado and razor clams all met with our approval for starters, as did the sea bass and monk fish for our mains. Dessert was good too - very nice orange sorbet with the chocolate tart - just wish we'd had the time to wait th 10-15 mins for the chocolate fondant to be cooked. Maybe next time. They also have a nice range of wines to suit all pockets.

We did have a couple of kids with us and to be honest this isn't the best place for them. They had a high chair, but there isn't a kids menu or anything much on the main menu suitable for young children. To be honest we weren't expecting much as its quite a high-end restaurant and they don't generally cater well for kids. We did get one snooty look from an elderly lady who spurned the chance of sitting next to us - though her friend seemed quite keen!

Service was ok, efficient and courteous, though a couple of the staff did come across as a little bit pompous.

So, all in all, great if you like seafood, still probably worth a try if you don't. Quite pricey if you don't go for the set menu, but well worth a visit for that special occasion. Handily situated as well, 2 mins walk from Wanstead station, with a nice view across The Green.
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Carl
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Monday, April 27, 2009