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FooJay
Joined: Apr 09, 2005
Posts: 1767
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
Oct 02, 2007 - 01:36 AM |
 
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| Post subject: APPLEBEE'S Opened in XJH! |
Just ate there (last night, technically speaking)
It's underground, located in the new Novel Plaza, very near Metro City in Xujiahui.
It's the real deal - from USA, with American training staff etc.
The menu is pretty much the same with some Asian influences.
Prices very fair. 88 rmb for steak and chicken fajitas, burgers around 48 rmb, brick-grilled chicken 68 rmb, baby back ribs 78 rmb, 9 rmb for Pepsi, etc.
Kind of a more upscale atmosphere than what you would traditionally find at an Applebee's.
Food was ok. Not particularly fond that they modified things to fit local tastes, but maybe that makes sense for them. For example, the coleslaw was infused with Chinese white vinegar and the Steak & Asparagus roll-up is doused in oyster sauce.. they also have a tuna & pork floss wrap.
Nice bar - good to have one finally in the area - to grab a beer after work and on weekends.
p.s. Blue Frog also opened nearby, along with several other restaurants. |
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yu888
Board Deity
Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 19324
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH
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Oct 02, 2007 - 11:02 AM |
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hmmm, never liked i in the states as the ones we had in California were just not that good. Oh well i suppose by comparason, i may actually enjoy going to one here... |
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The right to free speech does not grant you freedom from the repercussions of what you say. This and more on my Blog...Random Thoughts about Living in Shanghai...and more |
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MahamYe
Rocker
Joined: Jan 07, 2004
Posts: 616
Status: Offline
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Oct 02, 2007 - 02:20 PM |
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Oooooh! Thanks for the tip Snippets! My husband has always loved Applebees so it will be really fun to surprise him with that tonight. We'll be on that side of town since we are going to the Spelcial Olympic Opening Ceremonies, so it's very convenient.
I don't think I know the Novel City Plaza. Is it behind Metro City on TianYaoQiao Lu? or is it a bit down CaoXiBei Lu towards the stadium? And then Applebees is on the basement level? Thanks!!! |
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izzyshanghaied
Barker
Joined: Aug 03, 2007
Posts: 154
Location: XuJiaHui
Status: Offline
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Oct 02, 2007 - 02:38 PM |
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It's doen Tianyaoqiao Lu - the road with the Mcdonalds. You can't miss it it's a new glass builiding with a pacific coffee on the ground floor.
The place is a godsend! With Bluefrog (as mentioned by the OP) and Cityshop there too I now no longer need to trek to Henshan Lu area and HuaiHai to have a beer/do groceries.... |
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If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests? |
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aquagirl
Veejay
Joined: May 02, 2005
Posts: 2094
Location: in a gumdrop house on lollipop lane
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Oct 02, 2007 - 11:46 PM |
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for once, i would like something good imported from the u.s. ....
sigh. (to be fair, maybe steak eaters, etc., will enjoy it.) |
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deliciousness and exciting life go hand in hand |
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sbergman
StreetBeater
Joined: Sep 12, 2007
Posts: 2393
Status: Offline
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Oct 03, 2007 - 04:30 PM |
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Ugh. I guess we can expect more pick-up trucks and a trailer park soon. Now Sonic would be a whole other story....  |
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winterain
Barker
Joined: May 29, 2007
Posts: 151
Location: Nanpu Bridge Basement
Status: Offline
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Oct 03, 2007 - 05:01 PM |
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Synergys
Lurker
Joined: Sep 21, 2007
Posts: 20
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Oct 04, 2007 - 10:27 PM |
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Novel City is pronounced Yong Xin in Chinese and is situated at the intersection of Tian Yao Qiao Rd and Xin Geng Rd. |
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winterain
Barker
Joined: May 29, 2007
Posts: 151
Location: Nanpu Bridge Basement
Status: Offline
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Oct 05, 2007 - 01:04 AM |
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CowboyUp
Talker
Joined: July 07, 2007
Posts: 113
Status: Offline
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Oct 05, 2007 - 03:20 PM |
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God Bless Novel City. Unbelievable. . . Applebees was well appointed the menu looked good and the prices very reasonable. Blue Frog was expectedly a little more stylish and a little pricier ( i think they will have to lower their prices to compete with Applebees 80 vs 50 for a burger) and the piece de resistance was the City Super Market! Unbelievable good prices unparalled selection. I think my jealousy of the folks up in Jing'an has finally been quelled. |
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DesertSpider
Post Boaster
Joined: Jan 19, 2007
Posts: 4725
Location: SHANGHAI, CHINA
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Oct 05, 2007 - 04:46 PM |
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They might as well close as fast as they opened... that placed sucked azz in the U.S.
Open an Outback [http://www.outbacksteakhouse.com/] or even better: Ruth Chris [http://www.ruthschris.com/], La Bamba [http://www.labambaburritos.com/] or a White Castles [http://www.whitecastle.com/] and I might get a little excited. |
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winterain
Barker
Joined: May 29, 2007
Posts: 151
Location: Nanpu Bridge Basement
Status: Offline
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Oct 05, 2007 - 09:12 PM |
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tiss1
Newbie
Joined: Oct 05, 2007
Posts: 1
Status: Offline
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Oct 05, 2007 - 10:10 PM |
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Wow~ I really love it~  |
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CowboyUp
Talker
Joined: July 07, 2007
Posts: 113
Status: Offline
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Oct 05, 2007 - 10:17 PM |
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Just got back from Applebees. Was impressed. Talked to the training team from the U.S. they spent 14 weeks training the Chinese staff. It showed--the staff was great. They really exceeded my expectations on their customer service. The food was good and the prices very reasonable. |
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peytonmanning
Talker
Joined: Nov 01, 2006
Posts: 88
Status: Offline
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Oct 06, 2007 - 09:37 PM |
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I'm waiting on Steak & Shake |
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Magnolia
Board Biatch
Joined: June 01, 2004
Posts: 31610
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Oct 07, 2007 - 01:02 PM |
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Not an Applebee's fan myself, but if they have brought the menu's over from the US, including the smaller portions selections then it will be worth it. Or I would like to think... not my kind of restaurant, but their recent marketing campaigns have caught my eye.
DS... do you really like Ruth's Chris? I've not been to one in years because there has never been a more rapid falling of a once-decent steak house. Perhaps it was just east-coast Ruth's Chris...once they opened one in a former Denny's (of all places!), all was lost. |
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MyNameIsPablo
StreetBeater
Joined: Sep 06, 2007
Posts: 2455
Status: Offline
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Oct 07, 2007 - 02:43 PM |
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I was there yesterday afternoon with my friend and it was ok.
Not sure what the deal is with Applebys in America but the food we had was ok. We also ordered a couple of margheritas but they were crap. |
_________________
Quiet - Or Papa Spank. |
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DesertSpider
Post Boaster
Joined: Jan 19, 2007
Posts: 4725
Location: SHANGHAI, CHINA
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Oct 07, 2007 - 02:48 PM |
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| Magnolia wrote: |
| DS... do you really like Ruth's Chris? I've not been to one in years because there has never been a more rapid falling of a once-decent steak house. Perhaps it was just east-coast Ruth's Chris...once they opened one in a former Denny's (of all places!), all was lost. |
I've been to several around the country in the U.S. - never on the East Coast though - and all were fabulous. Maybe the one you were in wasn't managed well, but I think by-and-large they are a cut above the mediocre crowd [Applesneeze doesn't even make this group]. Peterson's and another place I can't remember the name of right now make excellent steaks too. |
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SF_to_Shanghai
Barker
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 183
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Oct 07, 2007 - 11:08 PM |
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I'm about to cry now. Although never were really a big fan of Applebees in the US, but having found one here just makes me tear.
living here makes me desperate! |
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Jboy
SuperStar
Joined: May 18, 2005
Posts: 1402
Status: Offline
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Oct 10, 2007 - 03:47 AM |
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Last night I went to Applebees and had one of the worst dinning experience ever in Shanghai. It is apparent that if they had any US trainers to guide them through the initial week, they have long packed up and went back to the real world.
Here in China an order for a steak and fish takes about 25 minutes to deliver to your table. The excuse was that there was two large table ahead of us. Looking around the restaurant we saw maybe 20 people in the entire restaurant with most of the tables empty, God knows what would happen if a real dinner crowd came through this place.
When the food arrive the steak and the fish was decent but nothing remarkable, but the side dishes were absolutely horrible. My mash potato was freezing cold while my dining companions pasta looked a day old, our complaints resulted in obviously reheated dishes handed back to us.
After some disagreement about the coupons we found out that they didn't have any change nor fapiao. And to cap the evening off, we both got masquito bites.
I will try to be fair and give them another month of shake down time and go back and try their burger, but it would take quite a bit of work on their part for me to win me as a loyal customer.
Later that night I also had one of the most enjoyable experience at the newly opened Blue Room, which I will post about else where. |
_________________
Shut up Leslie and drink. |
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SF_to_Shanghai
Barker
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 183
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Oct 10, 2007 - 09:34 AM |
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went there last night and was very satisfied with their service. the waitress sat me down and introduced dish of the day to me, she actually could vividly describe how the fish was marinated and cooked, and what she personally likes about the dish. I found it rather refreshing and interesting since I had not encountered a restaurant staff in China with that kind of ability. I then questioned her with a couple of other dishes, she was also able to describe the cooking methods and tastes. Being in the training field myself, I know for a sales person to succeed, one must know about his/her products. And it surely looks like Applebee had let their staff try the dishes.
After introducing the dishes to me, she then let me have a few moments to decide and quickly backed out to the side and wait quietly, instead of standing there to rush me into decisions. She was near my eye sight, paying attention to my body language as I flipped through the menu. Once I looked up, she quickly approached and took my order. I told her that I was surprised not to find some signature dishes in the menu, she took out the notepad and jotted down my comments, and responded "thank you, that's very valuable, I will let the manager know"
The food arrived rather quickly, and I have to admit, there's a bit TOO many asian elements in them. But hopefully that will be adjusted some day. I was overall satisfied with them food. The burger was juicy and portion was perfect. Best of all, with a appetizer sampler, a burger, and a diet coke, it only came up to 108rmb. I'd definitely come here instead of going to Bluefrog, Moon river, or City diner. The dishes were comparatively less greasy, the tastes are to the standard, and the service is excellent.
I don't know how long this will be kept up, but i certainly hope it will continue like this. Yes the food is not amazingly delicious. But why should I expect it to be when it's, well, Applebee?
I am happy with it. and will definitely go back |
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DesertSpider
Post Boaster
Joined: Jan 19, 2007
Posts: 4725
Location: SHANGHAI, CHINA
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Oct 10, 2007 - 03:26 PM |
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| Jboy wrote: |
Last night I went to Applebees and had one of the worst dinning experience ever in Shanghai. It is apparent that if they had any US trainers to guide them through the initial week, they have long packed up and went back to the real world.
Here in China an order for a steak and fish takes about 25 minutes to deliver to your table. The excuse was that there was two large table ahead of us. Looking around the restaurant we saw maybe 20 people in the entire restaurant with most of the tables empty, God knows what would happen if a real dinner crowd came through this place.
When the food arrive the steak and the fish was decent but nothing remarkable, but the side dishes were absolutely horrible. My mash potato was freezing cold while my dining companions pasta looked a day old, our complaints resulted in obviously reheated dishes handed back to us.
After some disagreement about the coupons we found out that they didn't have any change nor fapiao. And to cap the evening off, we both got masquito bites.
I will try to be fair and give them another month of shake down time and go back and try their burger, but it would take quite a bit of work on their part for me to win me as a loyal customer.
Later that night I also had one of the most enjoyable experience at the newly opened Blue Room, which I will post about else where. |
^ No, this is exactly how it is run in the U.S. as well, so pretty much par for the course. I mean, it's Applebees... which = one half-step up from McD's. |
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bopgunner
Lurker
Joined: Aug 04, 2004
Posts: 24
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Oct 18, 2007 - 02:11 PM |
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Time 1:30-2:30 p.m.
# of People -- 2
Dishes:
Shrimp Ques. 50 rmb
Nachos 30 rmb
2 Asparagus/Beef Wraps 40rmb Each
2 Iced Teas 18 rmb each
Toal = 182 kuai for lunch
When we walked in, it was COMPLETELY empty and when I was on my way to blue frog the previous day at noon, it was also empty. This may be due to the fact that this plaza just opened last week.
But still, there is NO EXCUSE for the food they served us. The minced meat in the Wrap was cold in the middle, the Nachos they served was the wimpiest serving of toppings/nachos I have EVER seen in Shanghai, AND when the quesidillas came out.......the cheese had been melted then hardened before it was served to me?
Also, if they were going to be REAL american.....they would at least give me free refills on my 18 kuai ice tea's.
It's too bad that its like 10 minutes from my office but I will NEVER go back to Applebee's ever again.[b] |
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hammerforlife
Low Seater
Joined: May 24, 2004
Posts: 3229
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Oct 18, 2007 - 02:18 PM |
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Been there once and it wasn't bad. Food reasonable quality and service good. A fair bit cheaper than the likes of TGI Friday's who I guess are in the same market. Real test of these places though is how they are in 6 months or 1+ year after opening, not the first 2 weeks. |
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MyNameIsPablo
StreetBeater
Joined: Sep 06, 2007
Posts: 2455
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Oct 18, 2007 - 03:02 PM |
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I went there the same time as HFL but at a different table and I would say the food was alright. I had some kind of chicken salad thing which was nice.
Me and my friend also had some margheritas but they were terrble. |
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Quiet - Or Papa Spank. |
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