Applebee's Online Menu

I’m looking at the Applebee’s website (please don’t ask how I arrived here) and they have their menu items categorized and ordered as follows:

• Under 550 calories
• 2 for $20
• Sizzling Entrees
• Ultimate Trios
• Pick ‘N Pair Lunch Combos
• Delicious Appetizers
• Fresh Salads
• Mouth-watering Steaks
• Irresistible Ribs
• Flavorful Chicken
• Succulent Seafood
• Tasty Extras
• Pastas
• Burgers
• Sandwiches
• Sliders
• Fun Kids’ Menu
• Sweet Desserts
• Enticing Beverages

Here are a few observations

Under 550 calories

When you click on the page the hungry, and possibly lower income bracket, viewer is enticed by “Starting at $8.99”  In truth, only one of the entrees listed in the section comes in at that price and it is actually the Teriyaki Shrimp Pasta which must be modified to substitute chicken for the shrimp to bring the price down to the advertised level.

Sizzling Entrees

Again in this section the viewer is greeted by “Starting at $8.99.”   Unlike the Under 550 Calories category, there are actually no entrees that are priced at $8.99.  All of the entrees are higher.  Bummer.  I go back and read the disclaimer by the asterisk.

*At participating locations only

Pastas, Burgers, Sandwiches, Sliders

These categories are the kids that weren’t picked at recess.  They are the categories that eat by themselves in the cafeteria.  They are the categories without an adjective.  They all wanted to be as irresistible as the ribs, as mouth watering as the steaks and as alliterated as the succulent seafood.  But alas, these poor entrees must hang their adjective lacking heads and meager price tags in shame.  19 categories and they are the four with no added descriptor.