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BY MICHELLE VARGA editorial@queenscourier.com For years, Applebee’s has been known for its varied and delicious menu, and fun, friendly atmosphere. While there have been some changes to the Applebee’s in the Bay Terrace Shopping Center, which cele- brated its 10th anniversary on April 30, the qualities that make the restaurant chain a great place to eat remain. We began our meal with “the sampler,” which is a great mixed selection of their appetizer menu featuring mozzarella sticks, cheese quesadillas, boneless Buffalo wings, tortilla chips, and the warm and creamy spinach and artichoke dip, and the Baja potato boats, classic potato skins with melted Jack-cheddar cheese, bacon bits, and pico de gallo. The Santa Fe chicken salad included per- fectly grilled chicken and two kinds of cheeses on a bed of lettuce with tortilla strips and Applebee’s own Mexi-ranch dressing. It was a great start that left us salivating for our main meal. Tyler Florence of the Food Network has developed a summer menu of delicious dishes especially for Applebee’s guests, called “Grilling with Tyler.” These plates include a popular 12 oz. New York strip steak, a California shrimp salad, and a juicy tender grilled apple wood chicken, which is seasoned with rosemary and served with garlic fries and an original side of Granny Smith apples, feta cheese, and a sweet mustard dressing. These dinners will only be around for another month, so try them now before they are gone. The dishes, if popular, will be on the regular menu in coming months, said General Manager Sal Zolla, so now would be the time to pick a favorite. The Weight Watchers menu is also a great choice, even if you are not counting carbs or watching your weight. From that part of the menu, we tried the Teriyaki Steak ‘N Shrimp Skewers with rice pilaf and vegetables. Both the steak and shrimp were delicious and grilled with a slight garlic taste that complemented the “surf and turf” dish. The sides were a great touch to the main meal and the lightness of the whole dish will fill you up but leave you feeling refreshed afterward. The Penne Rosa with Sweet Italian Sausage, another new item, is pasta with a kick – a traditional spicy Italian tomato cream and Parmesan cheese. The sausage was tossed with the penne so that each fork- ful had a great mix of flavors. Even though dinner filled us up, we agreed that the sizzling apple pie would complete the meal. The hot apple pie and vanilla ice cream a la mode is always a great match, and we were not disappointed. We dined in the bar area, which has just been recently renovated so that the eight flat screen television sets can be seen from all sides of the bar. They have also started using a product called Soundog, a receiver that can control the television’s volume at the table. You can switch it through any of the eight screens at any time to watch the news or even your favorite teams. The sound is loud enough so that only the table can hear it, not the surrounding area, so it does not ruin other patrons’ din- ing experience. Zolla said that they expect it to be a hit come football season, when they can put a different game on each screen, and guests can switch through each game at their tables. Some more new things the restaurant is trying out is called the “Pick ‘N Pair Lunch Combos,” where guests can choose two dif- ferent items from the soups, salads, and sandwiches menu, Monday through Friday until 3 p.m. “We’re trying to do fast food that’s not fast,” Zolla explained of the new lunch menu. He said that many in the area do not have time to wait on food, so instead of eating healthy, they go for some fast food. Applebee’s is offering an alternative, he explained, for those that do not have the time or do not want to sit down and enjoy a large meal. With over 60 combinations for the Pick ‘N Pair, there is something for everyone on this light lunch menu. Another new addition to the menu is half-price appetizers from 3 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Beginning around the end of July, Applebee’s will also be offering half-price appetizers from 10 p.m. until closing in the bar area, along with 2 for 1 drafts. “We want to make sure everyone’s happy when they walk out the door,” Zolla said of the changes. “This is a true neighborhood place” >diningout THE QUEENS COURIER/Photo by Christina Santucci Shaniqua Bryan holds a plate of pasta rosa with sweet Italian sausage. Applebee’s – a neighborhood place xxx Bay Terrace Shopping Center 718-423-4328 www.applebees.com Hours: Open 7 days, 11a.m. to midnight on Sunday-Thursday and 11 to 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. All major credit cards and traveler’s checks accepted. Transportation: Q 13, Q28, Q31 bus. Parking in Bay Terrace Shopping Center lot. Applebee’s
