BajaNomad - Applebee's in Ensenada!!

Applebee's in Ensenada!!

beachbum1A - 3-30-2007 at 07:09 AM

Is this a first? Applebee's, a major USA restaurant chain (not fast food) opening a restaurant in Ensenada?! It's in the same complex as the Super Wal Mart and Home Depot, there at the south end of town. Looks like it will be opening in not too long. Wonder what the menu will look like?

Diver - 3-30-2007 at 07:16 AM

Don't look now but there has been one in La Paz for years.

Bob and Susan - 3-30-2007 at 07:16 AM

hey!!!

we ate at the mcdonalds there and it tastes like old days...

they must be using the "better" "richer" "horrible-for-you" fat to fry stuff in...and ...

they have double fish filets!!!

Slowmad - 3-30-2007 at 09:44 AM

In the chowhound world, Applebee's is referred to as a "Rykoff" house—Rykoff being the wholesale canned and bagged food supplier that provides about 90 percent of their foodstuffs. Other Rykoff houses include bland, portion-control joints like TGIF, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Outback, etc.
You'd be better off eating last week's WalMart pet food.

The good news is that mere blocks away you'll find a multitude of stands using fresh, local ingredients prepared while you watch for a nominal price.

:yes:

bajalera - 3-30-2007 at 10:42 AM

La Paz has had an Applebee's for some time.

Bob and Susan - 3-30-2007 at 11:16 AM

2 years ago we were shoppers for applebees
imagine getting paid to EAT!!!

we only had to fill out a small form with times and stuff...
then we were paid

i always thought it was a really bland-food place too
but...ALWAYS packed with customers

i guess people like bland-portioned-controled places

Capt. George - 3-30-2007 at 12:17 PM

we went into applebees in La Paz...ease of parking. looked at the menu and left:

$9.00 hamburger, no gracias!

we'll stick to our Mexicano restaurants thank you.

Yeah, BUT

bajaguy - 3-30-2007 at 02:04 PM

How's the bar????

Capt. George - 3-30-2007 at 02:49 PM

probably as big a rip off as the restaurant...

had a Margarita in a local dump, nine bucks, I thought they were kidding. Asked a local, regular American what he thought..."oh, but their nice people" yeah, and I'm a nice person too, why are they flocking me?

DUH!

Phil S - 3-31-2007 at 02:07 PM

Geezzzz. Next thing you know, someone will tell us, Red Robin has come to Baja. Then we'll hear Red Lobster is building a new facility in Cabo. There is no more surprises down here once Home Depot came to town, then Cosco. What's next??????

cpg - 3-31-2007 at 03:57 PM

Superwalmart and starbucks next to calimax in ensenada

windgrrl - 3-31-2007 at 04:28 PM

Taco Bell, Taco Time and the newly insidious Tim Horton's coffe chain with the 4 white deaths - sugar, salt, fat & caffeine - would make it complete and culturally homogenized.

Hooray for the Free Market

MrBillM - 3-31-2007 at 05:05 PM

All of this moaning, groaning and depreciating talk means little. None of these Restaurants will survive for long if they don't attract enough customers. It's a Tourist Dream Come True. Travel the World and be able to sit down for a Familiar meal.

Baja Bernie - 4-1-2007 at 09:21 AM

It was years ago that I gave up trying to even get into the McDonalds in either Rosarito or Ensenada........Just far too many Mexicans standing in line......... to make it worth waiting for a cup of coffee.

Bob and Susan - 4-1-2007 at 09:26 AM

bernie...mcdonalds coffee is TOO HOT!!! :biggrin:

you need to spend more money and go to starbucks!!! :biggrin:

Baja Bernie - 4-1-2007 at 11:48 AM

Starbucks is way to bitter and far to expensive for my taste..........Had their stock for some time but those clowns in Seattle just keep opening more bitter places with little left to return to investors. And they really do pay themselves well.

Burger King has great coffee and senior citizens prices on their coffee.

Since the Nuevo York Deli closed (sigh)

Gypsy Jan - 4-1-2007 at 07:11 PM

...we buy our coffee beans from the Super Comercial Mexicana in Rosarito.

Very good cofee from Mexican plantations.

Natalie Ann - 4-2-2007 at 01:56 PM

Magda returned all aglow from a Saturday trip with her children to the new mall and Applebee's. She's determined that next Thursday our usual breakfast outing will be to Applebee's. I'm 'in' because I love Magda, but frankly I'd much rather be eating here:
(and as noted on earlier photos... the camera is on an all-new form of 'Mexican time')

[Edited on 4-2-2007 by Natalie Ann]

webCazuelas.jpg - 49kB

Nuevo York Deli closed?

tripledigitken - 4-2-2007 at 02:13 PM

Before I could try one of their Pastrami sanwiches too. What happened? Is is just temporary? :?:

Ken

[Edited on 4-2-2007 by tripledigitken]

Dave - 4-2-2007 at 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tripledigitken
Before I could try one of their Pastrami sanwiches too. What happened? Is is just temporary? :?:

Ken

[Edited on 4-2-2007 by tripledigitken]

We sold the building not the business. I'm looking for another location but not looking very hard.

tripledigitken - 4-2-2007 at 03:20 PM

Dave,

please keep us all posted. good luck in finding another location.

ken

bajabound2005 - 4-2-2007 at 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Phil S
Geezzzz. Next thing you know, someone will tell us, Red Robin has come to Baja. Then we'll hear Red Lobster is building a new facility in Cabo. There is no more surprises down here once Home Depot came to town, then Cosco. What's next??????

We would KILL for a Red Robin! We'd KILL MANY for a Starbuck's!

bajaguy - 4-2-2007 at 06:05 PM

Dave....bring your Deli to the south end of Ensenada and add a coffee bar!!!!!!!!!!!!

Baja Bernie - 4-2-2007 at 06:31 PM

Have talked to Dave more than once about the encroachment of gringos into Rosarito.................One hell of a good man who I hope someday will find a place that his feet will feel comfortable to stay..............And he sure can play the piano.

I know where he is looking and it is to far away for this old guy to drive, even for the best deli sandwich in all of Baja.

capt. mike - 4-3-2007 at 06:31 AM

no body b-tches when Filibertos, Rolbertos and the rest of them moved into AZ and CAl from Mex.
they are chains................and gooooood ones! :yes:

i want Krispy Kreme asap in baja!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Paula - 4-3-2007 at 08:04 AM

Well said, Larry!

Dave - 4-3-2007 at 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lencho
Mexico is at the turning point, maybe past it, and where it goes depends on what sort of society the majority wants: impersonal chains, be they national or multi-national (not a lot of difference), or a more personally interconnected individualized economy. I suspect money (price) will win out... :-\

Chains don't destroy mom and pop...it's the taxman. If/when Mexico decides to enforce its tax code will signal the beginning of the end.

bancoduo - 4-3-2007 at 11:04 AM

Quote:

Chains don't destroy mom and pop...it's the taxman. If/when Mexico decides to enforce its tax code will signal the beginning of the end.

Interesting concept. Can you elaborate?

The Big and the Little

MrBillM - 4-3-2007 at 11:09 AM

The Big Restaurant Chains Didn't wipe out the small restaurants in the U.S. and they won't wipe them out anywhere else. You can go into any City or Town in the U.S. and find an abundance of Mom and Pop restaurants coexisting with the Big Chains. If they serve good food at reasonable prices, they have and will survive. The joints that were mediocre and over-priced were the ones that were forced out. Good riddance.

Food-Service is unique. People will support the better ones no matter what the competition.

Really? Coexist?

Sharksbaja - 4-3-2007 at 12:45 PM

Just like all the small retailers and Wal-Mart?

Quote:

Originally posted by MrBillM
The Big Restaurant Chains Didn't wipe out the small restaurants in the U.S. and they won't wipe them out anywhere else. You can go into any City or Town in the U.S. and find an abundance of Mom and Pop restaurants coexisting with the Big Chains. If they serve good food at reasonable prices, they have and will survive. The joints that were mediocre and over-priced were the ones that were forced out. Good riddance.

Food-Service is unique. People will support the better ones no matter what the competition.

Are you saying the better ones are fast food joints?

This is interesting. Considering the fact that only one in ten restaurants succeed past the first year. This must mean that those "chains" are not making it. :lol:

I digress. Pay attention to peoples' spending habits. This will steer many into Applebees, Micky Ds'. Burger King. Take yer pick.
Say what? You can get 12 snackers for the price of one bowl of cioppino at my restaurant? Where? Nobody sells food that cheap! :lol:

So the economy is hoppin' in CA. Must be all those successful mom & pop places.

I can see this thread has attracted more than most the recent posts. Speaks for itself.

Word of warning...... as with the cat food recall, you can be guaranteed this will happen in the fast food industry. Just a matter of time. Most folks don't realize that their precious meal came out of a truck that just stopped at all the forementioned dives.
SLURP on that! :lol:

Cioppino?

Dave - 4-3-2007 at 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sharksbaja
Say what? You can get 12 snackers for the price of one bowl of cioppino at my restaurant? Where? Nobody sells food that cheap! :lol:

And just how many snacker a-fishy-o-nados patronize your restaurant? You're comparing apples and oranges. It's not the same food dollar.

It ain't always about price. They sell BMW's don't they?

bajabound2005 - 4-3-2007 at 06:35 PM

Yes, and Audis, too, right here in Ensenada! But, NEWS FLASH! Coming soon to Ensenada in the World of Walmart/Home Depot plaza across from Costco -- DAIRY QUEEN and SUBWAY only a stone's throw from Applebee's!!! Also, there is supposed to be a Casino of some sort going in there!

[Edited on 4-4-2007 by bajabound2005]

comitan - 4-3-2007 at 06:50 PM

Had lunch at a Subway here in La Paz Today.

Maybe si maybe no??

Sharksbaja - 4-4-2007 at 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave

Quote:

Originally posted by Sharksbaja
Say what? You can get 12 snackers for the price of one bowl of cioppino at my restaurant? Where? Nobody sells food that cheap! :lol:

And just how many snacker a-fishy-o-nados patronize your restaurant? You're comparing apples and oranges. It's not the same food dollar.

It ain't always about price. They sell BMW's don't they?

Oh, I think that people with marginal incomes will fill their gas tank first and thus opt for lesser quality foods. It is true Dave that demographically cioppino probably, no , certainly, attracts a different crowd.
I can see a diet change regardless of the health issues in the past ten years. What I see are more people with less disposable cash and a huge percentage of credit card users. A (fresh)seafood meal costs considerably more than it used to. Hamburgers and deli sandwiches haven't gone up much.
I also see less thin people which indicates a hi-fat diet. We could talk about the shift in consumer choice. Not unusuaI to see a Hummer pull thru Jack. I feel that fast-food restaurants may not be scooping us but their corporate muscle and deep pockets makes it hard for many parallel food establishments to compete.:

BTW, are you aware of seafood prices lately here? Unfriggin' believable! Salmon, if you can get it, is anywhere from $10 - $35 a lb ! Crab, too high to reveal!

Even Ak halibut and Ling Cod is way up. Even though we haven't raised our prices, most folks understand that the hike in prices are typically reflected exponentially at restaurants. That is unless you are a Red Lobster. Yep, different crowd there.

How many ~~skinny~~ fat pescadores do you know? :lol:

Bedman - 4-4-2007 at 01:35 AM

I'd love to jump in and reveal the plight of the Independent retailer VS the Big Boys. (I type slowly and the painted picture isn't a pretty one, but here are a few examples)

25 years as an independent furniture retailer and the current experiences with the major brands is getting ugly. Factories are placing sale minimums on the smaller guys. Don't sell enough of their product and your no longer an authorized dealer. Sell your product at a discounted price compared to the Big Boys and your no longer an Authorized dealer. Don't meet their required load for free delivery and you have to pay a 1.5% transport fee. (Some smaller retailers have to save up their orders to make the minimum order) Don't place an order for 7 days and your on the "watch list". Make the watch list 4 times in 4 months and your orders will get lost and never filled.

Advertising? The small places can barely meet the minimum inches in major paper let alone compete with the budgets of Walmart. My advertising budget hovers @$100,000 annually and I'm just a tad bigger than a Mom and Pop. Here's another one, have less than 10 employees and Workers comp is 10% of your payroll. Have 1 workers comp case filed and your rate will triple and stay that rate until you pay off the amount that Workers comp payed out, unless you have hundreds or thousands of employees.

I'm fortunate that my business is large enough that I have only experienced the Workers comp triple rate charge. This country was built on small mom and pop operations and they still have a large slice of the pie, but it isn't going to last that much longer. Pretty soon there will only be one restaurant called "Jacks Taco Burger King" One store for all sundries called Wallsears, One Auto repair shop called Jiffymidas, One clothing store called Old NavyGap. The choices are going to be fewer and fewer till they.....the Infamous they begin to eat themselves up.

Bedman

astrobaja - 4-4-2007 at 06:23 AM

Ultimately its the customer who has the biggest influence on overall market trends, if you choose to let the marketing(brainwashing) tell you how to spend yours $$$ at the big chain stores then they will proliferate. A few years back my Wife and I decided that to the best of our ability we would slow down the pace and only give small mom and pop places our patronage, it supports the local economy and gives a much more pleasent experience (when was the last time that an employee of a big chain show you an pride in what they do?). All over N America traveling along the interstates you see the very same food chain coast to coast and from time to time if you spot an old thoroughfare that went close to the interstate you will see the boarded up old mom and pops that were put out of business by them.
It really is an insult to the mom and pops that Applebys lives off the marketing illusion of the traditional old mom and pops that they kill!
Besides why would you eat at a chain if you can get fabulous real home made seafood tostadas or carnitas or birria. To each their own but realise that how we spend our money in Baja dictates how it will change and become blandified

just my 2 C

Astrobaja

Love that FAST Food

MrBillM - 4-4-2007 at 09:49 AM

As I said, Food Service is unique and any comparison to the battle between the Big Box retailers and the smaller vendors is flawed and meaningless. When someone is buying a Brand-Product, price is the primary and often sole consideration. The same isn't true of prepared foods.

Speaking for myself only, I enjoy those fast food purveyors and eat at them on a regular basis. My motive is not saving money. My favorite restaurant in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas was ARBYs. Great French Dips.

I'll say it again. A restaurant will survive against ANY competition if it serves food people want at a reasonable price. PERIOD. You can go into any urban area and find small "Mom and Pop" restaurants that are doing well within a block of the big chains.

I must be hallucinating

Sharksbaja - 4-4-2007 at 01:05 PM

I see mom & pops fail all the time. You say it has nothing to do with the big boys. You imply they can compete on an even playing field. "Reasonable price" is the key word here. I would have to disagree. Little places typically are buried in overhead . Taxes, insurance and all the other costs add up fast.
But then, you ARE an expert, obviously. :rolleyes:

Quote:

A restaurant will survive against ANY competition if it serves food people want at a reasonable price. PERIOD. You can go into any urban area and find small "Mom and Pop" restaurants that are doing well within a block of the big chains

Another crock of frijoles. If you frequent fast food chains, how would you really know?? You're part of the lop-sided equation.

Cypress - 4-4-2007 at 01:20 PM

:no:

You're gonna go all the way down to Baja for generic food? :?:

Another Instance of ADD

MrBillM - 4-4-2007 at 01:35 PM

Not being an expert on Shark Neuropathy, I can't venture a guess as to your inability to comprehend what I'm saying, but I NEVER said that Small Businesses don't fail. Small Business Failure rates have always been at a high percentage, especially in the early years, regardless of the presence of Big Guys. Those failures are mostly a result of Bad Business practices.

What I DID say was that there are a multitude of Small restaurants coexisting in the same immediate geographical area as the large chain outfits. In the U.S. town where I live, there are dozens of small cafes doing well despite the competition from Denny's, Coco's, Sizzler, APPLEBEE'S and others. Interestingly, "In-N-Out Burger" has delayed building on their site because they don't feel there's room for them with the Restaurants that are already there. Judging from the standard established by the WHINERS, this phenomenom shouldn't occur.

I'm not an Expert in the Food-Service Industry, but I have been in business successfully for myself in the past, so I have an acquaintance with the issues involved.

I had no idea that frequenting Fast Food establishments disqualified one from commenting on the subject. That eliminates Millions of people (including Wanker Willie Clinton), doesn't it ? I guess by the "Elitist" standard, the majority is always clueless.

When I first moved to Indio (California) back in the early 70s, Interstate 10 was under construction. The main highway (99) going through Indio had more than a dozen Gasoline Service Stations. Once the Interstate opened, those stations began to fail, but there were perhaps 3-5 which remained solvent. The difference was not price, but customer service. I always asked the whiners who went belly-up why those didn't fail when the traffic moved away. They never had an answer.

"There are always many EXCUSES for Failure. Success doesn't need one".

I see little businesses fail too---

beercan - 4-4-2007 at 02:31 PM

not only restaurants , but many other businesses.
It's the "American Dream" to be your own "Boss', but most of the time you end up a slave to the system. Most of the the business failures I have witnessed (many of them) are from under capitalization .I also have owned a restaurant support business , Hood and Duct cleaning and fire protection , so I was closely connected with all different types of restaurants for over 20 years .

Quote:

by sharks
I see mom & pops fail all the time. You say it has nothing to do with the big boys. You imply they can compete on an even playing field. "Reasonable price" is the key word here. I would have to disagree. Little places typically are buried in overhead . Taxes, insurance and all the other costs add up fast.

As Bill says and is correct, the good ones survive and generally do well, even in the face of the national chains.

I know from my experience of extensive travel all over this country during the 80's and 90's as a board member of a major national construction organization. We would ask for recommendations from the locals , and it always was successful local establishments with good service and food.

Confusion says:

Sharksbaja - 4-5-2007 at 12:15 AM

Shovels please.

Quote:

the good ones survive and generally do well, even in the face of the national chains.

It's hard to argue with that statement.

But where and how did you arrive at this opinion?
I can argue but with someone who likes fast food what's the point. Food is so subjective. I've asserted this before.

Good = Burger King? :lol:

Yer killin' me. :lol:

So, let me get this straight. From the standpoint of being good, that that insures survival? Would you not agree that corporate food giants (including Applebeees) have siphoned off biz from like competitors. Also would you agree that just cause you are good that that insulates you from failure.
I would argue that current economics plays a major part in success. Cash flow drives the biz. Many factors can alter the climate of the food service industry. The fact that some foods like salmon have had huge wholesale increases can and do affect those at the retail level.
For instance, a local upper-end restaurant that incorporates the word salmon in it's name attracts patrons due to the fact that their menu and reputation for serving salmon is paramount to their biz plan. In other words if you take away their salmon you take them away so to speak. If you find the price of Copper River Salmon has gone up to $34 bucks a pound YOUR COST, good luck. Consumers will only pay so much.At least in this state. You can't mark up your product enough to make a profit in such a case.
You make it sound so simple. Fact remains that this industry is a grueling one. A cavalier attitude for someone not in the biz.
Seafood restaurants share many problems that fishermen do. If they suffer so do we. It's a mess out there..... Don't get me goin'. :lol:

Do Sharks eat Cheese with their Whine ?

MrBillM - 4-5-2007 at 10:12 AM

God, what a bunch of nonsensical self-pity. Life is so tough and unfair, too. It's just not fair to fail even though you had good intentions and tried hard.

I've heard that lament from people who have struggled and failed in a variety of businesses. The fault always lies elsewhere.

The "Whiner" scenario fails to address the central question. WHY do so many small restaurants survive and succeed in close proximity to the BIG guys serving similar menus while others struggle or fail ? In YOUR business model, the Giants should eat up everyone equally since they have such an economic advantage. I've found that, wherever I have lived, EVERY new restaurant will be initially successful in the respect that customers will come in to find out what the new place is like. They'll also come back if they like what they find. A few years ago back home, there was a small coffee shop operating when Burger King built across the parking lot from them. They continued to do well and still exist, albeit they have switched to a Mex Menu in recent years. That change was not a result of Burger King, though, since they had shut their doors long before. How can this be ? As far as Raw product pricing effects, all who use those are affected. A BIG difference, of course, is the ability of the larger chains to ride out a rough spot. One of the biggest mistakes most small businesses make is operating "under-funded". When I first went into business, one of the things I took to heart was the advice that "once you get through the initial rough going and the money starts coming in, there is the temptation to take too much money out of the business rather than plan for periods of lower cash flow". That I saw occur many times in businesses that failed.

The BIG GUYS do enjoy buying advantages based upon their volume, but that's always been a fact of life in any business. I remember years ago, making a delivery to a local Shell Station and the owner was haranguing the District Rep over the fact that Fedmart was selling Shell Motor Oil for a few cents less than he (the dealer) could buy it. He complained that they were undercutting their own dealers. The Rep answered that the dealer could buy at Exactly the same price as Fedmart so long as he bought in 5,000 Case lots like they did. Bob (the dealer) stood there without a thing to say. That's LIfe.

Your lament about the Sea Food industry reminds me of a "restaurant" I tried while working on a Telecom project in Newbury Park (Thousand Oaks). It was a small deli-type operation with a fish counter offering Fresh and prepared Seafood located in a Stater-Bros Shopping center. Their prices were HIGH and they were always busy. I ate there at least twice a week and sometimes more. The Quality was superb and they had been there for years. I doubt they were losing ANY sales to Stater.

I think the biggest obstacle for small restaurants is unrealistic expectations. I've seen time and again successful businesses bought out and the menu changed to reflect what the owner likes, resulting in failure. One of which was a coffee shop located in a shopping center where I ate Breakfast often. It was always crowded. The owner's wife became terminally ill and the owner sold to someone who immediately changed it to a Mexican Restaurant. It failed within six months. You can't WISH yourself success.

Burger King AND Carls Junior DO make some GREAT Premium Hamburgers, but I guess anyone who likes Hamburgers is beneath contempt and can't be expected to appreciate REAL Food.

Slowmad - 4-5-2007 at 10:42 AM

Quote:

Burger King AND Carls Junior DO make some GREAT Premium Hamburgers, but I guess anyone who likes Hamburgers is beneath contempt and can't be expected to appreciate REAL Food.

Not hardly too elitist for burgers, but am no fan of the watery feedlot beef and government cheese the chains pass off on the rubes.
For three bucks I can build a bomber from succulent grass-fed beef, a slice of real swiss, and a bakery onion roll.
Or, when in Baja, am partial to a two-buck carne asada torta.
But that's cool...burgers are a subjective thing.

Mr Grills' brilliance shines again

Sharksbaja - 4-5-2007 at 10:48 AM

You are so way off. Come in and visit. Get a seat(if you can) I speak for the struggling restaurants and I speak about the screwed up economy. I also try to discuss dining habits and spending habits.
You know diddly squat. You really should check us out before you say such basura. You know nada.

Ten years and still successful. Take your head out of(edited) the sand and get real. You know nothing about the restaurant biz nor will you ever.

Talking rationally and with years of experience with the wrong person.
Why do you profess to know the biz?? It's obvious you have no clue. You speak about unrealistic expectations. :lol:

Another crock.
Are you a republican?? Is that why you so rigorously defend big sleezy corps? There must be a reason. :lol:

Whine whine whine..... gag, gag, gag

BTW, I do enjoy a BK burger occasionally. See how much YOU DON'T KNOW!!

[Edited on 4-5-2007 by Sharksbaja]

BS and Burgers

MrBillM - 4-5-2007 at 04:36 PM

While no expert on THE Biz or Business in general, for that matter, I have my own experiences in other businesses to rely on. Nobody said that being a small businessman was easy. Anybody who started one knows different. It is awfully easy, though, to blame those difficulties on some outside source. You seem to fit the profile of many others I've seen who feel picked upon.

It doesn't take an Expert to look around in any town or city and see what I've seen. Small businesses competing successfully with the "Gigantes". Many make it, more don't. That's life. Suck it up and quit whining.

Your reference about "Republicans" says it all. There's nothing new about the Dems, especially Liberals, who feel that the "Little Guy" is being cheated and trod upon constantly by the Corporate Godzillas who deprive them of their rightful success. It gets old after awhile.

Speaking of Burgers, the absolute BEST Hamburgers I ever had (25 cents each) were at the Jai Alai Palace Snackbar in Tijuana back in the mid-50s. Possibly the second-most enjoyed Hamburger was in the BVIs back in the early 90s. After sailing all over the Islands eating Lobster and other great meals at the various Tourist stops, we were walking along the waterfront in Tortola and stopped at a small place called "Cell 5". After not having a Hamburger for over two weeks, their Burgers and Fresh Fries were fantastic. I think of them everytime I hear "Cheeseburger in Paradise". None of that Queso for me, though. I hate the stuff.

"Cell 5" was a good example of a small restaurant thriving among larger surrounding ones. Successful because of GOOD Food at the right price. Interestingly, one of the first things you noticed when going into their establishment was a sign which said " If you're in a hurry, go somewhere else". Now that's confidence.

Thanks Mr Bill

Sharksbaja - 4-5-2007 at 04:49 PM

For a frank and civil reply. Not that I deserved one. Maybe with all the thousands of ff places ya git a bit po-ed. On every trip down thru CA I am just amazed at the number of them that are new or recently built. Mostly the 1-5 corridor. Of course everyone on the freeway is in a hurry so......
Hell, I could use 10-20 franchises. But then you can't replicate yourself well in this line of work. Plus you need deeeeeep pockets.
"Picked on"? hey, I never looked at it that way. Bravo! :lol:

btw....ain't no Liberal, I have voted ALL parties. I have conservative and liberal views but just uttering those two words hurts.

lizard lips - 4-6-2007 at 06:15 PM

Now getting back to Applebees! I ate there yesterday with the family and will admit that the food was'nt bad but the service was really lousy and the prices were a little high but what the hell, it's close to where I live and I wont eat at Sanborns or Vips ever again.

I am going to let the service statement go because it was the second day and Im sure they are still learning how to really pee off the client......

The bar area looks very nice. Did'nt drink so dont know the drink prices.

Best hamburger I ever had was at a street vendor in San Pedro Sula Honduras five years ago.

[Edited on 01/10/2007 by lizard lips]

Bob and Susan - 4-6-2007 at 08:29 PM

why not Sanborns or Vips

vips is RIGHT next door

bajaguy - 4-6-2007 at 09:02 PM

Vips once, ditto comments

lizard lips - 4-6-2007 at 10:17 PM

If you go to Mexico City there is either a Vips or a Sanborns on every corner and when I mean every corner it's true. There is a major intersection in DF that has 3 Vips and one Sandborns. Guadalajara and Monterrey as well.

The food is terrible but the service is really pretty good. So what do you want. Tasteless food or great service with nice looking Mexican women. I want Mexican women serviceing me! That's why I married my wife many years ago but I regress........It seems like every time I have gone to either one of these restaurants they are almost always full. It must be the service.

Sharksbaja - 4-7-2007 at 12:26 AM

What's the average entree at those places cost? Are they similar to Applebees'?

lizard lips - 4-7-2007 at 07:12 AM

I think I know where you are going with this question Sharks. The Mexican people are satisfied with this kind of cusine or they would not go there and yes, the entrees at Applebees are much more in cost.

You have ran a restaurant for many years and believe me I for one would never debate you. I think it's a matter of aquired taste that people go to Vips or Sanborns as well as the cost. In fact their breakfast is'nt bad. It's hard to screw up a good breakfast!

This is really the first time that Ensenada has had a restaurant like Applebees and after being here for 20 years it's kind of nice to sit down in a place that reminds me of up north. I will not make Applebees a weekly event in fact I have many special local establisments that we go to all the time.

I for one moved to Ensenada a long time ago to get away from everything that was happening up north when I was 32 years old. I do not want to see this change but there is NOTHING I can do about it. I want my old Mexico!!!. It's gone------------------

Wiles - 4-7-2007 at 07:41 AM

MrBillM

"Cell 5" was a good example of a small restaurant thriving among larger surrounding ones. Successful because of GOOD Food at the right price.

"was" is the key word here as this place CLOSED, probably not too long after your visit. Doesn't help bolster your point much.

"larger surrounding ones" Where :?:

Pusser's is the only 'chain' type restaurant in the BVI (2 onTortola, Roadtown & East end and 1 on Virgin Gorda, North Sound). Not a bad burger.

Maybe you are confusing 'Cell 5' with the 'Bomba Shack' and their 'Full Moon party' where you feasted on one of their 'Island burgers'? You know the one, loaded with island mushrooms?

Might of fogged your memory just a bit. Shrooms and Cruzan rum is known to do that :biggrin:

.

"right price" are you kidding me????

. I lived there in the early 90's and if you wanted a burger for less than $8-10 you better hop the ferry to St. Thomas for a Big Mac.

rob - 4-7-2007 at 08:36 AM

This is trivia amongst so many expert opinions - but Applebees has the best (only) parking in downtown La Paz. That alone makes me hope for its ongoing survival.

Do NOT venture from the set menu as I did and ask for a BLT . . .

Clear of the Fog !

MrBillM - 4-7-2007 at 10:36 AM

I remember with great clarity my trips to the area. No Mushrooms in my diet (EVER). That's another item along with Queso on the LONG list of things I don't eat. Although I drank my share of Heinikens, there were no extended bouts with the Rum, except for one late night at Foxy's on Jost Van Dyke. When we went back to Foxy's the next afternoon, his daughter was surprised to see us since most tourists spend each day-night at a different anchorage. We told her we enjoyed the area so much that we wanted to see more of it. The truth was that we felt so lousy, we didn't feel up to heading out.

Our Sailing vacations were during the early 90s, so we're talking about the same time period. I don't, however, remember the Burgers costing $8-10, but "Quien Sabe" ?

Too Bad about Cell 5, but I didn't have any future plans to get back there anytime in the future. Since you or I don't know what factors created their demise, it's a world away and immaterial to any discussion. It is correct that there were not a lot of the Big Chain Restaurants in Roadtown, Pussers being the closet thing, but there were quite a few substantially larger than the tiny Cell 5. Cost is always relative to the surroundings. I found their prices quite reasonable considering the location. It is an expensive place to live. The cost factor was what discouraged any ideas I had about retiring in either Puerto Rico, the USVI or BVIs, despite how much I loved the environment.

One of the ironies of this long ongoing discussion is that I don't even care for Applebees. They're OK and I've eaten there perhaps three times in San Diego and Palm Desert. I prefer Chilis. In fact, the last dozen times I've been in San Diego, I've always gone back to Chilis even though friends have tried to get me to sample somewhere else. As in most things in my life, once I find a place that I'm happy with, I'll usually stay with them until something goes awry. In San Felipe, I've eaten at (perhaps) a half-dozen restaurants other than El Nido once or twice. El Nido, however, I've probably eaten at more than a Hundred times over the past 26 years.