Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, you vote for this national chain! OK, the deals are good-half-price appetizers and drinks every day from 4 to 7 p.m. This being a chain, the menu is slick with mouth-altering photography. Obviously, hardcore bar flies didn't vote, because Applebee's is unlike most bars; the ambience is all-American, brightly lit and family-friendly. Best of all, the staff appears devoid of attitude. Imagine that. The manager walks around asking, "How is everything?" And he looks like he wants to do the right thing and really cares what you have to say. Appetizers are the typical bar fare-jalapeño poppers, nachos, mozzarella sticks and buffalo wings-but served super-sized, another all-American pastime.
Runners up:
2. Heart-Five, 61 E. Congress St., 903-0911
3. The Buffet, 538 E. Ninth St., 623-6811