Saturday, January 26

Award for Best Misnomer, Most Annoying Commercials and Best Dupe of The American Public: Applebee’s “Neighborhood” Grill & Bar (I love how the “Investor Relations” button is right next to “Just for Kids” on their website). To use the word “neighborhood” in any context relating to these restaurants is laughable. They are located to maximize automobile exposure—inevitably in areas of suburban sprawl. Further, “neighborhood” implies a sense of uniqueness, and chain restaurants are the antithesis of uniqueness. How can a corporate food service enterprise make mediocre food quality this popular (look how many there are—my goodness)? My guess is by advertising saturation. Whether you like the food or not, you think you do. Might as well submit…do not try to resist the pinnacle of capitalist cuisine.