By Bryan Harsar (City Weekend)
Updated: 2008-01-03 10:07

Wood tones, deep booths and flat screen TVs create the feeling of being at your neighborhood bar, provided that your neighborhood bar is similar to Applebee's.

We began with the appetizer sampler (48 yuan) whose boneless chicken wings were crunchy and onion rings crispy, but the nachos more for decoration than anything else. The Aloha burger (52 yuan) was topped with mozzarella, bacon and a pineapple ring–a standard burger-with-fries combination. The apple pie (29 yuan) came atop Applebee's signature skillet. Hot caramel sauce was poured onto the skillet at the table and after much hissing and smoke we were left with a sweet and tasty apple pie a la mode.

The prices at Applebee's are noticeably lower than at other Western restaurants serving similar fare around Shanghai. In this respect Applebee's succeeds where others come up short. You will not find the food exceptionally noteworthy, but then again you won't be disappointed by it either. Perfect For: affordable Western pub grub

Applebee's
Add: Basement, No.18, 131 Tianyaoqiao Lu
Tel: 021-3368-6010