Appetizer platters should be the life of the party. They’re meant to be bold, crispy, cheesy, and crave-worthy. But sometimes, they show up soggy, bland, or just plain boring.
This list breaks down eight combos that don’t deliver—and seven more you might want to skip.
1. Applebee’s Classic Combo
What sounds like a crowd-pleaser ends up tasting like leftovers reheated too long. The mozzarella sticks ooze sadness, not cheese.
Boneless wings arrive limp, and the spinach artichoke dip feels like a microwaved afterthought. Nothing truly pops on the plate.
2. Bob Evans Combo Appetizer Sampler
This platter leans heavy on beige. Fried pickles, cheese sticks, and spicy sausage all blend into one greasy monotone.
Flavors feel muted, and textures lack crunch. Even the ranch can’t rescue it from the flavor void.
3. Friendly’s Appetizer Sampler
It promises fun diner flair but crashes on delivery. Chicken tenders are chewy, fries feel freezer-burned, and sliders sit soggy.
The whole plate arrives lukewarm, like it waited too long under a heat lamp. More fizzle than sizzle.
4. IHOP Appetizer Sampler
When a pancake chain strays from its strengths, you feel it. Onion rings collapse in grease, and chicken strips taste pre-fab.
The sampler feels like filler, not flavor. You’ll wish you ordered more pancakes instead.
5. Perkins App Platter
This one tries to cover all bases—cheesy, crispy, meaty—but lands nowhere memorable. Every item tastes like it came from a deep freeze.
Even the dipping sauces feel uninspired. Comfort food should comfort; this one confuses.
6. Shari’s Appetizer Platter
Looks great on paper, but execution falters. Mozzarella sticks taste hollow, and sliders arrive cold more often than not.
There’s a cafeteria vibe here—fast, but not fresh. Nothing leaves a lasting impression.
7. Ruby Tuesday’s Appetizer Trio
With three choices, you’d hope for at least one winner. Sadly, everything tastes mass-produced and overly salty.
Shrimp poppers lack snap, and the chicken bites are rubbery. The only thing crisp is the disappointment.
8. Cracker Barrel Country Sampler
Southern charm doesn’t save soggy fried okra or bland chicken tenders. Even the loaded potato bites lack punch.
It’s more gas station pit stop than grandma’s kitchen. The nostalgia ends at the menu description.
9. TGI Fridays Loaded Potato Skins Combo
Greasy skins drowned in cheese might sound right, but here it’s overkill. The bacon feels fake, the potatoes mealy.
Each bite leaves a film, not a flavor. Fridays should mean fun—this feels like regret.
10. Waffle House Sample Plate
Everything’s deep-fried and none of it’s crisp. Chicken bites, hashbrowns, and toast bits crowd the plate like leftovers from breakfast.
It’s all too heavy, too oily, and oddly joyless. Waffle House does better when it stays simple.
11. Denny’s Appetizer Sampler
This plate arrives with energy but fades fast. Wings are weak, mozzarella sticks mushy, and the sampler lacks cohesion.
The flavors don’t work together, and most feel under-seasoned. Like a playlist of B-sides, it never finds its groove.
12. Steak ‘N Shake Snack Sampler
Tiny portions, big letdown. Fries are forgettable, sliders lack sear, and chicken fingers arrive chewy.
You’ll be hungry again in ten minutes. Skip the sampler—go straight for a burger and shake.
13. Hooters Appetizer Platter
Breaded everything with little to love. The pickles are limp, the shrimp rubbery, and the wings forgettable at best.
This platter feels like a bad decision after midnight. Nothing hits quite right, not even the sauces.
14. Golden Corral Fried Sampler
Imagine fried food without crunch. That’s what you get here—soft fish bites, bland hush puppies, and overcooked tenders.
Quantity wins over quality. You’ll wish they traded five items for one really good one.
15. Sizzler Classic Combo Plate
A mixed bag of mediocrity. Chicken nuggets, cheese bread, and potato wedges arrive lukewarm and lifeless.
Sizzler once meant indulgence—this platter says otherwise. Skip it and hit the salad bar instead.