This is one of my family's favorite places to go to eat. Service is very friendly, and the background chatter is usually quite low. Babies are quite welcome here, and no one gives you a hard time about your child making noise (as long as it's within reasonable limits, of course). As for the food? I know people like to give Applebee's grief about their perceived lack of quality/taste, but I have absolutely no complaints. My wife really loves their steak here (and she's not a steak eater *at all*), for one thing. And for another, their 2 for $20 menu is pretty economical (my wife and I order off of it every time we come).
Really, going to any of these chain casual dining restaurants is an exercise in expectation management. Is it going to be the world's most amazing gourmet food? Of course not. Is it some glorious temple in which foodies and aspiring hipsters can congregate and worship? No, there are many better options for that crowd (and they're welcome to them!). And maybe if I weren't married with kids, my opinion would be like theirs. But really, in my old age I've come to appreciate kid-friendly restaurants with friendly service and no-nonsense food -- and Applebee's delivers in that arena.