DineEquity is looking to put some sizzle back into the sales at its Applebee's restaurant chain after several challenging quarters. And to do so, the restaurant operator is wagering that Americans would rather pay a few bucks more to eat wood-fired grilled steak, salmon and pork instead of proteins served over a lifeless gas grill. Over the past few months, Applebee's has replaced its boring gas grills with new wood-fired grills that use American Oak at all of its 1,900 U.S.