CARTERSVILLE -- An Applebee's restaurant in Bartow County fired two employees after African-Americans accused the business of discrimination, the manager said Saturday.

Three blacks complained of poor service at the restaurant over a four-day period.

The New Order civil rights group held a small protest outside the restaurant Saturday and sought a meeting with Applebee's national management on Monday.

"It is always said that we like to cry the race card," New Order's Patrick Glenn told WSB-TV. "But unfortunately, every person who has made a complaint has been African-American."

The restaurant's general manager told WSB-TV he investigated the allegations and confirmed two cases in which employees gave customers improper service. The manager said the two fired employees did not use racist language but violated Applebee's service standards.

Channel Two correspondent Tara Jones contributed to this report.