Applebee's New Years Eve Dinner is $375 in Times Square, Customers Balk at High Prices
Applebee's on New Year's Eve is charging a $375 entry fee into their establishment in Times Square. Although partygoers will be treated to an all-you-eat menu, open bar and be close to the famed New York City ball drop, many complain that such a high cost is simply too much to enter an Applebee's restaurant.
Applebee's locations at 42nd Street Times Square and at nearby 50th Street are offering New Year's Eve partygoers food, drinks and a way to stay out of the cold night air Tuesday for the high price of $375. Children under 12 can get in for $250, but that's still a far cry from the restaurant's normally affordable fare- Applebee's has promoted dinner for two for as little as $20 in the past.
"Watch the live crowds go wild as they wait in the cold for hours to view the balls drop," the website for the "NYE Extravanganza" promises. "Enjoy Open Premium Bar, all-you-can-eat Hot Food Buffets, Desserts, Live Entertainment, DJ and Dancing into the night right before your countdown. Make your way to view the ball on the street level of the restaurant at 11:30 p.m."
Get Our Latest News for FREE
The promotion was created by Zane Tankel, whose company Apple-Metro owns both the Times Square and 50th street locations. The attire for the event is listed as "dress party casual," and Tankel expects at least 500 customers in each restaurant.
While some pointed out that Applebee's expensive deal is offering amenities not available for those directly in Times Square- bathrooms, warmth, food and drink- others contested out that the view from the restaurant won't be direct and that the deal is overpriced.
"Anyone who pays for this in general … to get a view of the ball drop is gonna be sadly disappointed," Jmontilla2786 wrote on the Gawker blog, adding a picture of the view from the restaurant.
"Maybe I would consider it," agreed reallywanttoknow. "No. It is still Applebee's food. There is no getting around that."
If the other Times Square restaurants' reactions are any indication, there are certainly those willing to shell out big bucks for NYE. The TGI Friday's there is charging $1,095 for a "Couple's Champagne VIP Package," while Ruby Tuesday's is charging a $295 admission with $495 for platinum VIP.
