New York | $850 for a Table at Applebee’s? Welcome to Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
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As revelers throng Midtown Manhattan, some chain restaurants are offering a respite, if a pricey one. Perks include bathroom access and unlimited breadsticks.
Applebee’s, Olive Garden and Dave and Buster’s are among the chain restaurants that are offering an open bar and a break from the New Year’s Eve mayhem at their Times Square locations. Credit… Gregg Vigliotti for The New York Times Dec. 31, 2024
For many New Yorkers, Times Square on New Year’s Eve brings to mind one word: Nope.
The streets come to a standstill as about a million people pack into the (bathroom-less) area in the hours before midnight, braving the elements and forgoing liquids or embracing adult diapers for a chance to see the ball drop.
But if you have some cash to burn — and a taste for Double Crunch boneless wings or unlimited breadsticks — some venues around Times Square are offering a respite from the mayhem.
The catch: You must be the sort of person who is willing to spend $850 for a table at Applebee’s.
A number of usually affordable chain and fast-casual restaurants — including Olive Garden, Pink Taco, Schnipper’s and, yes, Applebee’s — are selling pricey tickets to locations in and around Times Square on New Year’s Eve, promising revelers a more comfortable experience than what they can get outdoors.
Many of the events are organized by Ball Drop, a company that reserves and sells table space at the restaurants through its website. For some revelers, the convenience and dining options are worth the price, which rises as availability goes down.
“I showed up an hour before the doors opened,” said Evan Lund, who traveled from Colorado to attend the Applebee’s New Year’s Eve event in 2022 and 2023 and shared his experience with Business Insider this year. “You get to stay inside, nice and warm and all that until you go to the party, so you don’t have to deal with all the other crazy stuff.”
Mr. Lund, 37, was not alone. The event at Applebee’s has sold out for a number of years, according to Doherty Enterprises, which owns the chain, as people have sought a more intimate view of the confetti and ball drop. Applebee’s hosts events at its locations on West 42nd Street and West 50th Street.
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