Your neighborhood Applebee’s might not be the most romantic of restaurants, but the chain is looking to become a recurring spot for date night—and it’s offering big discounts to do so.
Applebee’s is rolling out what it calls the Date Night Pass, which allows holders to claim 52 meals (ideally for couples, though there’s nothing in the fine print that says you can’t eat alone) over the course of next year.
Priced at $200, the passes will go on sale at 12:00 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 22. Quantities are limited. The pass can be purchased on Applebee’s website.
Applebee’s says the card is worth up to $1,500, as it covers up to $30 of food and non-alcoholic beverages per use. (You’ll have to shell out extra for that glass of wine.) Food can be eaten at the restaurant or taken to-go. The first meal can be enjoyed on Feb. 1, and cardholders have until Jan. 31, 2025, to use their credits.
Virtually all Applebee’s are participating in the promotion, though 16 locations scattered around the country have declined to do so—two in New Jersey, one in New York, one in Maryland, two in Florida, two in Ohio, one in South Dakota, five in Pennsylvania, one in Virginia and one in Texas. (Some store managers just hate love, apparently.)
Applebee’s is trying to bounce back from a rough few years. In 2022, the company suffered a notable PR crisis after a leaked email saw a company executive saying soaring gas prices were an “advantage” that could be used to pay employees less.
Sales have been flat. Parent company Dine Brands Global reported Applebee’s year-over-year comparable same-restaurant sales declined 2.4% for the third quarter of 2023.
To lure diners back, the restaurant has brought back affordable options, such as its all-you-can-eat boneless wings special and the short-term return of $1 margaritas (a.k.a. Dollaritas).
