One Applebee’s customer was excited to go to the chain’s Times Square location in New York City to enjoy the half-off appetizers offer he thought he knew the rules for. However, by the time he got his bill, he says he was convinced the place was a “tourist trap.”
In a video that got over 37,800 views, TikTok creator Michael Marino (@mikeymarinoo) explains his disappointing experience, warning others in the process.
What Went Wrong At Applebee’s?
“Applebee’s in Times Square is a tourist trap to get you to spend a ridiculous amount of money if you’re a tourist,” Marino begins.
He says he and his friend went because, in his mind, “everybody knows” Applebee’s has half-price appetizers after 10 p.m.
“That’s a known thing across the country,” he says. “Applebee’s has half apps.”
So they ordered boneless wings, pretzels, and a burger. Then the bill came.
“It’s $90,” Marino says. “$90?”
When they asked the waiter why the bill was so high, Marino says they were told the half-price appetizer deal only applied at the bar.
“Did anyone wanna tell us that?” he says.
Marino says they asked what the difference was between the food served at the bar and the food served where they were sitting. According to him, the waiter said there was no difference. It was just how that location did the special.
At that point, Marino says they told the server they were not paying almost $100 for appetizers and a burger. “That’s ridiculous,” he says.
Then the manager allegedly came over and told them they should have asked for half-price apps.
“I’m sorry. Every single Applebee’s I’ve ever been to in my life, it’s automatically deducted if you get half-price apps,” Marino says. “I didn’t think they were manually going in and cutting the price in half of an appetizer every single time.”
He says the frustrating part was that nobody told them they had to sit in a specific area or ask for the deal.
“Why is it the customer’s job to tell the employee, hey, I want my meal cut in half?” he says.
Was Applebee’s ‘Scamming’ Customers?
Probably not in the way people usually mean “scam,” but it is easy to see why Marino was annoyed. Rules like these are usually clearly communicated to customers through the menu or the server upon taking their order.
Applebee’s current national half-price apps page says the promo is dine-in only, available for a limited time, and that price and participation may vary. It also says late-night apps are “available every single night.”
However, the main offer page does not say that customers have to sit at the bar.
That said, Applebee’s locations can have different rules. The Times Square location, for example, advertises “great happy hour specials at the bar,” which lines up with the idea that some deals may be bar-specific.
On Reddit, one person in r/Applebees said their franchise offers half-price apps “from open till 4 at the bar,” then from 10 p.m. to close in the whole restaurant. “All depends on what the franchise where you’re going does,” they wrote.
Viewers Were Split
In the comments, some viewers understood why Marino was upset. However, they also said they would have been suspicious the second they walked into a Times Square Applebee’s.
“Ur valid for being upset but tbh i would have checked for going to an applebees at TIMES SQUARE… i would have known,” one person wrote.
Another joked about the location itself.
“Times Square is a tourist trap???” they sarcastically wrote.
Others thought Marino should have confirmed the special before ordering.
“If you want a particular special or deal at any restaurant you should always confirm with the server before ordering,” one commenter said. “Common sense I fear.”
But others said Applebee’s prices do not feel as cheap as they used to, even outside Times Square.
“Not only time sq,” one person wrote. “Yesterday I took my daughter, sister and niece to the one in QCM and 3 meals 1 app 2 non alcoholic drinks cost us $160 + 20% tip. Applebees used to be affordable.”
BroBible has reached out to Applebee’s via email and Marino via TikTok and Instagram for comment.