Applebee's Grill + Bar

"Watch the ball drop from Times Square's Applebee’s with an open bar, live entertainment, and an unlimited dinner buffet."

"Come For: A nice, long stare into the abyss. When you have a moment, please check in on the Times Square Applebee’s. It doesn’t seem to be doing too hot. And that’s really a shame, because the idea of Applebee’s has so much potential. In a city where cocktails often cost $20 a pop, the ones here feel like bargains, especially given their fishbowl-like portions. (Even the so-called Top-Shelf Long Island Iced Tea only will only set you back around $14.) The food is another matter, but let’s not talk about that. Instead, let’s all band together and help this place fix up its carpets, clean its windows, and get those weird gas tanks away from the stairwell." - bryan kim, willa moore, neha talreja, will hartman, ciera velarde

"Any search for the American Dream should begin at the Applebee’s in Times Square. This two-floor outpost of the mythic chain isn’t currently feeling its best, but it’s still a land of promise. Please, enjoy a $12 cocktail with more calories than a Big Mac, accompanied by an appetizer platter that looks exactly like its picture. The artichoke dip isn’t as bad as its snotty texture suggests, and the mozzarella sticks do almost taste like mozzarella. So let loose. Have a little fun. Just know that your fun will have a hint of melancholy. The carpets are fraying, the servers look bored, and—through the soiled, streaky windows—you can see Dallas BBQ across the street, where the cocktails are even bigger, and the food tastes slightly less frozen." - Bryan Kim

"Applebee's is offering its Perfect Eclipse Margarita at some locations, a drink it also served during the 2017 eclipse." - Stacey Leasca