Applebee's offering limited number of "date night" subscriptions

Applebee's wants to add a dash of romance to its menu. The restaurant chain is offering a limited number of $200 "date night" subscriptions good for 52 weekly meals.

The passes, which went on sale Monday at 12 p.m. Eastern Time, are valid between February 1 through January 31, 2025. The subscription pays for $30 worth of food and beverages per date, although alcoholic drinks aren't included.  

The value of the card amounts to more than $1,500. Pass holders looking to get the most out of the deal could save about $1,360 annually if they use their subscription every week for a year. By contrast, the pass is not valid at 16 Applebee's locations across the U.S., including restaurants in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and more. 

Starting at noon Monday, customers were able to buy the passes at the company's website. As of Monday afternoon, the passes were sold out, according to Applebee's. The passes are not available for sale in-person at the company's locations. 

Applebee's has a total of more than 1,500 restaurants in 11 countries and territories around the world. 

Earlier this year, Applebee's reintroduced its all you can eat promotions on boneless wings, "riblets" and shrimp for less than $15, which would be covered by the date night pass. Applebee's cited the increased spending on dates in the U.S. in its dining pass announcement. 

According to one study, since 2013 the typical cost of dating is up $40% to $1,560 per person each year.

Government labor data shows that in 2022 spending on food away from home, typically in restaurants, rose more than 20%. Cooking for romantic prospects at home has also become pricier, with spending on food at home jumping 8.4% that year.

Megan Cerullo

Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News Streaming to discuss her reporting.