Would YOU pay Olive Garden $400 per plate for a New Year’s Eve dinner in Times Square?

[Miles Archer]

That’s right: The Olive Garden in Times Square is charging $400 a head for a limited view of the ball drop, plus an unlimited buffet, open bar, and a DJ (no breadsticks though!) according to The New York Post.

If chain Italian restaurants aren’t your thing, but you are still wacky enough to consider Times Square for New Year’s festivities, you could always head on over to Bubba Gump’s ($800 per plate), which claims to have one of the best views in Times Square of the ball drop, or Ruby Tuesday (where you could spend between $349 a head to $1,699 for the Couple’s VIP Table). The Counter burger chain is charging $449 per person for an open bar and sliders — no actual-sized hamburgers.

You could also ring in 2016 with a glass of Champagne, some homemade breadsticks (get the Olive Garden copycat recipe here), and watch the view from your living room, $400 richer.

http://www.thedailymeal.com/news/holidays/olive-garden-charging-400-plate-new-year-s-eve-dinner/122815

[Tab]

1. Only if they cleared the square for me

so my dining companion and I could eat all the breadsticks (and maybe salad, too!) we want, in a truly value-for-your-money I-cant-believe-they-closed-Times-Square-just-for-us experience.

Oh - here's an extra $10. Salt the friggin' pasta water for me, wouldja? Thanks. If you can't be Italian then at least pretend to know how to cook pasta.

[Sanity Claws]

2. Out of towners will gobble it up

They'll love the fact that the restaurant is near their hotel, near the crowd at Times Square, and has food they already know.

[onehandle]

3. Does a pack of filthy Elmos accost you while you dine?

If not, then you're not getting the full Times Square experience.

[Recursion]

4. You're about 300 meters from Little Italy

I have no sympathy for anyone who goes there...

[bigwillq]

5. I wouldn't pay $4

Olive Garden is gross.

[catbyte]

6. Are you kidding me? I wouldn't give $.40 to those baggers.

[GreatGazoo]

7. but the breadstick are free NT

[oldandhappy]

8. Cost must be because of the open bar.

I am happy and cosy in my chair watching fireworks on TV at 9 pm on the west coast!! Love living in this time zone.

[dr.strangelove]

9. Only if I could breastfeed

I mean what is an Olive Garden without breastfeeding moms.

[LanternWaste]

10. If I had the money and inclination, sure. It's a lot of money, but classic rock bands like the The R

If I had the money and inclination, sure. It's a lot of money, but classic rock bands like the The Rolling Stones, The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac command ticket prices ranging from $250 to $600 (no actual-sized hamburgers).

Not my thing, but I spend more money than that annually on a few hobbies most sane and decent people would roll their eyes at.

[pinboy3niner]

11. Only if the buffet includes door buzzard

And if they have a proper doormat at the common enterence.

[Initech]

14. Hey I'd pay that kind of money to if Door Buzzards were involve.

Hey I might pay that kind of money to see the Door Buzzards play the Troubadour.

[pinboy3niner]

15. I hear they're playing The Barpheum this weekend

Heh heh.

[Initech]

18. Is that before or after the Vinewood Bowl?

[A HERETIC I AM]

12. It bears mentioning that 5 or 6 years ago, this thread would not have ended well. n/t

[Initech]

13. That's just gouging at this point.

[rug]

16. I'd pay that just to admire their Asian wood carvings.

[pinboy3niner]

17. That just sounds asinine

Unless they have Asian wood carvings. That would be very different.

[madinmaryland]

21. LOL!! I was waiting for someone to go there!!

Pitbulls, breastfeeding, and cornflake breaded chicken.

It's chicken fer chrissakes!!

[NewJeffCT]

20. while it's a great location

in Times Square, I'd rather be home and warm on New Year's Eve.

[Scuba]

22. $12 for dinner, $9 for the wine, $379 for the bathroom priviledges.

[restorefreedom]

23. they would have to pay me to put up with that crowd

and 400 would not do it

yes, i am an old fart.

[CBGLuthier]

24. I'd rather eat corn flake fried chicken with Kirstie Alley

[Populist_Prole]

25. Who would go to the heart of NYC and eat an an Olive Garden? n/t

[pinboy3niner]

26. But they're serving Buzzard D’Or!