It’s 9:30 on a Friday and the group chat is a mess. Someone wants tacos. Someone else already ate. A third person is typing, deleting, typing again. Nobody wants to be the one who picks a place that flops.
Late summer does this to friend groups. Everyone’s trying to squeeze in one more hangout before schedules get busy again, and by the time plans actually come together, real hunger has set in. That’s usually when someone finally just says the name everyone can agree on.
The deal everyone can agree on
Applebee’s has an answer for exactly this moment. Its Late Night Half Price Apps deal runs every night of the week, in restaurants nationwide, no coupon or app required. You just show up and order.
The lineup covers the stuff a table full of indecisive friends actually wants to share: boneless wings, mozzarella sticks, and spinach and artichoke dip, all at half the regular price. It’s built for splitting three ways, five ways, however many people finally showed up.
Why it beats the group chat standoff
Half-price apps solve the real problem, which isn’t hunger. It’s commitment. Nobody has to pick one entrée and hope it’s good. You just order a few things, pass them around the table, and let the conversation do the rest.
It also means the night doesn’t have to be planned days in advance. If the crew is still deciding at 9 p.m., there’s still time to make it happen and still get the deal.
Make it the move
Next time the group chat spirals into twenty unread messages about where to go, skip the debate. Applebee’s is open, the apps are half off, and nobody has to be the one who picked wrong.
Jennifer Allen is a retired professional chef and long-time writer. Her work appears in dozens of publications, including MSN, Yahoo, The Washington Post and The Seattle Times. These days, she’s busy in the kitchen developing recipes and traveling the world, and you can find all her best creations at Cook What You Love.