By Heather Haddon

Applebee's is interested in a second date with inflation-fatigued consumers.

The casual-dining chain owned by Dine Brands Global says it will bring back a variation of the Date Night Pass it launched last year to couples and families looking for discounted meals. The $200 card provided 52 discounted meals, at a savings of more than $1,500.

This year Applebee's will sell the passes for $100, providing a discounted meal each month. Some of last year's Date Night Pass winners said they found it hard to chow through all 52 meals last year, having to squeeze some in at the end.

This version of the pass will provide $50 off food and non-alcoholic beverages, rather than the $30 discount provided by the last round. Applebee's will hold a lottery for 3,000 of the new passes on Feb. 12.

Chains are pushing deals to inflation-fatigued consumers who pared back their visits to restaurants last year, making for shakier restaurant stocks. Yum Brands and McDonald's, both reporting earnings over the next week, are expected to talk up their value to customers.

Write to Heather Haddon at heather.haddon@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 04, 2025 08:00 ET (13:00 GMT)

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