Times Square Chains are Gouging Tourists Again with $800 NYE Parties

Chain restaurants around Times Square are once again taking advantage of the popularity of the ball drop with ridiculously priced parties, including a nearly $800 event at Bubba Gump Shrimp, according to a report from the Post. People looking to get "a limited view" of the ball drop can pay $400 at Times Square's Olive Garden, a ticket that includes a DJ, an open bar, and a buffet. Ruby Tuesday tickets for a five-hour open bar with two hours worth of appetizers start at $349, with special couple's tables for close to $1,700. Guests at Ruby Tuesday's will still have to leave the restaurant in order to get a clear view of the ball drop, the Post reports. And tickets to Italian chain restaurant Buca di Beppo start at close to $400. They include a six-hour open bar and passed hors d'oeuvres.

Despite the high prices, people still seem to be buying tickets. Bubba Gump Shrimp's website says the restaurant has already sold out of spaces for its pricey 2015/2016 ball drop event. If for some reason you're still looking to party near the tourist hotspot, not all the Times Square restaurants are going as hard on pricing. You can party with celebrity wax figures at Madame Tussaud's or with "Motley Que BBQ Ribs" at Guy Fieri's American Kitchen with tickets starting at the comparatively reasonable price of $99.