'Appetizer economy': Food inflation is on restaurant table as diners go smaller with menu choices

A waiter takes an order from diners during the lunch hour at The Hamilton restaurant in Washington, DC, on July 2, 2025. \Consumers are still dining out, but instead of higher-priced entrees, many are ordering more appetizers. As food inflation and affordability dominates the conversation about the U.S. consumer, new restaurant purchasing data shows even among Americans who are going to restaurants, many are in the mindset of cutting back."Appetizer orders are up 20% year over year, even as entrees and dess ...