Sales of mozzarella sticks, pickle chips and cheese curds to restaurants are up over 30%. Is food inflation driving an ‘appetizer economy’?

“At first we thought the 20% was a mistake,” Pazzanese told the New York Post (2). “Historically we have never seen that kind of a hike in an industry that grows moderately,”

Meanwhile entrée orders are flat and dessert orders are down.

Pazzanese is calling it the “appetizer economy” and it’s showing up as a trend for the Buyers Edge, which tracks spending at 200,000 restaurants, including Hurricane Grill & Wings and Ponderosa Steakhouse.

In the case of some individual shareables, demand is up even more than 20%. Here are the sales stats on the most popular starters:

• Mozzarella sticks, pickle chips and cheese curds: Up more than 30%
• Jalapeno poppers: Up 20%
• Cheese bites: Up 17%

Restaurants are responding to diner demand.

Doherty Enterprises’ CEO Ed Doherty owns more than 100 Applebee’s restaurants. He told the New York Post that he has added more starters that can double as entrées at his franchises.

“Right now it’s critical to have prices on your menu for the guest who needs the value meal,” he said.

The increased focus on “value” options shows that this foodie trend is less a culinary movement and more a coping strategy for the rising cost of living.

Dining in a high-cost economy

Many economists and food industry experts see the demand for appetizers as another manifestation of the post-pandemic “K-shaped economy.”

In this environment, the nation’s wealthiest people — the top 20% — are getting wealthier thanks to a booming stock market, giving them greater purchasing power. Meanwhile, 80% of Americans are struggling to get by.

The cost of food is changing people’s choices at restaurants. The cost of beef in particular will continue to drive diners away from popular menu items like burgers and steaks.

According to the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS), food costs will rise another 2.7% this year, faster than the core inflation rate (3).

McKinsey & Company showed that all these inflationary pressures are affecting American spending habits in 2025. 26% of respondents said they “reduced spending on food” to increase their savings in Q4 2025. That’s slightly up from 24% one year ago.

Although consumers haven’t given up on dining out, they are redefining the restaurant experience in the K-shaped economy. Choosing appetizers over entrées, splitting dishes, or prioritizing deals are all reshaping how restaurants dish out their latest offerings.

Thankfully, there are plenty of practical ways to enjoy eating out without unreasonable expenses.

Maximize deals for more affordable meals

For starters, if a restaurant offers a loyalty program, take advantage of any deals, like points on every purchase and birthday rewards.

You could use these apps to scout out the latest promotions to bring your total bill down.

It’s worth watching for deals on restaurant gift cards, especially on holidays and special occasions like Black Friday.