A report recently released by Technomic in the U.S. reveals that Americans as less willing to order “from the left side of the menu” — namely, appetizers, soups and salads.
Some interesting facts from the May 21 news release:
- Nearly 60% of consumers are not fully satisfied with the variety of appetizers on the menu at full-service restaurants
- When asked for suggestions, 40% said they’d like to see more ethnic soups offered , with a focus on Asian and Mexican flavours
- Size also matters — four out of five (82%) indicated that appetizers should be shared, and 61% said that portions should be large enough to do so
A bigger questions is what motivates consumers to order appetizers in the first place. According to Technomic’s Darren Tristano:
To justify spending on items from the left side of the menu, (consumers) want more value — dishes with unique flavours they can’t make at home, or are large enough to share or eat as an entrée.
I think my innate desire to see the underdog triumph means that I’m going to have to order a big salad for dinner tonight.
