At both limited- and full-service restaurants, sides often come with an entrée or in a combo meal and can be more of an afterthought in the minds of foodservice providers and consumers. But sides shouldn’t be overlooked; more than half of consumers order sides at full-service restaurants (FSRs), and at least one third do the same at limited-service restaurants (LSRs).
Exploring patron preferences when it comes to sides reveals opportunities to upscale side options and differentiate offerings, according to Technomic’s “2015 US Starters, Small Plates & Sides Consumer Trend Report.”