Today’s consumers increasingly emphasize diversity in their restaurant meal experiences. Over half of consumers (52%) say that a wide variety of options to choose from is an important menu attribute at full-service restaurants, and 43% say the same for limited-service restaurants, according to Technomic’s “2016 Generational Consumer Trend Report.” Similarly, Technomic data also shows nearly half of consumers (48%) think variety of foods and beverages is important for creating good value at foodservice establishments.

One outcome of this push for more menu assortment is that operators are experimenting with mix-and-match bundles of smaller items—such as offering a sampling of appetizers and small plates as alternatives to traditional entrées. Nearly a third of consumers (32%) prefer to order small plates to make up a meal, up from 29% in 2015, according to Technomic’s “2017 Starters, Small Plates & Sides Consumer Trend Report.” Similarly, 17% of consumers agree that they order appetizers as a main meal when dining out.