Feb 19, 2026
Restaurants are going smaller to lure in diners
Kate Krader, Food Editor at Bloomberg, talks about the hottest new trend in dining: downsizing.
Food costs are up, for diners and restaurants. To bring down the overhead and offer a more intimate dining experience, some restaurateurs are looking to go smaller.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
The price of eating out has gotten a lot more expensive for American diners. According to the January consumer price index, food away from home was up 4% year over year last month. That’s compared to just 2.1% for food eaten at home.
As costs rise, restaurants are having to find new ways to attract customers and justify higher prices. One way they’re looking to do that? By offering a smaller, more intimate dining experience.
Kate Krader, food editor at Bloomberg, wrote about why restaurants are downsizing. Krader joined “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal to discuss her piece.
Click the audio player above to hear their conversation.
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