Last month, Ryan Gerding, a marketing executive in Kansas City, Missouri, showed up early for dinner with his wife at Martin City Brewery, a local watering hole. They shared meatball sliders, pretzel bites and chicken wings along with a 2-for-1 beer coupon and a cocktail. 

The total bill was $51.31 versus the $75 they have typically spent on dinner, Gerding told The Post.

Diners are flocking to Happy Hours and ordering appetizers to save money on going out. MArtin City Brewing Company

“It’s a fun thing that we are able to do more of because we are taking advantage of the lower prices during happy hour and because apps don’t cost as much as entrees,” Gerding told The Post.

“When we are at the bars – and sometimes it’s as early as 4 p.m. – we are surprised to see the places packed,” Gerding added.

Appetizer sales across the US this year surged 20% through August – blowing past typical growth in the low-to-mid-single digits, according to Buyer’s Edge, a technology platform that tracks food purchasing by chain restaurants. Sales of entrees were flat versus past growth averaging around 3%.

$15 platters like this sampler-Ultimate Trio-at Applebee’s are replacing entree orders. AppleBee’s

“At first we thought the 20% was a mistake, because historically we have never seen that kind of a hike in an industry that grows moderately,” said Jim Pazzanese, executive vice president of global strategic procurement for Buyer’s Edge. 

The firm’s platform – whose clients include Red Robin, Fatburger, Johnny Rockets, Hurricane Grill & Wings and Ponderosa Steakhouse – tracks more than $74 billion in annual food service spending at 200,000 restaurant locations. 

Entree sales are falling as meat prices have soared this year, according to Buyer’s Edge. Meanwhile, demand has soared for mozzarella sticks, pickle chips, egg rolls, cheese curds, jalapeno poppers and cheese bites. 

In August, Applebee’s Grill + Bar launched a $15 appetizer called Ultimate Trio with a national TV campaign at the start of the NFL season. Customers can pick three items from a list that includes Boneless Wings, Chicken Wonton Tacos, Brew Pub Pretzels and Waffle Fries.

Ed Doherty operates more than 100 Applebee’s Grill + Bar eateries. Doherty Enterprises

“We have purposefully introduced products that are appetizers and can be eaten as an entree,” said Ed Doherty, CEO of Doherty Enterprises, which operates more than 100 Applebee’s franchises. “Right now it’s critical to have prices on your menu for the guest who needs the value meal.”

The savings for customers is “significant,” Doherty added, because a steak is $26, a pasta dish is $22 and a salad is $18 at Applebee’s restaurants in New York City. As for restaurant owners, there’s a silver lining, he said.

“It’s building more traffic,” Doherty told The Post. “The health in a restaurant business is transactions. I’d rather have the volume because there is the opportunity to upsell them.”

Even swanky steakhouses are responding to the penny-pinching crowd. Willie Degel, who owns the Uncle Jack’s Steakhouses in Manhattan and Bayside Queens, said about 15% of customers are ordering appetizers instead of a main course and sharing entrees.

Willie Degel owns two Uncle Jack’s Steakhouses in NYC. Curtis Ross/Starpix/Shutterstock

Degel, who was the host of Food Network’s “Restaurant Stakeout” reality series, said demand for burgers and sandwiches has surged this year alongside beef prices. Accordingly, its menu has expanded to five options.

For example, the Big Jack Burger and Black Truffle Burger sell for $29 to $39, respectively, including fries. That’s versus steaks that include a $95 rib chop and a $165 porterhouse for two. 

“We sell a lot more burgers and steak sandwiches without a doubt,” Degel told The Post. “It’s driving traffic.”

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The study narrowed the list to 122 metros by excluding cities with populations under 300,000 or lacking sufficient data.

Rankings were based on key Gen Z priorities like affordability, culture, diversity, environment and overall livability.

“We put together this list to help Gen Z grads find cities that offer a balance between rewarding work and a good life,” wrote Mihaela Buzec, the report’s author.

Metrics included the share of Gen Z residents, education levels, unemployment changes, income and job growth, and a composite livability index that factored in socioeconomics, community dynamics and quality of life.

“Ann Arbor takes the top spot with its college-town appeal and competitive job market,” the report noted. The city is home to the University of Michigan, which drives a steady influx of young talent and cultural activity.

Lincoln, Nebraska, and Des Moines, Iowa, followed closely behind.

The report highlighted a trend of Gen Z professionals favoring smaller, affordable cities with strong economic foundations and university presence.

“Ann Arbor takes the top spot with its college-town appeal and competitive job market,” the report noted. AP

“We see the shift in Gen Z’s preferences from the large urban centers to more livable and affordable destinations,” the report stated.

RentCafe.com told FOX Business that among the 122 metros that ranked at the bottom were El Paso, TX; McAllen, TX; Memphis, TN; Stockton, CA; and Lafayette, LA.

“These metros ranked at the bottom of the list not necessarily because they are lacking opportunities, but because they do not align with the core values of Gen Z, especially regarding livability factors and the industries that drive the job market,” according to Mihaela Buzec, a senior writer and researcher.

Lincoln, Nebraska, ranked among the top cities for Gen-Z professionals. Jacob – stock.adobe.com

“Specifically, we can look at metros such as Bakersfield (#116), Modesto (#115), or Beaumont (#114), where the main hiring industries are agriculture, oil and gas, or logistics and manufacturing, not the typical industries that Gen Zs orient themselves to,” Buzec said.

Buzec explained further that Gen Zs prefer communities that “offer a high quality of life, with frequent cultural events, diverse entertainment options, and walkable areas,” which many of the metros that ranked low lacked.

“For instance, McAllen, TX, and El Paso, TX, had the two lowest scores for the livability composite index in our analysis (#122 and #121). One key demographic metric that also influenced this positioning is the lower percentage of highly educated Gen Zs from the total young adult population, meaning there is no large driving force for change at the moment in these specific metros,” Buzec said.

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