The Brief

Americans are becoming more decisive about what they will—and won’t—tolerate when dining out, according to new research from Lightspeed Commerce Inc.

Of 1,000 consumers surveyed, 40% said rude service would keep them from returning to a restaurant, followed by cold food (34%), long waits (27%), and sticky menus or tables (24%).

In many cases, diners leave before they even order: nearly 1 in 3 said they’ve walked out due to long wait times, while 1 in 5 said rude staff drove them out the door.

The backstory:

The research also found more adults are ordering off the kids’ menu, with 44% admitting they’ve chosen smaller meals typically marketed for children.

The reasons included smaller portions (38%), simpler choices (37%), and lower prices (31%). From mini burgers to mac an

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