For every great, new menu item, there are dozens more that don’t dazzle diners. And with restaurants facing rising labor and food costs, it’s more important than ever to get customers through the door ...

A version of this article appears in print on March 22, 2023, Section D, Page 7 of the New York edition with the headline: How to Read a Menu Like a Food Critic.

Hosting a dinner party large or small? Here's how to make food for a crowd that satisfies every eating plan without the drama.

Restaurants already use a number of hacks to make you think the food you’re ordering is cheaper than it already is.