Restaurants turn to mini cocktails to lure customers in age of Ozempic

Bars and eateries are adapting to the Ozempic era by offering mini cocktails.“Mini martinis” as small as 1.5 ounces and flights of “baby negronis” that let you sample different flavors are on a growing number of menus throughout the city and beyond as American waistlines and alcohol consumption continue to shrink.“GLP-1s are taking a bite out of people’s appetites and alcohol consumption habits are changing, too,” said Clinton Hall owner Aristotle “Telly” Hatzigeorgiou, referring to weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.“Americans are also feeling the pinch with tax time being around the corner,” he told Side Dish. “We launched our ‘teeny-weeny mini meal’ paired with a mini drink to lessen food waste and provide an affordable $8 alternative to our regular-sized menu items.”At Lele’s Roman in Brooklyn’s Ace Hotel — where chef Francesco Battistia has put together a menu inspired by Rome’s trendy Trastevere neighborhood — a baby negroni makes a star appearance on their aperitivo menu for $5 at happy hour.The restaurant also offers a baby negroni series, a trio of 2.5-oz.pours that lets diners sample different variations: classic (Tanqueray, bitters and sweet vermouth), the bianco (Hendrick’s, Italicus and Lillet Blanc) and the robusto (Pedro Ximénez sherry and Luxardo Bitter Rosso).

The flight is offered for $22, with a single dose going for $9 outside of happy hour.“Smaller serves allow people to try multiple flavors in one evening, similar to a tasting menu, making the experience more social and exploratory,” said Giacomo Ellena, director of bar operations for LDV Hospitality, which owns Lele’s Roman.Mini cocktails can actually be lucrative, too, he said.They “encourage guests to order more rounds and experiment with different options, often increasing overall spending while keeping the experience light and approachable,” Ellena added.Mini cocktails have also caught on at Raf’s in NoHo.The eatery from the ...