The number of middle-class restaurants in New Jersey is decreasing as the gap between casual and fine dining shrinks, according to a study by market research and data firm You. Denise Bazzarelli, a mother of three from Bergen County, used to eat out at least once a week but now only spends a couple of times a month at a restaurant due to rising costs. The study also revealed that around 37% of Americans are now spending less on dining out less frequently than they did in 2024, and 54% have adjusted to spending less and eating less at cheaper restaurants. Restaurants across New Jersey are struggling to adapt to changing tastes and a business model that no longer guarantees steady business growth.