Handcrafted Appetizers & Party Starters
9 items in this category.
Appetizers set the pace of the meal. Order right and the table stays happy while the mains cook. Order wrong and everyone's full before the entrees land.
This page covers what's usually on a starter menu, which dips match which items, how much to order per person, and what actually survives a delivery drive.
Apps Menu
Apps
Classic FRIDAYS™ Combo
A shareable pick-3 combo of classic starters.
Apps
Mozzarella Sticks
Golden-fried mozzarella and asiago cheese sticks, served with your choice of dipping sauce.
Apps
FRIDAYS™ Signature Whiskey-Glaze Sampler
A sampler plate combining crispy shrimp and our signature whiskey-glazed favorites.
Apps
Boneless Wings
Boneless wings tossed in your choice of sauce, in starter, regular or large portions.
Apps
Traditional Wings
Bone-in wings tossed in your choice of sauce, in starter, regular or large portions.
Apps
Pan-Seared Pot Stickers
Pork dumplings pan-seared and served alongside a Szechwan dipping sauce.
Apps
Crispy Green Bean Fries
Green beans battered and fried until crisp, plated with TGI dipping sauce.
Apps
Spinach Artichoke Dip
A warm dip of spinach, artichoke hearts and Romano cheese, served with tortilla chips for scooping.
Apps
Pretzel Bites
Warm pretzel bites dusted with cinnamon sugar and served with poblano queso.
Kickstart Your Meal: Classic & Crunchy Appetizers
Starter menus at casual dining restaurants tend to follow the same shape.
Fried and crunchy items lead the section. Mozzarella sticks, breaded shrimp, onion rings, and potato skins fall here. They're fast, familiar, and easy to share.
Wings sit in their own lane. They're the one starter that regularly doubles as a main, especially in larger counts with a side of fries.
Dips and nachos cover the shared middle ground. Spinach dip, queso, and loaded nachos feed several people from one plate and don't need utensils passed around.
Lighter starters round out the menu. Skewers, sliders, and salad-style plates work when the main course is heavy and you don't want to double up on fried food.
Samplers combine three or four items on one platter. They cost less than ordering each separately and settle arguments at a table that can't agree.
Signature Dipping Sauces & Pairing Guide
Sauce choice matters more than most people expect. A good pairing balances the starter instead of repeating it.
| Appetizer | Works with | Skip |
|---|---|---|
| Mozzarella sticks | Marinara, garlic aioli | Sweet barbecue |
| Wings (hot) | Blue cheese, ranch | Extra hot sauce |
| Wings (sweet glaze) | Ranch, spicy mustard | Barbecue on barbecue |
| Onion rings | Smoky mayo, honey mustard | Marinara |
| Fried shrimp | Cocktail sauce, tartar | Cheese-based dips |
| Potato skins | Sour cream, ranch | Sweet glazes |
| Nachos | Salsa, sour cream | Heavy cream dips |
The general rule: fried and salty items want something creamy or acidic. Sweet-glazed items want something sharp. Cheesy items want something fresh.
Most locations will give you extra dip cups. Ask when you order rather than after the food arrives.
Portion Guide: Solo vs. Sharing Samplers
Ordering by headcount is easier than ordering by item.
- 1 to 2 people: one standard appetizer, or a half portion if offered
- 3 to 4 people: one sampler platter, or two standard starters
- 5 to 8 people: two samplers plus one dip or nacho plate
- 9 or more: platter-sized orders, ordered ahead
If entrees are coming, cut those numbers down. Two starters for four people is plenty when mains follow. If starters are the whole meal, roughly double it.
Wings are the exception. Count 5 to 6 wings per person if they're the main event, 3 if they're a warm-up.
Freshness Guarantee for Takeout & Delivery
Fried food loses its texture fast. It isn't the food going bad, it's steam trapped in the container softening the coating.
A few things help:
- Ask for sauces on the side so nothing sits in liquid
- Crack the container lid open when you get home to let steam escape
- Reheat in an oven, air fryer, or skillet rather than a microwave, around 375°F for a few minutes
- Order dips and cold items separately from hot items
Items that travel well: wings, potato skins, onion rings, sliders, quesadillas.
Items better eaten in-house: anything with melted cheese pull, delicate breading, or a fresh topping added at the last second.
For delivery, shorter distance beats everything else. If the drive is over 20 minutes, pickup usually gives you noticeably better food.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Cheese-based items, fried vegetable starters, spinach dip, nachos without meat, and mozzarella sticks are the usual vegetarian picks. Check whether items share a fryer with meat products if that matters to you, and confirm dip ingredients at your location.
Most starters include a standard dip. Extra sauces are typically available on request and may carry a small charge at some locations. Ask when placing the order, since sauces are easier to add before the plate leaves the kitchen.
Sampler platters, wings, and loaded nachos are the most reliable group orders. They portion easily, don't need plating, and cover a range of tastes. For eight or more people, two samplers plus a dip plate usually works better than one large item.
Yes, starters are generally cooked when the order is placed rather than held. Because of that, fried items are best eaten within about 20 minutes. Timing your pickup close to the quoted ready time makes a noticeable difference.
Some locations allow custom samplers, others only offer preset combinations. If a custom mix isn't available, ordering two smaller starters is usually a close substitute at a similar price. Ask the restaurant directly before assuming.
Ordering Smart
Two starters with different textures beat three of the same. One fried, one fresh, one dip on the side keeps the table interested and leaves room for the main course.