What ‘Chicken-Gate 2026’ Tells Us About Modern Restaurant Economics and the Affordability Crisis in NYC

You’re already suffering from half-chicken fatigue. The phrase “$40 half-chicken” has been evoked with such great repetition, it’s lost all meaning. But the truth is, we’re not really talking about a half-bird anymore. Well, we are — but we’re also talking about the sustainability of restaurant economics, and the bleak, ever-worsening affordability crisis that’s changing both how we eat, and how our local venues operate. For those who have managed to keep news of poultry-gate at bay, the debacle began with an Instagram post from New York City Councilman Chi Ossé, reading: “$40 half-chicken at a wine bar? The article What ‘Chicken-Gate 2026’ Tells Us About Modern Restaurant Economics and the Affordability Crisis in NYC appeared first on VinePair.