non’trée
n.— «Bay Area waiters have a nickname for many of their customers these days: the non’trée. Non’trée (pronounced “non-tray”) refers to the folks who order appetizers rather than a pricier entree—a popular practice in economic hard times.» —“Hard times hit Bay Area restaurants” by Stacy Finz San Francisco Chronicle (California) Dec. 7, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
The words tough, through, and dough all end in O-U-G-H. So why don’t they rhyme? A lively new book addresses the many quirks of English by explaining the history of words and phrases. And: have you ever been in a situation where a group makes...
A librarian opens a book and finds a mysterious invitation scribbled on the back of a business card. Another discovers a child’s letter to the Tooth Fairy, tucked into a book decades ago. What stories are left untold by these forgotten...
Excellent word! My youngest son (26, alas) is a waiter in Southern California, working his way through college. He was unfamiliar with the term but immediately identified with it and I’m certain it will be making the rounds in this region shortly.