| 100% | STARTER | 7 | Dish that comes before the main course? |
| 66% | CELLAR | 6 | Salt __, glass dish that came before the shaker |
| 65% | MENU | 4 | Carte that comes before the course |
| 54% | OPENER | 6 | Band that comes on before the main act |
| 54% | OPENER | 6 | It comes before the main event |
| 53% | APP | 3 | Food before the main course, for short |
| 52% | APP | 3 | Food ordered before the main course, for short |
| 51% | SIDESALAD | 9 | Dish that may accompany a main course, and what can be found at the start of 17-, 25-, 38-, or 53-Across? |
| 49% | ENTREE | 6 | Dish before a main course |
| 47% | OVERANDOVER | 11 | Repeatedly, or what can come before the main components of 17-, 30-, 39-, or 46-Across |
| 47% | ENTREE | 6 | Dish served before a main course |
| 46% | FOR | 3 | Word that comes before Dummies in the titles of well over 300 books |
| 46% | AORTA | 5 | Main artery that comes from the heart |
| 45% | HOTPAD | 6 | Place for a dish that's come from the oven |
| 44% | SWEET | 5 | The kind of dishes that are served before fruits in a multi-course meal |
| 43% | APPETIZER | 9 | A small dish before the main meal, a starter |
| 42% | APPEAR | 6 | Come before the court |
| 41% | DESSERT | 7 | Food item served after the main course |
| 41% | SIDE | 4 | It's served with the main course |
| 41% | SIDES | 5 | They're served with the main course |
| 41% | WING | 4 | Part of a large building that comes off the main |
| 40% | TAU | 3 | Letter that comes before upsilon |
| 40% | ONE | 3 | Number that comes before two |
| 40% | ESS | 3 | Letter that comes before "tee" |
| 40% | TIS | 3 | It comes before the season |
| 40% | ALA | 3 | It comes before the carte |
| 40% | CALM | 4 | What comes before the storm |
| 40% | RAILCAR | 7 | It comes before the caboose |
| 40% | TRIP | 4 | What comes before the fall? |
| 40% | DESSERT | 7 | Sweet after the main course |