Welcome to NY...
Welcome to NY, we've had this enforced since since July, with just as funny outcome due to it being so vague and wiggly worded.
Originally "must be served with food", and then people just bought a bag of chips or a soft pretzel.
Quickly changed to "substantive food".
Chicken wings were suggested to not be "substantive food", and we nearly had riots before it was backtracked.
But a small sandwich with chips was ok. As long as it wasn't too small...
As of the last time I was out at a bar (early October?), a mid-size 100mmx100mm square of tomato pie was on the menu and apparently counted.
I had ordered a full Friday Fish Fry though, because I actually went for food instead of just beers.
Funny to think that ordering the full appetizer sampler platter would technically be against the rule as it's all hors d'oeuvres.
Pints all around. Mine, in 5 hours, is going to be a canned Guinness poured in the special glass, at the house, on the couch, doing my part to stay out of that whole debacle.