For Restaurant Servers: Guide Your Guests

When suggesting appetizers and desserts, have you ever noticed that some guests never quite say yes or no? They may mumble that they’re “kind of full” or “not sure.” Indecisive guests want guidance. Who better to offer direction than their server?

If you suggest dessert and a party of two or more hesitates, never say: “I’ll give you a few more minutes” and then leave the table. Instead, suggest they share, using this dialogue: “You know, all of our desserts come with multiple forks!” The same strategy works well when suggesting appetizers.

Another way to guide your guests is to suggest your favorite items. Your endorsement carries a lot of clout. “Make sure you save room for one of our great desserts. The apple pie is my favorite, but the bread pudding is a close second.”

When a guest asks “What’s good today?” describe the specials, and if you’ve tried one that you especially like, remember to endorse it: “I tried the veggie quesadilla before my shift and it’s really good!”

From the interactive waitstaff training workbook Work Smarter Not Harder: The Service That Sells! Workbook. Click here to read more.