This tutorial teaches you how to suggest dishes to guide your guests. Servers learn when to recommend special menu items to inspire ordering without overwhelming guests. Scripts show you timed techniques to redirect decisions, like bouncing back after an appetizer rejection into spotlighting three must haves next.
Master the art of strategic recommendations and your guests will feel taken care of. Servers tempt guests by highlighting dishes they personally love themselves. Tailor tableside suggestions to the guest’s preferences and they’ll leave feeling spoiled and tip more.
Table of Contents
Menu Upsell: Overcoming Objections
You get back to the two-top, feeling good after the greeting. Drinks poured, water filled, and the table is set. Now to tempt them with those appetizers! You suggest the chipotle chicken nachos. Their response? A quick “no thanks” and they bury their heads back in the menu. Record scratch.
Rejection hurts, but don’t let that “no” to apps kill your upsell mojo entirely. Instead, bounce back into recommending the top of the menu next. After all, customized suggestions give you the opportunity to guide the guest towards the dishes you know they’ll love.
Read on for scripts to turn app denials into entree orders and big checks.
Segue Into Signatures
So, cinnamon sugar pretzel knots didn’t do the trick this time. No big deal! Bounce into highlighting your restaurant’s top sellers next:
“No worries, we’ve got tons of great entrees to jump into instead! Our cider-brined chicken is super juicy, just the right amount of sweet and savory. And the Cajun shrimp pasta never fails, loaded with peppers and the most amazing lobster cream sauce.”
See how easily you can bounce from apps into entrees? You’re not dwelling on their no, but redirecting their attention towards the menu must haves that wow almost every guest.
And highlight the items you personally love from your own tastings. Personalized passionate pitches get orders faster than reciting the standard specials. Get into your favorites!
Three Entree Options
Don’t overwhelm the guest with the entire menu. Less is more when it comes to making decisions.
“Let me show you three items that never get sent back. Our smoked salmon flatbread looks almost too good to eat with the whipped feta and candied lemon zest. The porterhouse pork chop is brined overnight for incredible tenderness and juiciness. And the ratatouille stuffed squash blossoms are a light veggie option.”
See how limiting to three makes it easy for them to decide without feeling overwhelmed by too many options? You’re giving them variety without analysis paralysis from too many choices.
Pro Tip: Always include both the description AND the dish name when highlighting recommendations. The details paint a picture while the name helps them match their craving to the menu item once you give them space.
The Follow-Up
You’ve served up a menu sampler platter verbally. But before you float away to take more drink orders or refill ketchup bottles, let the guest know you’ll be back to answer questions or provide additional guidance as they continue to deliberate on their plates.
“I’ll give y’all a few minutes to decide what sounds good. But please holler if you need any help with pairings, prep or portion sizes! I’m happy to weigh in.”
The follow-up is a standard in server workflow that lets them know you’re not leaving them to their own devices but will be back to guide the dish. Sometimes guests just need a few minutes to browse before questions come up. Let them know you’ll be back when needed!
The Anti-Recommendation Table
One out of every 100 tables will flat out reject all suggestions and tell you they’ll do it themselves. Okay, no big deal! No need to force conversation on the uninterested. Just close with:
“No problem at all! Take your time and let those menus work their magic. I’ll explain any dishes if questions come up later.”
Then float away and let them browse, with occasional friendly but silent check-ins. Eventually their curious eyes will pull you back in! But never force interaction on the rare request for alone time.
There you have it — the art of turning app denials into entree wins! Now you can redirect rejections and serve up options like a pro.
The Upshot
In the end, recommending menu items memorably comes down to understanding individual guests. While verbally highlighting popular dishes is a good start, personalizing the experience is what separates the good from the great.
So, be flexible with your suggestions. Highlight options through description rather than demand. And focus on anticipating needs rather than assuming you already know best. It’s the combination of timing and care that turns decent service into amazing hospitality, and leaves guests happy.
Got any other menu recommendation pro tips to help with the restaurant guest experience? Comment below!
