Have you ever heard of restaurant tricks?
Going to a gorgeous restaurant every once in a while feels like a treat to many of us. We dress fancy, wear our best clothes, indulge in exquisite meals, and have a lovely time with the people we love. However, besides this fabulous experience, you will probably go home with an emptier wallet than you intended.
From the way the menu is laid out to how the foods are arranged, the service, the way the staff treats you, the location, and everything in between, many restaurant tricks are used on you. I’ve talked to different experts about all of them, and while some are intuitive, others will blow your mind. Check out these restaurant tricks, and I guarantee you won’t spend that much money again!
1. It’s all about location
It’s believed that the location is key to a restaurant’s success, and that’s true. You can’t fit a fancy restaurant in a bad neighborhood, right? You want to place it in a crowded spot, maybe downtown or somewhere further from the traffic and city’s agitation, like next to the woods or on the lakeside.
But one thing many customers forget about is the fact that the menu’s design is a whole field of study in itself. Whether you dine in a casual or fine place, they all use the same principle. For instance, the middle of the page and its top corners are the zones that draw your eye the most, so that’s the place where higher foods are typically placed. It’s all about strategy. And even if you look at more affordable options, you saw the expensive ones first, and you’re probably craving them now.
2. Highlighting the priciest item
Another smart restaurant trick is placing the priciest item at the top of a menu section, such as the pasta or the seafood section. It will draw your attention there; you might crave it and order it, and if that doesn’t work, you’ll probably think that the other items look more affordable in comparison. Whatever the case may be, it’s a win for the restaurant.
Experts then say that the second and last positions in each section are other areas that draw the eye, so you can expect to see expensive or high-margin items carefully placed there, too.
3. Words, words, words
Imagine that when you select a menu item, it reads something like this: “Crunchy sage leaves from our chef’s herb beds served with crisp slices of Derby cheese on hand-cut fresh brioche, grilled in our sandwich press.” Now take a look at this comparable item from a different menu: “Gourmet grilled cheese sandwich.”
Even if the initial dish is nearly identical, it’s more likely to sell for a higher price. You might wonder why that’s the case. It’s because the language used to promote this excellent dish is carefully selected to make the meal appear more upscale. Given that menu descriptions can alter a customer’s perception of a dish, many consider it a refined art form.
Generally speaking, a restaurant will try to get you to order whatever it has more words dedicated to on the menu. You’ll notice this trick, especially when they use terms that evoke feelings or senses, such as “traditional,” “comforting,” “Grandma’s,” “crisp,” “sizzle,” and “fragrant.”
Don’t forget this restaurant trick, because the staff counts on you paying more attention to the words rather than to the meal itself.
4. Borders and boxes
Boxes and borders are white spaces that immediately draw the eye, so a popular restaurant trick is to put special meals there, such as a pasta al forno section or something exclusive. Long story short, the foods surrounded by a bank area or a box are typically those the restaurateur wants you to order.
Don’t fall for this restaurant trick, because you could find way better deals looking at other parts of the menu. And yes, they will be just as delicious.
5. Pay attention to the sound
Even though you might not pay enough attention to the music playing in your favorite dining place, a smart restaurateur certainly does. People working in the hospitality industry have known for years that up-tempo music makes people eat faster and go on with their days, while slower and more relaxed music creates a soothing vibe that keeps you at the table longer.
One restaurant trick that dictates how your experience will be depends on the music they select. If it’s a crowded place that needs to turn tables quickly to have cash flow, you could expect up-tempo songs. On the other hand, if you go out to dinner at night in a fancy restaurant where the music is mellow, you’re more likely to stay in your seat longer. This will increase the chance of ordering dessert and probably a glass of wine as well.
6. Lighting is key
Did you know that dimmer or brighter lighting could also influence the pace at which you eat? When restaurants use up-tempo music, they’ll also have brighter lights to get you in and out faster. On the other hand, if you enter a local where the music is mellow and the lights are dimmed, the staff hopes you spend more time there and therefore more money too.
7. Other dishes do the trick
Restaurants can manipulate you in the most basic way possible by showing you a dish as it passes your table. A lot of dining places design their dishes to draw your eye as you go through the dining area. Those exquisite meals could be prepared table-side with lots of drama and a sudden flame or might look appetizing enough to make you want to order yourself.
The same goes for steaks or fajitas served on sizzling platters in casual restaurants. The enticing aroma of seared meats and the sound of the sizzling cast iron strongly encourage you to order. That’s right: they sell the sizzle.
8. Bundling up
Bundling menu items is one of the most common restaurant tricks. Experts say it’s a psychological winner thanks to the fact that it offers what seems to be significantly better value for a relatively minor increase in spending. This is a great technique that works at all dining levels.
This is the low end of what happens when you order a combo at your neighborhood burger place or Chinese takeout. It’s surprisingly effective for upscale eating as well. Including a list of several wines with your dinner or serving a bottle instead of a glass increases your table’s overall check.
You can try the delicious pairings your favorite restaurant promotes and you can get flavorful dishes matched with tasty craft beers, spirits, or wines. Knowing what you want to order and sticking with it is a smart way to make the most of this offer. This method works by helping you justify doing something you’d already like to do, so it’s up to you if you fall for this restaurant trick or not.
Do you know any other restaurant tricks that empty your pockets? Let us know in the comments below! If you’d like to learn how to cook meals that are as delicious as those at restaurants, I recommend you check out this incredible cookbook!
If you find this article helpful and you’d like to check out something else from The Price Makers, here’s a good post for you: 8 Smart Ways To Make Passive Income in 2024
