I was lurkin' on the forum site Quora, researching my Meyers-Briggs personality type (INTP, in case you're wondering) and doing some lite soul-searching, when I stumbled upon this thread about the tricks that servers use that, as an unassuming customer, you might never have noticed.
It's fascinating.
1. Remove a slice from an untouched cake or cheese block to give the impression the item is in HIGH DEMAND.
2. Parrot the customer's order back to them to make them feel an increased confidence that ~you got this~.
3. Suggest upgrades (like a cheese upgrade on a burger) without mentioning the price to make the customer more likely to say yes.
4. Put two straws in a glass, especially if it's a frozen drink, so people will drink them faster.
5. Return a customer's bill with their credit card on top of the bill folder, not inside of it.
6. Once guests are comfortably seated, hand them a menu that's open to the most expensive page so it's the first thing they see.
7. Walk around with an expensive, eye-catching cocktail on your tray all night to entice restaurant guests.
8. Do an "encouraging nod" while suggesting a food upgrade to send a positive subliminal message.
9. Always have spare cutlery handy.
10. Be especially nice to the children.
11. Plant the seed. The dessert seed, that is.
12. Here's a weird one that supposedly works: Wear earrings shaped like food.
