# "Can I interest you in any appetizers? Alcohol? Dessert?"
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [December 7, 2019, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519 "2019-12-07T17:21:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2019, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/1 "2019-12-07T17:21:39Z")
Do the wait-staff at restaurants receive bonuses when we purchase those things? If not, why do they always ask if we want them? (It CAN’T be just “good service!”)
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2019, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/2 "2019-12-07T17:27:27Z")
They have a bigger markup than entrees.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2019, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/3 "2019-12-07T17:35:06Z")
It also makes the waitron’s job easier if they know what you are going to ordering, course-wise. Do they have to go to the bar before submitting your order to the kitchen? Are they going to have to pace the meal out a bit, which will impact how they service their other tables. And asking things like that is just plain Good Service.
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### Author:  [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2019, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/4 "2019-12-07T17:35:30Z")
The higher your bill, the higher their tips, generally.
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### Author:  [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2019, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/5 "2019-12-07T17:53:26Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#):
>
> They have a bigger markup than entrees.
Of interest to the restaurant owner and manager certainly but a server getting $3.59 + tips (in MI) couldn’t care less!
C’mon, Applebees waitperson… why do you unfailingly remember to ask if I’ve left room for dessert?
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2019, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/6 "2019-12-07T17:59:42Z")
Their bosses told them to say that stuff, and so they say it. Even if they’ve given any thought to why they say it, they probably don’t want to risk a supervisor witnessing them not saying those things, and calling them on the carpet for it.
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### Author:  [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2019, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/7 "2019-12-07T18:00:09Z")
> [@2Bits](#):
>
> Of interest to the restaurant owner and manager certainly but a server getting $3.59 + tips (in MI) couldn’t care less!
>
> C’mon, Applebees waitperson… why do you unfailingly remember to ask if I’ve left room for dessert?
Some corporate asshole places like Applebees (though i do3know for sure Applebees does this) force their servers to push the apps, booze, desserts. And punish them if they feel like the servers aren’t doing it. But the carrot to their policy is what i said before, selling those things increases your bill which gets them more tips.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2019, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/8 "2019-12-07T18:01:32Z")
> [@2Bits](#):
>
> Of interest to the restaurant owner and manager certainly but a server getting $3.59 + tips (in MI) couldn’t care less!
>
> C’mon, Applebees waitperson… why do you unfailingly remember to ask if I’ve left room for dessert?
It’s their job. In most jobs you do what is of interest to the owner or manager. And if you were working for tips you’d sure to try to inflate every bill just for the few extra cents.
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### Author:  [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2019, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/9 "2019-12-07T19:56:58Z")
> [@TriPolar](#):
>
> It’s their job. In most jobs you do what is of interest to the owner or manager. And if you were working for tips you’d sure to try to inflate every bill just for the few extra cents.
It maybe as simple as what you suggest. If so, I’d expect hear them suggest more expensive entrees once in a while. I have a hard time believing anyone would be motivated by anticipation of 20% of a “few extra cents.”
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2019, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/10 "2019-12-07T20:06:31Z")
We often share a bottle of wine with our dinner and sometimes want an appetizer. I’m glad they ask. I rarely have room for dessert, but if the coconut cream pie looks tempting enough, a slice to go is a possibility for my gf.
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### Author:  [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2019, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/11 "2019-12-07T20:09:33Z")
> [@2Bits](#):
>
> It maybe as simple as what you suggest. If so, I’d expect hear them suggest more expensive entrees once in a while. I have a hard time believing anyone would be motivated by anticipation of 20% of a “few extra cents.”
>
> Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Except it’s potentially a few extra dollars, not cents. Times how ever many customers you have that night. It adds up. I have yrs of direct experience. If you don’t believe me, I don’t know what else to tell you.
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### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2019, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/12 "2019-12-07T20:11:45Z")
> [@2Bits](#):
>
> It maybe as simple as what you suggest. If so, I’d expect hear them suggest more expensive entrees once in a while. I have a hard time believing anyone would be motivated by anticipation of 20% of a “few extra cents.”
If two people go out for dinner and spend $50 on entrees and appetizers, the waiter will get a $10 tip.
If they push them to get a bottle of wine before hand and desserts afterwards (which may be easier to sell because of the wine), and their bill is $85, the tip would be $17. $7 is a lot more than a few extra sense and if they can bring in an extra $5.00ish per table on just 10 tables, that’s an extra $50 per shift.
Sure, it means the restaurant is bringing in an extra $300-$400, but it’s still money in the waitstaff’s pocket as well.
As far as more expensive entrees, I’m sure they do, but like someone else said, there’s likely more money in the appetizers and desserts that come in frozen as well as the wine than there is in an entree someone has to spend time cooking and plating.
I’d also bet it’s easier to sell someone on appetizers, wine and desserts than it is to upsell them from the $30 steak to the $60 prime rip.
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### Author:  [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2019, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/13 "2019-12-07T20:17:25Z")
We prefer a waitron who inoffensively asks how we’re doing and if we want anything more, to one who silently, dismissively takes our order and delivers it, never appearing or speaking again except to drop the check. The latter EARNS their 10% _propina_, if that much.
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### Author:  [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2019, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/14 "2019-12-07T20:44:14Z")
Servers get larger tips when customers spend more.
Therefore servers encourage customers to spend more.
You don’t get customers to spend more by suggesting that they order another meal, you suggest that they order non-meal things.
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2019, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/15 "2019-12-07T21:31:16Z")
> [@2Bits](#):
>
> Of interest to the restaurant owner and manager certainly but a server getting $3.59 + tips (in MI) couldn’t care less!
>
> C’mon, Applebees waitperson… why do you unfailingly remember to ask if I’ve left room for dessert?
Do you really think they’re offering it on their own? And that their boss didn’t tell them to ask?
And, as pointed out already in the thread, it means a better tip for them.
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### Author:  [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2019, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/16 "2019-12-07T21:59:43Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#):
>
> Do you really think they’re offering it on their own? And that their boss didn’t tell them to ask?
>
> And, as pointed out already in the thread, it means a better tip for them.
Didn’t think they were offering it on their own. I just wondered if they were incentivized with a bonus (other than tip). That’s all.
Apparently not.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2019, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/17 "2019-12-07T22:03:51Z")
I do still trust waiters to be honest with me about which dishes are better, though. Because if the lobster at this restaurant, despite being expensive, just isn’t very good, but the waiter recommended it to me, then that’s likely to lead to me tipping the waiter a lower percentage than if they had instead said “Well, that dish is OK, but I like this one a lot better”, and they steered me towards something that was good.
In practice, though, I often find waiters saying “I haven’t actually tried either of those, so I’m not sure”.
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### Author:  [@Tierce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tierce)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2019, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/18 "2019-12-07T22:12:02Z")
A classic from The Onion:
[Welcome To T.G.I. Fridays! May I Annoy The Living Shit Out Of You?](https://local.theonion.com/welcome-to-t-g-i-fridays-may-i-annoy-the-living-shit-1819583716)
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### Author:  [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2019, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/19 "2019-12-07T22:33:08Z")
As non-drinkers, **Mrs. FtG** and I have been treated quite poorly at some restaurants since we don’t order drinks. The wait staff makes it really freaking clear that we aren’t the type of people they want as clientèle.
Most are okay in this regard, but still they really, really, really want the bigger bill drinks bring (and therefore more profit and bigger tips).
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### Author:  [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2019, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/20 "2019-12-07T23:23:35Z")
You’re at a place where you buy stuff, and you’re surprised when people are trying to sell you stuff?
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