# "Can I interest you in any appetizers? Alcohol? Dessert?" **URL:** \ **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:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/21 "2019-12-07T23:43:31Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > 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. Really? We drink iced tea. Couple of bucks and free refills. I eat out 4-5 times a week, hundreds of times a year at sports bars and chain restaurants. I can’t even imagine a server acting that way. At my regular spots they have the iced tea pouring as soon as they see me walk in. I do tip well since I never spend very much. Always 20% plus a buck or two. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Colossus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.colossus/32/9423_2.png) [@Dr.Colossus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Colossus)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/22 "2019-12-08T00:18:52Z")
When I waited tables, we were told by management to up-sell/suggestive sell. I don’t like people doing it to me when I go out so I didn’t do it to others when I waited on them. However, there was more incentive other than just creeping on extra tips: Often management would grill you on if you were doing it or not and you could get in trouble, but more than that, almost every weekend we’d have a contest for “who can sell the most of Item X,” which usually was an app or a dessert. The winner got $50, or no closing chores, or whatever the prize was (varied). As a contest, it worked–my coworkers could be pretty competitive. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/23 "2019-12-08T00:47:48Z")
Once my parents went to Bob Evans. The server asked if they wanted pie. When they ordered ice cream instead, the server was visibly disappointed. Mom said, “You’re supposed to push that pie, aren’t you?” She laughed and admitted it. ---
**Author:** ![2Bits](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e95f7d/32.png) [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/24 "2019-12-08T02:26:54Z")
> [@Dr.Colossus](#): > > When I waited tables, we were told by management to up-sell/suggestive sell. I don’t like people doing it to me when I go out so I didn’t do it to others when I waited on them. > > However, there was more incentive other than just creeping on extra tips: Often management would grill you on if you were doing it or not and you could get in trouble, but more than that, almost every weekend we’d have a contest for “who can sell the most of Item X,” which usually was an app or a dessert. The winner got $50, or no closing chores, or whatever the prize was (varied). As a contest, it worked–my coworkers could be pretty competitive. Ah-HA! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro ---
**Author:** ![aktep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@aktep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aktep)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/25 "2019-12-08T05:41:34Z")
A few members of my family have worked as waitpeople. All of them had some sort of contest or incentive to sell a table on apps, drinks, entrees and a dessert. I want to say they called it something like a “full ticket”. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/26 "2019-12-08T09:19:50Z")
> [@2Bits](#): > > 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!”) 1. It’s their job to sell food for the restaurant. 2. Such purchases increase the total bill, which tends to mean an increased tip. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/27 "2019-12-08T10:36:04Z")
they also get bonuses and such if you say yes and some places fired if they dont … ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/28 "2019-12-08T10:51:35Z")
When they ask about dessert or coffee, it’s also a polite way to plant the bug that your time is up. Basically another way of saying, “you’re taking up valuable space, so if you’re not gonna order something, GTFO!” ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/29 "2019-12-08T15:27:57Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > 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). Spousal unit and I don’t drink either but we’ve never felt like we were treated differently because of it. Maybe it’s the type of restaurants we patronize. I tend to avoid caffeinated drinks after noon, so I usually just order water, and since that doesn’t get added to the tab, I tend to tip more generously in that case, not that a server knows that ahead of time. But if they keep my water and my husband’s tea glasses full, we are fiscally appreciative. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2019, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/30 "2019-12-17T00:47:17Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > they also get bonuses and such if you say yes and some places fired if they dont … Yes ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2019, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/31 "2019-12-17T01:20:34Z")
On a side note, has anyone ever had a server ask you if wanted some alcohol? I’ve generally been asked if I want a drink. Or maybe if I would like some wine or beer or a cocktail. But I’ve never been asked if I wanted alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2019, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/32 "2019-12-17T01:39:26Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > 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. There are also people called secret shoppers, who will rate you on a list of requirements provided by the franchise. They definitely note when you don’t upsell. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2019, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/33 "2019-12-17T02:35:51Z")
> [@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.” That’s what them telling you the specials is for. But mostly, the menu is designed to get you to buy more expensive stuff. Restaurants often feature a most expensive entree that no one orders, than another one - still more expensive than normal - priced below it. People anchor on the higher price, and consider the next highest priced entree a bargain. Featuring an entree also increases sales. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2019, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/34 "2019-12-17T04:10:26Z")
A few extra cents? Where I live those things are $5 each at middling restaurants. They’re getting a buck or more in tips for each sold at 20%. It would be stupid NOT to ask if you want apps and dessert. Takes 2 seconds and the worse thing you’ll get is a no. Personslly I feel weird asking for dessert at the end if the server doesn’t offer it. Hasn’t happened very often, but it has happened. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2019, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/35 "2019-12-17T06:22:16Z")
It’s fairly common and I’ve always thought it was no harm no foul in the USA. When I worked as a server, I used it as a way to mention the featured cocktail of the day, one of the beers on tap and then Pepsi, since we were Pepsi, not Coke. When I mentioned appetizers, I usually mentioned the ones that could make an light meal. Desserts weren’t big, but it was the rare person who wanted an dessert after one of our entrees, especially if it came with soup or salad. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2019, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/36 "2019-12-17T20:04:07Z")
Why would you not offer dessert??? If you just drop off the bill (and yeah that happens) they’re gonna be pissed if they had intended to buy dessert or coffee. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2019, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519/37 "2019-12-17T20:55:41Z")
At the Italian chain restaurant I worked at in the 1990s, one of the managers implemented a leaderboard for the wait staff, on prominent display in the back of the house. It tracked average “add-ons” per check for each server. Add-ons were anything that was not an entree, and were broken down by type on the leaderboard: appetizers, alcohol, desserts, and other. The “other” category tracked items such as soft drinks, extra salad, extra meatballs, etc. Anything that wasn’t a stock entree was included. There were small monetary bonuses for doing well on the leaderboard. No one that I know of was ever disciplined for ever finishing low on the board. I remember also that servers who finished consistently high on the leaderboard would most typically get the plum stations on the busiest money-making nights – or else have other schedule privilege (e.g. essentially making their own schedule, flexible days off). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-interest-you-in-any-appetizers-alcohol-dessert/844519.md?page=1)