Perhaps it depends on the kind of restaurant, I don’t know. I ask the question when I really have no idea, and I don’t care that you don’t like the same food I do. In fact, I would almost prefer you didn’t, because when I eat and ask this question, it’s because I want to try something I might not normally try out. It has to be the right restaurant where I ask this question, but I do. And it’s often with an ethnic cuisine I’m not super familiar with, but not necessarily. I find the servers (and often owners) steer me to foods I would never have thought of trying otherwise, and I’m glad they did.
One of my favorite experiences was going to a local Middle Eastern place that I heard was great, but flew a bit under the radar, as it was on the Southwest Side of Chicago in a neighborhood where the Middle Eastern population had mostly moved out. So it was a quiet, unassuming joint putting out great food. My wife and I went in there for dinner one day, asked them what was good, and the waitress (wife of the owner), asked me if it was our first time there. I said “yes.” She said, “we’ll take care of you,” took away our menus, and asked us if we had any food allergies or aversions like lamb. We said “no” and proceeded to have one of the most wonderful meals I could remember. And it was cheap, under $50 for the both of us with drinks. That’s the kind of stuff I love as a diner, but I know it’s not what everyone loves. And I like a restaurant and a waitstaff that can confidently tell me what they like or what the restaurant is particularly proud of/known for. I’m not asking them to guess what I like. \ That’s not my question. Obviously, I’m not going to do this at a Cracker Barrel, but in most places I have asked this question, I have gotten into interesting discussions about the food, but I do tend to eat at smaller, family-run establishments if I go out to eat (which is like once a month.)
Speaking of restaurant pet peeves and fucking Cracker Barrel, me and my GF at the time went in one in eastern Ohio and had to wait for a seat in the back even though several perfectly open and clean tables by the entrance were available. They didn’t “want to upset their clientel coming into the restaurant” This was because I am white and she is of Vietnamese descent (though American and raised by Italian-Americans.)
A lot of chain restaurants seem to have those terminals, but I’ve yet to see one where I could actually order entrees; they’re limited to drinks, appetizers, and desserts.
I’ve had success while traveling with a question like this:
“This is the first time I’ve ever been here, and unfortunately I’m from out of town and might not be back for quite a while. Between ____ and _____, which would you recommend?”
They’re usually happy to indicate one over the other, and quick to give an explanation: this one’s good, but that one’s really one of our specialties; the ingredients for this one are just a little more innovative, that kind of thing.I always take their advice.
I’ve always been happy with the result. Now maybe I would have preferred the other one, who knows?
That’s leisure, hours-long meal is something we do occasionally, but most of the time we don’t want to spend so much time sitting around a table eating and just talking. Even if we are just talking about recreation—There are books to read, walks to take, shows to watch, movies to attend, people to talk to, art to make, etc. and I need at least 7 1/2 hours sleep to function the next day. I’m not going to want to chitchat with a restaurateur well past midnight on a regular basis.
I read somewhere that to avoid having the server push whatever they are told to, you should ask “What is popular” or “What is your best seller”. As far as prices go, they are providing a service and a product and you deserve to know the price before you commit. In addition, if a fish or something similar is listed as “market price” the server should be able to tell you what it actually costs on that day. Finally, to really confuse people who thank you, do what I am told they are instructed to do a certain chicken fast food restaurant and reply “My pleasure”. It will confuse everyone.