Going out to eat in America still follows the same schedule. You start by sitting down, then order your food before enjoying the meal & paying the bill. However, the way that restaurants guide the process has changed over the last few years, thanks to upgrades in technology and loyalty marketing in particular. Dining out has a few extra steps you have to go through, and they’re ones that not everybody enjoys. Here are nine restaurant habits Americans say feel pushy now.
Table-side upselling scripts from servers
Staff training has taught servers to follow structured upselling routines across many national restaurant chains. You’ll rarely find that the servers casually mention an extra item, as instead, they’ll run through several suggestions in a row, like premium sides or upgraded proteins. They’ll also mention add-ons that include bacon & avocado.
Rather than being random suggestions, these are often built into the process of ordering, and the conversation becomes a list of options as soon as the server arrives. You might even notice that the wording and timing sound identical from table to table. It’s rather annoying.
Automatic prompts for appetizers the moment you sit down
The appetizer pitch begins practically as soon as the guests take their seats at some restaurants. Yes, the server will still come to greet the table, but then they’ll follow it up immediately with a question like, “Can I start you with our spinach dip or calamari?” It happens before you’ve even opened the menu.
For the server, the goal is to get something into the kitchen ASAP, yet the timing can be a bit much for the customers. You probably haven’t even had a chance to look at the appetizer list yet. However, you’re expected to answer a question about food that you haven’t seen, and it’s hard not to feel like you’re being rushed.
Servers pushing drinks or alcohol repeatedly
There was once a time when ordering drinks happened a single time at the beginning of the meal. But now, you might be asked several times during the same visit, with the first suggestion coming when the server greets the table. Then comes another prompt during the food order. Rest assured, you’ll be given another drink suggestion when the glasses are nearing half-empty.
They’ll tell you about how great the house cocktail or wine pairing is with your meal. While it may be a regular part of service training, it’s not hard for customers to notice how often the topic of ordering drinks comes up, whether or not they’ve asked for it.
Tablet checkout screens that ask for tips before service
Quite a lot of counter-service restaurants rely on using tablet payment systems, where customers pay before receiving their food. That’s not an issue. But what is a problem is when you turn around the tablet and see large preset tip buttons for 18%, 20%, or even higher, despite the fact that your meal hasn’t been delivered to your table. It’s not even prepared yet.
However, the employee is often standing nearby, waiting for the payment to go through, so you feel pressured into tipping something, anything at all. You just know that the employee is watching the screen.
Staff asking customers to round up their bill for a charity donation
Similarly, it’s common for payment screens to show you a prompt that asks whether you’d like to round up your total to the next dollar. The extra amount is supposed to go to a specific charity that’s connected to the company. In some cases, the server will directly ask you about rounding up while you’re completing the payment.
It makes it seem as though you don’t have any option but to agree, and that’s not a good feeling. Charity should be a person’s choice instead of a pushy obligation that, essentially, works as a tax write-off for a chain.
Restaurants pushing loyalty apps while you’re ordering
Unfortunately, many restaurant chains have invested a lot of their money into mobile loyalty programs, and that means that the staff will bring these programs up when you’re ordering. You’ll be told about how beneficial the loyalty program is because it unlocks discounts or free items. Of course, that comes with the cost of selling your data to the company.
It’s relatively common to see the suggestions while you’re trying to order food, and that makes it seem like the restaurant has added an extra step to the ordering process. Surely it should be easier than this?
QR-code menus that require phone ordering
During the early 2020s, QR-code menus became the only way of seeing what was on offer in most U.S. restaurants. They’ve never left. In fact, in some restaurants, they’ve gone beyond simply showing what’s on the menu, and after scanning the code, you’ll be directed to a page where you can place your entire order through your phone.
You might need to enter the table number & create an account to continue. In some establishments, traditional paper menus aren’t an option, regardless of how much you might dislike dealing with a phone screen instead of a human being. That’s just the way things are.
Servers asking about dessert before the main meal is finished
Yes, your entrée plates may not have even been cleared yet, but you can trust that the server will start asking you about desserts. They’ll probably mention ever so casually that there’s a certain cake or pie available that evening. Really, they’re often doing it because certain desserts are made in limited batches, so they want you to know what’s available. But it’s hard not to feel rushed.
As a result, the decision whether or not to have dessert is likely going to be one that you’ll need to make while your main meal is underway. The idea that you can wait until the end to choose is more fiction than reality.
Staff hovering while you decide what to order
Reading the menu tends to take a few minutes, but in some places, the servers will stay nearby while the guests are ordering. They may also continually check in within a short span of time, almost as though they’re reminding you that you haven’t ordered. They’ll tell you it’s because they want your order fulfilled promptly. But honestly, it puts you under pressure.
You feel as though you need to finalize your order sooner than you expected, and it’s all because someone’s standing there, waiting for your answer. Taking your time to order is no longer an option in many restaurants.
8 Reasons Why Americans Are Done With Tipping
The whole concept of tipping has changed over the years. More & more Americans are sick of tipping workers, and they’ve decided to put an end to it all. Here are eight reasons why they’re feeling that way.
8 Reasons Why Americans Are Done With Tipping