Choosing an entrée isn’t always easy, especially at a restaurant with an extensive menu.
Many diners find it helpful to ask their server, “What’s your favorite?”, or simply, “What should I order?”
Restaurant professionals, however, say those questions may not always lead to the best recommendation.
Instead, they recommend asking questions that help reveal what a restaurant does best and allow servers to tailor recommendations to your preferences.
Two hospitality experts spoke with Fox News Digital about the best questions to ask before ordering.
Go beyond a server’s personal favorite
Diners can get more useful recommendations by asking questions that go beyond a server’s personal preferences, said Stephanie Mell, owner of Alabama-based ChurchStreet Family Restaurant & Hospitality Group.
“I always find it interesting when someone asks, ‘What’s your favorite thing on the menu?’ Because what I like isn’t necessarily what you’re going to like,” Mell told Fox News Digital.
“I think what people are really asking is, “What’s exciting?’ or ‘What should I experience while I’m here?’”
Mell recommends one of two simple questions to get a better recommendation: “What are you known for?” or “What’s your specialty?”
“Those kinds of questions are great because they start a conversation,” she noted.
“Then we can learn more about what you’re in the mood for and help guide you from there.”
Mell said that her servers don’t necessarily steer people toward their own personal favorites; rather, the focus is “the guest and the experience they’re looking for.”
“Are you looking for something light? Are you in the mood for seafood? Are you having a bold red or a crisp Sauvignon Blanc? Do you have any allergies or dietary preferences?” she said.
“Their goal is usually to help guests have a great experience, not just sell the most expensive item.”
“A good server is trained to understand every dish on the menu, how it’s prepared and who it’s best suited for. The recommendation should be based on what the guest wants, not what the server wants.”
While Mell recommends asking what a restaurant is known for, another restaurant owner suggests a different approach: asking your server what he or she would order that night, since the answer may reflect what’s freshest or being prepared especially well.
Robert Mahon, owner of Mahon Hospitality in New York and Dublin, told Fox News Digital that servers “know which dishes guests consistently love, what’s being executed particularly well that day and what fits different tastes.”
“Their goal is usually to help guests have a great experience, not just sell the most expensive item,” he said.
“One common mistake diners make is ordering what they’re familiar with instead of trying the dishes the restaurant is actually known for,” Mahon said.
Start a conversation
Ultimately, Mell said, the best thing diners can do is have a conversation with their server.
“The more information you give us, the better we can guide you,” she said.
“Tell us what you are thinking about ordering, what you usually drink, whether you are looking for something heartier or lighter … even if it’s your first time dining with us.”
Mell added that the conversation shouldn’t be one-sided. At a good restaurant, she said, “the server should be asking those questions, too.”
“The goal isn’t to tell you what to order. It’s to figure out what is going to create the best experience for you,” she said.
“That’s where the best recommendations come from.”
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