10 things almost every restaurant does to fool you

Every industry has its secrets to success, and cafes and restaurants are no exception. It turns out there are many ways to subtly get a guest to order, and all the extra treats and confectionery from the chefs are just other clever tricks to keep you in the restaurant and push you to order something else.

We talked to people who work as waiters, bartenders, or even those who own their own restaurants to find out more about their secrets.

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1. Tables with great views are offered only to those who came to eat.

Seats with panoramic views of the city or the ocean are always offered to those who come to spend a large amount of money. So, before giving you a seat, the hostess or waiter will ask you, “Are you going to eat?”. If you ask for a table by the sea, but you are only going to order coffee and dessert, you will be told that the table is reserved. And the next one will be booked too.

2. There may not be a children's menu, but they offer special discounts for small portions for children.

There's a reason many restaurants don't have a children's menu. Instead, a caring waiter will offer the child to order something from the regular menu, promising that it will be half the usual portion. And, of course, it will be 1/2 the price. But here's the trick: you'll most likely order a drink and dessert for your child, which will be a regular size. But even with such a discount, the restaurant will still earn.

3. There is one reason why waiters are not allowed to let their hair down or wear jewelry and bright makeup.

Hair should never be loose, make-up should be very simple, there should be no jewelry, and nails should be cut short and not shiny. This is done so that guests do not feel that there may be a piece of nail polish, hair, or an earring on their plate. And sometimes, guests don't like it when waiters or bartenders look better than them.

4. Free treats from chefs are provided only to certain people and at certain times.

Restaurants often give free snacks to their guests, but there is a reason why they do so. Starters make you want to eat more, so you can order alcohol and a free dessert after the main course makes you order coffee or tea. In both cases, this is done so that the guest spends more money. Usually, free meals are given to groups of women as they usually spend more money than men.

5. Some cafes have whole cakes on display, while others have sliced ones. There is a reason why.

In restaurants and cafes, this is a way to create the appearance of scarcity: it seems that at least one person has already bought a piece, so the cake must be good.

6. Some cafes have whole cakes on display, while others have sliced ones. There is a reason why.

Chefs often change the recipe of a familiar dish to save on ingredients. Or, conversely, they may add a tiny ingredient and increase the price significantly. For example, a carbonara might have a couple of grams of Chinese truffles, which cost a little, but most people can't tell the difference between Chinese and Italian varieties.

7. The size of your plate depends on where you are and what you order.

Cafes often use the Delbouf illusion to trick our brains and our eyes. If you put food on a small plate so that it looks full, you will feel full more quickly, even if there was a small amount of food. This trick is often used in eateries, burgers, and buffets. Restaurants use the opposite effect: the main course is served on large plates so you feel hungry and they try to push you to order dessert.

8. By the appearance of the client, the waiters can tell what they will order.

Experienced waiters can guess your favorite dish or drink based on your behavior, clothing, and speech. For example, students and girls under the age of 30 like to order chicken or seafood salads, pasta platters, cream soups, chocolate desserts, teas, and lattes. Men over 30 often order chicken dishes, while children love sausages and french fries.

9. Waiters can control your actions with a smile and a simple bow.

This method is called the Sullivan nod: when recommending a particular dish to a guest, the waiters smile politely, lean forward slightly, and slowly nod their heads. Most people nod back and agree to order whatever the waiter offers them, even if they never planned to do so.

10. Restaurateurs use different materials, shapes, and colors to manipulate the subconscious of guests.

Our brains are easily fooled by tricks related to how we perceive reality. For example, ice cream tastes better when served with a metal spoon, while a green-blue glass makes the drink cooler and fresher. Expensive luxury restaurants serve main courses and delicacies on heavy plates because it makes the food taste better than it actually is.