Selling More Appetizers

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Permalink Reply by Michele Wagaman on January 3, 2012 at 2:39pm

Selling appetizers can be very challenging.  Often times, patrons will hold off ordering an appetizer because they know they won't finish all of their meal due to large portions.  Although I'm not as bad as I used to be, I'm still a pretty picky eater, so whenever suggesting an appetizer or side order to a guest, I always throw that tid bit of information in there.  "I'm normally a picky eater, but our garlic breadsticks with cheese are to DIE for."  Patrons take this as, "Well if she likes it, it must be good!"  I can't say it works everytime, what pitch does?  But most of the time, it does!

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Permalink Reply by David Rothschild on March 15, 2012 at 9:10am

As a manager I often conducted sales challenges with my staff. A friendly contest of, "Whoever sells the most apps in a two week period wins ..." Friendly competition usually builds camaraderie and a sense of team.

 As far as a pitch. I think that every table has to be read and approached individually. I ask my servers to try to sell a shared app if they've encountered the small appetite guest.

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