10 psychology tricks restaurants use to manipulate customers

Since eating out is such a common activity, there are chances you might not have put much thought into figuring out the amount of work that goes into creating your dining experience. Well, fret not as we’ve got you some sneaky tricks that restaurants use to lighten up your wallet. 

Expensive dishes at the top of the menu 

Restaurants usually put their more profitable items in the upper-right corner as studies have proven that diners are likely to order the first item their eye is drawn to. Another reason this works is that when you see a really expensive dish at first glance, the rest of the menu might seem reasonably priced in comparison.

Use colours to impact eating pattern 

The colour of eating outlets impacts a customer’s eating pattern. Yellow is an irritating colour that makes people want to leave, whereas red attracts people and stimulates appetite. Thus, fast food outlets like McDonald’s, Burger King, etc use a combination of red and yellow in their logo. 

Formal and expensive restaurants happen to use the colour green more as it relaxes people and makes them stay. 

Remove a slice of cake 

When you walk into a restaurant or bakery, you might rarely see an untouched cake or cheese block on the shelf. Some restaurants often remove a slice of an untouched cake or cheese block to give the impression that the item is high in demand. 

Suggest upgrades 

While a customer is ordering food, waiters often order upgrades like extra cheese or sprinkles, but they often do it without mentioning the price of the upgrade. When a customer is offered an upgrade without mentioning the price, they are likely to say yes as they can’t evaluate the affordability of the item. 

Expensive cocktail in hands

Waiters deliberately walk around the restaurant with impressive cocktails in their hands to entice customers. With the interesting cocktail time and again catching the eye of the customer, they are likely to be interested in trying it. 

Avoid things near the registers 

When a customer is closer to an object, they are more likely to buy it. Hence, the area near the cash registers is often filled with impulse items that usually cost less. 

More options to make you spend more 

Fast food restaurants provide a number of size options for one item as more choices create an impetus to spend more. Providing a larger size by charging only a few rupees more makes most customers opt for the upgrade. 

 Offer specials verbally

We mostly don’t find the specials on the menu in a fine dining restaurant. Waiters usually tell customers the specials verbally as they know that no one wants to appear cheap by asking for the price. Also, men are more likely to accept a waiter’s offer for an impressive wine or dessert on a date. 

Mention dessert before the meal 

Servers often drop in a small mention about the dessert at the beginning of the meal so that customers have it on their mind while enjoying the main course. As the customers are already thinking about dessert, they are more likely to go ahead and order some. 

Be nice to kids  

Most servers are often especially nice to kids, not because they like them but because they know that the parents are likely to take note and tip them extra.