Expert Restaurateurs Share Key Questions for Unforgettable Dining Experiences

Navigating an extensive restaurant menu can often present a delightful challenge for diners. Many patrons instinctively turn to their server for guidance, frequently inquiring, "What's your favorite?" or "What do you recommend?"

However, culinary professionals suggest that these common questions might not always lead to the most suitable meal suggestion.

Instead, they advocate for a more strategic approach, encouraging guests to pose questions that unveil a restaurant's true culinary strengths and enable staff to offer recommendations perfectly aligned with individual tastes.

Beyond Personal Preferences

Stephanie Mell, who owns the Alabama-based ChurchStreet Family Restaurant & Hospitality Group, explains that diners can secure more valuable advice by looking past a server's individual preferences.

Mell observes that what guests are often truly seeking is,

"What's exciting?" or "What should I experience while I'm here?"

To elicit a superior recommendation, Mell proposes two straightforward inquiries: "What are you known for?" or "What's your specialty?"

She notes,

"Those kinds of questions are great because they start a conversation."

This conversational opening then allows the server to delve deeper into the diner's specific desires, guiding them more effectively.

Mell emphasizes that her team's recommendations prioritize the guest's desired experience, not their own personal tastes. She illustrates the depth of inquiry a server might undertake:

"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 further explains,

"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."

Discovering the Best of the Day

While Mell highlights the importance of understanding a restaurant's signature offerings, another restaurant owner suggests a slightly different tactic: asking the server what they personally would choose to order that particular evening.

This approach can often reveal dishes that are exceptionally fresh or being prepared with particular expertise on that specific day.

This owner commented that servers are typically motivated by a desire to ensure guests have an excellent experience, rather than simply promoting the priciest items on the menu.

Mahon adds that a frequent misstep patrons make is opting for familiar dishes instead of venturing to try the unique preparations for which the establishment is truly renowned.

The Art of a Two-Way Conversation

Ultimately, Mell asserts that the most effective strategy for diners is to engage in a genuine conversation with their server.

She states,

"The more information you give us, the better we can guide you."

Guests are encouraged to share details such as their initial thoughts on ordering, their usual drink preferences, whether they prefer a hearty or lighter meal, and even if it's their inaugural visit.

Mell also points out that this dialogue should not be one-sided. In a well-run establishment, she believes,

"the server should be asking those questions, too."

She concludes by summarizing the true objective of this interaction:

"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."

It is from this collaborative exchange, she affirms, that the most satisfying recommendations emerge.