According to research, what would make you get expensive food in a restaurant: red carpets, classical music, crystal ashtrays, or flowers on table?

griffinj

Recent research indicates that classical music tends to cause people to spend more, especially on extras, such as cocktails, appetizers, desserts, cheese boards, etc. Red is often used in restaurants as it is said to stimulate the appetite. Nov 03 03, 8:45 AM

Doug1230

If anyone out there is in the restaurant industry, I'd like to get their thoughts about dessert carts. I rarely order dessert after a meal, but I've never declined the dessert cart. I think the concept is clever in it's simplicity: it's not a matter of "if", but of "which"... Nov 03 03, 9:07 AM

Senior Moments

Crystal ashtrays would have an adverse effect on a lot of people. Nov 03 03, 9:52 AM

Siskin

Red carpets add warmth,plushness and cosyness, thereby ensuring persons part with cash for the more expensive dishes! Classical music (not muzak) is ok providing it's at a level that said persons can converse. Crystal ashtrays is a definite turn round and walk out. A single fresh flower is good - unless person is allergic. Nov 03 03, 10:07 AM

Senior Moments

A forged credit card would help Nov 03 03, 10:10 AM

griffinj

Or a generous friend, SM. Smoking in restaurants is now illegal in many, if not most states in the US. The ban has been extended to bars in California and New York, and probaly others. I live on the Utah/Idaho border, it's legal in Idaho, not in Utah. Nov 03 03, 10:27 AM

griffinj

After checking with my roommate who has managed restaurants, I'm told that a dessert cart can more than double the sales of desserts. So, Doug, you are not alone. I worked in a steak house that once tried the same sort of idea with steaks: a selection of raw steaks would be brought to the table and customers would make their choice. It was a tragic disaster! People would change their order to chicken or fish. The servers were not surprised, managment was. Nov 03 03, 10:44 AM

Doug1230

How gauche... I once ate at the steakhouse chain Lone Star (they should have left off the "L", but I digress), and their schtick is that after you place your order, the waitress takes you into the kitchen to show you what your steak looks like raw. Imagine the awkwardness of my friend and I having to leave our wives at the table (they ordered the chicken - smart), while a 17-year-old chickey-poo led us into a noisy kitchen where they displayed various raw cuts of beef. Oh, so THAT'S what a raw Porterhouse looks like! I never would have imagined! Nov 03 03, 11:47 AM

Linus_337

Further to griffinj's answer, the research found that people spent around 10% more with classical music being played in the background, when compared to pop music. Additionally, diners listening to pop music tended to spend around 5% more than those who ate with no background music. Nov 03 03, 3:27 PM