8 Sneaky Ways Restaurants Get You to Spend More
Restaurants are designed to make you feel relaxed — and a little more willing to spend. These subtle tactics are widely used to boost your bill without you even noticing.
Strategic Menu Layouts
Menus often hide cheaper items in hard-to-spot corners while placing higher-priced dishes front and center where your eyes naturally land first.
Mouthwatering Descriptions
Dishes are described with words like “hand-crafted,” “slow-roasted,” and “signature” to justify higher prices and make items sound irresistible.
No Dollar Signs
Many menus remove “$” signs so you think less about the actual cost and focus more on the food itself.
Upselling by Servers
Servers are trained to suggest extras like premium sides, add-ons, or specialty drinks in ways that sound helpful rather than salesy.
Expensive Decoy Items
Comparison adds very high-priced dishes to the menu to make slightly expensive items feel like a better “deal”.
Automatic Add-Ons
Items like bread baskets, bottled water, or table-side sauces may be added without clearly stating they cost extra.
Cozy Atmosphere Tricks
Dim lighting, soft music, and comfy seating are designed to keep you relaxed and lingering — which often leads to ordering more.
Dessert and Drink Menus After the Meal
Showing desserts and specialty drinks only after you’ve eaten makes you feel like the meal isn’t complete without a final indulgence.
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