Here are great some great suggestions to help increase your bill size, and hopefully, by increasing your table's bill size, you can also increase your tip size!
A very easy way to increase your table's bill size is to offer appetizers. It is a fair assumption that your customers have come to your restaurant with an appetite, so ordering entrees are an almost guarantee. However, if you suggest that your tables start their meals out with an appetizer, this could easily average out to an extra $5-$15 on their bill size. Appetizers also allow your customers to sample more of the tastes your restaurant has to offer.
A habit I have gotten into, and one that I see the benefits from often, is offering each of my customers a soup or salad before their entree. Once they tell me their order, I casually respond with a "would like to start off with a cup of soup, or a salad?" This technique can add an extra $3-$5 on each of my customer's individual meal price. In addition to offering a soup or salad, I like to recommend adding extra toppings to entrees such as burgers and steaks. This could be anything from grilled mushrooms and onions, to bacon or cheese. They are all additional charges and help to increase your total bill size.
Offering dessert to all of your tables after they have finished with thier entrees, is a great way to increase their bill size. Sometimes tables don't even think about ordering dessert, so walking by with a dessert tray could spark a sweet tooth. Desserts are always another way to offer more of the variety that your restaurant has to offer, while leaving your customers with a sweet taste in their mouths.
Many non-alcoholic beverages, such as sodas, typically include free refills. Alcoholic beverages, however, such as beer and wine, are charged by the glass. Many customers have no problem ordering seconds, but checking on your table's drinks often, and making sure to offer another glass of whatever they are sipping on, can increase how much your customers consume. If your customers don't have to flag you down to refill their drink, they tend to be more satisfied with the service you provide.
This is just a fancy word for what I like to call "sucking up." To be good at schmoozing takes practice, but when you're good at it, this technique can get you far! Schmoozing involves putting on your biggest smile, making your tables feel like they are your most important customers, and filling their every desire. You have to play to your tables in the art of schmoozing. Anything they need, you should try your best to provide. Now of course, some request cannot be made, but schmoozing is more about making your tables feel that you've done all you can, and gone out of your way to provide them the best service possible. As long as your customers’ orders are in correctly, schmoozing is your best friend!
Although the majority of your customers will not need special attention when ordering, many customers have various allergies that need to be handled with care. This is the best time to send a manager or chef over to your table. It is best to be educated on the menu yourself, however, allowing a manger to speak with your customers provides them better confidence that their health needs will be met. A bad food allergy reaction is not a pretty sight, or a pleasant experience for your customer and yourself. It draws negative attention from the rest of your restaurant, so calling a manager over to assist your customers will easily avoid this. Not to mention, your tables will take special notice to the care you provide them when insuring their safety and usually results in a higher tip.
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