So, working in a kitchen you learn and see things from a very different perspective than when you're eating out with friends or family. There are so many things that customers can do, without even realizing it, that come off rude or careless to the kitchen staff. If you ever want to see, fairly accurately, what really goes on behind the kitchen doors at most restaurants, watch the movie "Waiting". Its funny, accurate, and worth your time.
One thing I noticed though is how subconsciously influenced people are by the actions and orders of the tables around them. With uncanny accuracy we can predict the orders of nearly every table after the first table receives their food. If the first people to order get steak, chances are, the vast majority of following orders will be steak. Same with any other entre we serve. Moreover, we noticed that dessert was particularly this way. If the first table didn't order dessert, chances are good that no one else would either. As an experiment, I had our chef give away a desert to the first table to order food for the past couple weeks. The percentage of tables who ordered desert went through the roof. By giving away the first dessert, we were able to almost triple the amount of desserts sold.
It seems that people, without ever realizing it, base much of their consumption behavior on the behavior of those around them. With giving away the first dessert, had we just nudged our customers?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJEsNjH3JT8
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