Dessert?
Having your table hang around for another half an hour just to add $8-10 to the check isn't exactly the best way to optimize your money making potential, so if you're on a wait, it might not be worth mentioning. If you miss out on a whole turn because of it, it will really hurt you. Another problem with desserts is that sometimes your table will decline the dessert, but stay for coffee; this is even worse.
If you don't want to sell dessert, just bring out the check when they are close to finishing and say something like, "will you folks be needing anything else today/tonight?" Try not to say, "were you guys going to stick around for dessert?", while you're waving the check around at them, that sends the message that you're trying to push them out. They may stay just to spite you!
When you're not on a wait, offering dessert is a good thing. A lot of tables eat dessert pretty quickly and don't really stick around all that much longer, so sometimes selling dessert can increase your sales. If your restaurant prints a sheet showing everyone's sales numbers, I guarantee the dessert sales will fluctuate the most between servers. This is because most servers don't ever make an effort to pitch desserts.
If you want to sell dessert, don't use the word "dessert"! This word has a connotation of excess and over-indulgence. Instead, say something like, "you should stay and have a slice of the (insert dessert), it's actually really good and we make it here. We also have fresh brewed coffee and some other good after-dinner drinks."
If you don't want to sell dessert, just bring out the check when they are close to finishing and say something like, "will you folks be needing anything else today/tonight?" Try not to say, "were you guys going to stick around for dessert?", while you're waving the check around at them, that sends the message that you're trying to push them out. They may stay just to spite you!
When you're not on a wait, offering dessert is a good thing. A lot of tables eat dessert pretty quickly and don't really stick around all that much longer, so sometimes selling dessert can increase your sales. If your restaurant prints a sheet showing everyone's sales numbers, I guarantee the dessert sales will fluctuate the most between servers. This is because most servers don't ever make an effort to pitch desserts.
If you want to sell dessert, don't use the word "dessert"! This word has a connotation of excess and over-indulgence. Instead, say something like, "you should stay and have a slice of the (insert dessert), it's actually really good and we make it here. We also have fresh brewed coffee and some other good after-dinner drinks."