Servers/Waitresses: what to say when a customer asks if you like something on the menu?

I think it depends on management. In my experience, it seems a little more truth than dishonesty. Some managers like to push a certain product, some let the servers be honest. I try to avoid asking servers that. Your best bet is word of mouth through other people that have been there. The server, after all, probably only likes one thing and has never tried anything else. Lastly, if the customer is that dumb to ask, the server gets to sell them on anything he or she wants to. What would I do if I was the server? I'd be honest and say I don't have a favorite, I'm still deciding but I do like this <pointing at menu>.

Depends on the restaurant/management and the dish in question. When I waited tables and people asked me that sort of question, I'd usually say I liked the dish, but I'd also clarify certain qualities just to make sure it was what the diner wanted. For example: "I love that dish, but I should tell you that some people find that dish to be really spicy. Do you enjoy spicy food?"

That way you're honest about the flavor and you can help the customer decide for themselves. If they don't like spicy food (per the example), you can point them in the direction of something else.

That's a weird question anyway because tastes vary so wildly that it's just personal taste. I'd tend to be fairly neutral if possible.....focusing more on how the dish is prepared. Even if you do not really care for an item you could say "well, it's a bit on the sweet side, but it's served on a bed of lettuce which is nice" which gives a point and a counterpoint.

You are thinking wrongly about the "which do I help"?

IF a customer doesn't like the food, they will not be back; if they love the food, they will come back again, and again, and again.

So you want to make the customer happy, BECAUSE it's good for business.

Now, as to your question. First, you need to ask yourself, is your dislike because YOU, personally, don't like, say, onions, or whatever?

You can say things like "I can't tolerate heat, myself. But people who like things hot LOVE it." or whatever. "I'm not a big fan of pork. But it's a very popular dish." things like that, where you're distinguishing what is idiosyncratic -- unique to YOU -- from general consensus.

If the problem is that it's a poorly executed dish that nearly everyone agrees is yucko, then you're doing the business and customer a favor by guiding them to something better. You can ignore the thing they mentioned, and say "Our fish is our specialty. You can't go wrong with that."

Or you could hint that today it's not at it's best, and then immediately suggest the best thing that is most like it.

But for all the cases where most people love it, and it's just that YOU don't like the major ingredient or flavor, just confess to your personal idiosyncracy, and emphasis how popular and much-loved it is.

"Oh, we're FAMOUS for our fried chicken."

There are other kinds of things to say "It's a bit rich to ME, but most people love it."

Remember, serving the best interests of the customer IS in the best interests of the business. Happy customers not only come back over and over, but they tell a lot of people. Unhappy customers tell even MORE people to never eat at your place.

It's a tough question to answer. Customers are unlikely to have the same tastes as you, so saying whether or not you like a dish probably isn't helpful. Also, if you're too critical, you may get into trouble with your bosses. I suggest focusing on describing dishes instead of providing your personal opinion.

For example:

"The fajitas are a good choice if you like hot flavors. The avocado sauce is a good addition for cooling down the spiciness."

So are waiters like trying all the dishes for free'? Like lobsters and fillet mignons and other expensive stuff? Not bloody likely. Tell them u can not afford to eat at that restaurant, this is why u re working there,not eating. By the way it would never occur to me to ask a server abt their favorite dish. Arent they spposed to push the most expensive ones or the ones which are not sold and ingredients for cooking them are getting out of date

It is perfectly fine to say it is not to your taste, and to offer something you prefer better, or if a customer asks, "What do you recommend," you can give an opinion.

What you don't say, is, 'Oh, I don't eat here, I only eat really healthy,' or 'Everything here is fried, and I don't like fried food' or anything like that. Don't give the impression that you are "too good" to eat there.

In my waitressing days, I always answered this honestly, but in a way that sort of deflected the "blame" on to me. Here's a real life example:

"I personally don't like this, because it uses a lot of cumin and I'm not a fan of cumin. However, it's one of our most popular dishes, and if the cumin isn't a problem, I can recommend it"

Be very specific. If you don't like the dish because the jalapenos add too much spice, say that. Saying "this tastes like crap" is different than saying "The tomatoes do not accent the lettuce in a favorable manner".

A good waiter will give a recommendation based on his likes or dislikes or the specialties of the house. But never discourage a customer from ordering something he likes, unless it is truly awful.