When should you suggestively sell a dessert to a guest?

• A. During appetizer service
• B. After you've checked on them post-entrees
• C. Before entrees
• D. After dessert is cleared

Answer: (B)

Timing matters when suggesting a dessert. The best moment is after you’ve checked on guests following the entrees. At that check-in you can read their satisfaction, appetite, and pacing, then offer a dessert if they’re still enjoying the meal. This shows attentiveness and fits the dining flow, making the dessert feel like a natural finish rather than a pushy pitch.

Offering dessert during appetizer service or before entrees interrupts the rhythm of the meal and can feel pushy or premature. Waiting until after dessert is cleared is often too late to capitalize on interest, and guests may be ready to move on or have already finished their experience. By pausing to assess after the entrees and then presenting dessert, you create a guest-centered moment that invites indulgence without pressuring them.