How to Decide What to Order at a Restaurant (2024)

It can be challenging to decide what to choose when you're spoiled for choice. You can find yourself stumped when you open a menu at a restaurant full of delicious dishes and the best cheeseburgers. Here are a few tips to help you make a quick decision and avoid experiencing "buyer's regret" after ordering.

Ask for Recommendations

If you're not sure which dish to choose, one of your best bets is to ask your server for recommendations. It's typical for most restaurants to have a specialty they focus on. For instance, if the restaurant is known for serving the best cheeseburgers in town, then it's probably better to order that instead of ordering a different type of cuisine. Your server is also in the know when it comes to the best dishes to order. It's probably best if they give you a shortlist of the top options and you can choose from those.

Try a Test Run

Today, there are more options than ever on restaurant menus. Luckily, it's easier than ever to test a restaurant or new dish from the comfort of your own home. According to Statista, the share of food-service transactions in the United States more than doubled from 6% in 2019 to 15% in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020 the majority of digital restaurant food orders were carry-out orders while 38% were delivery orders. If you find yourself at home with nothing prepared for dinner, try ordering in from a restaurant you have wanted to try. You can see if it's for you without even leaving your home!

Trust Your Preferences

At the end of the day, you know what your palette likes and doesn't like. The truth is, tastebuds are unique. One person's choice might not be the dish you want for yourself. The best thing to do is to trust yourself and prioritize your preferences. When you're checking out the menu, you will probably feel yourself warming up to some options more than others. Pay attention to your gut feeling. You'll rarely go wrong with ordering a dish that has ingredients you like.

Ordering food at your favorite restaurant should be fun whether you're looking to sample the best cheeseburgers in town or something new. Now that you know how to quickly decide what to order, we invite you to check our mouth-watering menu and start ordering now.