Scientist Shares 10 Ways Restaurants Manipulate Us Into Spending More Money

The saying “all is fair in love and war” is often extended to business practices as well. Dr. Hussein Naji, who has a Ph.D. in AI & Data Science for Healthcare, is committed to educating himself and others about these methods. Last week, he made a post on his Threads account revealing various psychological tricks used by the restaurant industry to influence customer behavior and increase spending. Understanding these tactics is crucial for protecting oneself against them.

More info: husseinnaji.beehiiv.com

RELATED:

Restaurants Manipulate Us Into Spending More Money

There are so many laws controlling how we spend our money when eating out that it’s hard to notice when they take hold of us

A person dining in a restaurant, illustrating ways restaurants manipulate spending with elegant meal presentation.
  • Save
Image credits:Β freepik

Here are a few collected by Dr. Hussein Naji that should provide a better understanding of what we’re paying for

Text image describing how restaurants manipulate spending using psychological tricks.
  • Save

Text explaining how restaurants manipulate spending by using smaller plates to increase food satisfaction.
  • Save

Text highlights how restaurants manipulate spending with plate sizes.
  • Save

Text discussing how restaurants manipulate perception using big plates for fancier food arrangements.
  • Save

Restaurants manipulate spending with fancy dish descriptions like "pan-seared Atlantic salmon with saffron-infused risotto.
  • Save

Fancy descriptions boost restaurant revenue by 27%, influencing customer choices.
  • Save

Text explaining how restaurants manipulate spending with menu design.
  • Save

Man examining menu with waitress, illustrating restaurant manipulation tactics to encourage spending.
  • Save
Image credits:Β freepik

Menu design uses eye-tracking studies to manipulate spending, highlighting the top right corner for attention.
  • Save

Text describing how restaurants manipulate ordering habits with menu placement strategies.
  • Save

Text explaining restaurants use the anchoring effect to make items appear more affordable.
  • Save

Restaurants manipulate spending by leaving dessert menus on tables, increasing the likelihood of customers ordering dessert.
  • Save

Text discussing how visual stimuli in restaurants influence dessert and alcohol orders.
  • Save

Text about restaurant settings designed to manipulate spending, emphasizing decor, lighting, and music.
  • Save

Text explaining how restaurants use music speed to manipulate customer behavior.
  • Save

Chef garnishing dish, showcasing ways restaurants manipulate diners to spend more money.
  • Save
Image credits:Β freepik

Text discussing how open kitchens in restaurants increase hunger, influencing spending habits.
  • Save

Text about how restaurants manipulate customers using curved glasses.
  • Save

Text discussing restaurant manipulation, emphasizing awareness of spending tricks.
  • Save

Image credits: husseinnaji_

The author of the post told us that it shouldn’t be viewed as an attack on the restaurant industry

Man with a dark beard and a blue shirt, smiling, representing a scientist discussing restaurant spending strategies.
  • Save
Image credits:Β Hussein Naji

Dr. Hussein Naji, who holds a Ph.D. in AI & Data Science for Healthcare, shared insights into his viral thread about psychological tactics in marketing, particularly those used by restaurants. In an interview with Bored Panda, he expressed his fascination with psychology, stating, “Marketing is basically a branch of psychology that just means: β€˜How can we make people think they want to buy our product.’” He stumbled upon this topic online, found it intriguing, and decided to explore it further.

Dr. Naji acknowledged that he is susceptible to these marketing strategies, just like anyone else, and enjoys learning ways to improve himself and sharing these insights, believing they can help others too. He clarified that his post was not meant to accuse restaurants of unethical behavior. He appreciates the dining experience, stating, “If a restaurant serves great food, has friendly staff, and provides a pleasant experience, I’m okay with being persuaded to order that extra dessert.”

He emphasized the importance of ethical sales tactics, which he believes should involve transparency and intent. Transparency means being clear about what is being sold, without withholding information or making misleading claims. Intent means aiming to genuinely benefit the customer. Dr. Naji feels that encouraging a customer to order an extra dessert can be seen as a clever tactic rather than unethical if it is done openly and the customer enjoys the experience.

The conversation also touched on a 2025 report on the State of the Restaurant Industry, which indicates that many diners prioritize the quality of their dining experience over price. According to the report, a significant majority of restaurant-goers enjoy their visits, suggesting that while restaurants may employ certain marketing strategies, they do so without significantly detracting from the customer experience. However, Dr. Naji hinted at issues in tipping culture as an area needing scrutiny.

As the reactions poured in, a few extra observations emerged

Comments on restaurant manipulation tactics, discussing wine serving strategy.
  • Save

Comments discussing how restaurants and businesses manipulate customers for more spending.
  • Save

Social media comments discussing restaurant manipulation tactics.
  • Save

Instagram post text critiquing methods restaurants use to encourage spending.
  • Save

Social media post about how restaurants manipulate descriptions to entice spending.
  • Save

Text post about a restaurant experience and questioning a server's recommendation.
  • Save

credits by: boredpanda.com

Share via
Copy link