There are a multitude of reasons people love restaurants, like the service, outstanding food and bustling atmosphere. (Especially at the most unusual restaurants in America!) I go out to eat to try brand-new food I never would have thought to make at home. Not only that, restaurants can be a treat after a week of cooking. We all deserve a break once in a while, you know?
But there’s something you should know—skip buying dessert.
You heard us right! But it’s not for the reason you think.
Why Shouldn’t I Order Dessert at a Restaurant?
Why, you ask? According to Reddit user AhBenTabarnak, most restaurants don’t make that pie, cheesecake or molten lava cake with ice cream. Instead, restaurant owners purchase frozen desserts from wholesale food companies at a fraction of the price listed on the menu. That means the New York-style cheesecake you crave so dearly might actually be available just down the road at your grocery store for a lot cheaper.
Some diners may argue that you’re not just paying for the food, but also the service and the clean-up crew afterward. While that may be fine for some, others are looking for a cheaper or truly homemade option.
This is one only of many secrets chefs won’t tell you!
Do Restaurants Want Us to Order Dessert?
It depends. If you’re at a busy spot with people waiting for a table, the restaurant (and your server) will earn more if you make room for the next group to order dinner. And most restaurants don’t profit much from desserts in the first place.
“It’s hard to make money on desserts in the restaurant business today. I don’t think many [restaurants] benefit when people order them anymore,” says economics professor Tyler Cowen in The Washington Post.
If you’re in a restaurant on a slow night, or a place that’s known for its homemade desserts, then dig in. Otherwise, we recommend baking up your own apple pie, serving it with vanilla ice cream and calling it a wonderful night in!
See what other secrets restaurant owners wish you knew.
Our Best Restaurant-Inspired Desserts
Traditional CheesecakeHere’s a delicious classic cheesecake that tastes great alone or with any number of garnishes. Use this basic recipe as a palette for your creativity!
Coconut Chiffon CakeToasted coconut adds visual appeal to this tall and impressive cake. With an airy texture and heavenly coconut-ginger flavor,it's a lovely end to meals throughout the year.
Semisweet Chocolate MousseA friend shared this rich velvety chocolate mousse recipe with me. I love to cook and have tons of recipes, but this one is a favorite. Best of all, it's easy to make. —Judy Spencer, San Diego, California
Cherry Upside-Down Bread PuddingI've always loved bread pudding, and I enjoy fixing this for my family on a chilly day. You could use a different flavor of pie filling and omit the chocolate chips to make a completely different dessert. It's always delicious! —Ronna Farley, Rockville, Maryland
Chocolate Truffle CheesecakeIf you delight in the taste of chocolate, then this is the cheesecake for you. Every creamy bite melts in your mouth. It's so impressive yet not difficult to prepare-I whip up this dessert each time I want a yummy treat for my family, friends or co-workers. —Mary Jones, Cumberland, Maine
Key Lime Cream PieI am very proud of this luscious no-bake beauty. It's so cool and refreshing—perfect for any summer potluck or get-together. Wherever I take this pie, it quickly disappears, and everyone asks for the recipe. —Shirley Rickis, Lady Lake, Florida
Mocha Baked AlaskasMake these baked Alaskas ahead of time—you can torch the completed desserts and freeze them up to 24 hours before serving. —Kerry Dingwall, Ponte Vedra, Florida
Silky Chocolate PieChocolate makes the world go round! We have a family that loves chocolate pies, and this version with a splash of brandy is smooth as silk and oh, so special. —Kathy Hewitt, Cranston, Rhode Island
Quick Bananas FosterGuests are always impressed when I ignite the rum in this delicious bananas Foster dessert. Use perfectly ripe bananas for best results. —Mary Lou Wayman, Salt Lake City, Utah
Chocolate Bread PuddingThis is a fun recipe because the chocolate makes it different from traditional bread pudding. It's a rich, comforting dessert. —Mildred Sherrer, Fort Worth, Texas
Best Red Velvet CakeIt's just not Christmas at our house until this festive cake appears. This is different from other red velvet cake recipes I’ve had; the icing is as light as snow. —Kathryn Davison, Charlotte, North Carolina
Banana Cream PieMom's pie recipe is a real treasure, and I've never found one that tastes better! —Bernice Morris, Marshfield, Missouri
Carrot Cake with Pecan FrostingMy husband constantly requests this homey, old-fashioned version of carrot cake. The frosting is still tasty even without the pecans. —Adrian Badon, Denham Springs, Louisiana
Triple Chocolate Mousse TorteWhen it's too hot to bake something sweet but you're craving chocolate, my chocolate mousse torte is all you need. Stack up the layers any way you like. —Samantha Hernandez, Vacaville, California
Burnt CustardThe recipe for this smooth-as-silk custard came from a local restaurant years ago. With its broiled topping it looks pretty in individual cups. —Heidi Main, Anchorage, Alaska
Flourless Chocolate TorteHere's the perfect dessert for chocoholics—like me! I bake this melt-in-your-mouth torte all the time for special occasions. For an elegant finish, dust it with confectioners' sugar. —Kayla Albrecht, Freeport, Illinois
Irresistible Coconut Cream PieMy husband and I grow 500 acres of wheat on the farm his family homesteaded in 1889. I grind my own flour and love to use it in this recipe. The easy, pat-in crust has a rich grain flavor. It’s irresistible filled with old-fashioned coconut cream and topped with a fluffy meringue. —Roberta Foster, Kingfisher, Oklahoma
Frozen Grasshopper TorteI first made this minty cool torte for a ladies' meeting at our church. I’m still making it, and the compliments keep coming. —Elma Penner, Oak Bluff, Manitoba
Moist Chocolate CakeThis moist chocolate cake recipe with coffee reminds me of my grandmother because it was one of her specialties. I bake it often for family parties, and it always brings back fond memories. The cake is light and airy with a delicious chocolate taste. This recipe is a keeper! —Patricia Kreitz, Richland, Pennsylvania
Brownie Affogato SundaesWe can’t resist brownie sundaes. I combined an affogato (coffee-based beverage) idea with a brownie to get this decadent sundae that mixes it all in there: warm, cold, sweet and salty. —Julie Merriman, Seattle, Washington
Apple PieI remember coming home sullen one day because we'd lost a softball game. Grandma, in her wisdom, suggested that maybe a slice of hot apple pie would make me feel better. She was right. —Maggie Greene, Granite Falls, Washington
Contest-Winning Blueberry Swirl CheesecakeThis is my favorite blueberry cheesecake recipe, which I often make for family get-togethers. —Cathy Medley, Clyde, Ohio
Six-Layer Coconut Cake with Lemon FillingI found this recipe when going through my grandmother's old files. It was originally made with an orange filling, but using lemon pudding in the filling makes it easier to prepare. It is simply the best. —Angela Leinenbach, Mechanicsvlle, Virginia
Grandma's Old-Fashioned Strawberry ShortcakeWhen my grandma served this shortcake, she usually topped it with homemade vanilla ice cream. —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas
Make-Ahead TiramisuThis variation of the popular Italian dessert is so easy to assemble. It's convenient, too, since you can make it the day before your dinner party or potluck. —Linda Finn, Louisville, Mississippi
Updated: Oct. 01, 2021
