What should you do if you are unfamiliar with a menu item?

• A. Guess and hope for the best.
• B. Tell the guest you don't know and avoid answering.
• C. Ask a supervisor or reference the menu description before answering.
• D. Look up the item after the guest orders.

Answer: (C)

When you’re unfamiliar with a menu item, the right move is to verify before you respond. The best choice is to ask a supervisor or reference the menu description before answering. This keeps you accurate about ingredients, preparation, and any allergens, and it helps you communicate confidently with the guest and the kitchen. If you need a moment, you can say you’ll check and get back to them. Rushing to guess can give the guest wrong information and erodes trust, telling them you don’t know is unhelpful, and waiting to look up after the guest orders can cause delays and disrupt service.