"Would you like fries with that?"

Generic upsells like that simply don’t cut it anymore. What if data could tell us something far more sophisticated about what customers actually want—and what combinations truly enhance their dining experience?

At Tattle, we’ve developed a proprietary Menu Pairing Analysis methodology that goes beyond generic add-ons. This method can scientifically identify menu combinations that both boost customer experience ratings (CER) and drive incremental sales.

This isn’t about pushing the highest-margin items; it’s about understanding the hidden relationships between menu items that create measurably better customer experiences.

The Science of Synergy

Menu Pairing Analysis operates on a fundamental principle: certain menu items, when consumed together, elevate the overall guest experience beyond what either item could achieve alone.

The methodology begins by identifying your highest-volume menu items. We’re using sample data of a real Tattle partner (brand named disguised) to illustrate the point. In this case, we have:

• Caesar Salad (3,200+ orders)
• Margherita Pizza (2,850+ orders)
• Veggie Wrap (4,100+ orders)
• Tomato Soup (2,400+ orders)

First, we look at the average CER (overall guest satisfaction) when these items are attached. Then, we’ll look at the most common pairings of these items based on guest orders, and look at the average CER when those pairings appear together in an order.

As seen in the diagram below, pairing Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken delivers an impressive 90.8% CER, which is higher than when either item is ordered on its own. And a similar result is seen with the other 3 most ordered items.

This means if you can encourage guests to order these combinations rather than the item on its own, your guests are more likely to have a more satisfactory experience. These findings allow you to confidently upsell items according to guest satisfaction data—rather than gut feelings or default settings—to deliver a better guest experience and subsequently, higher retention and revenue.

The Digital Advantage: Smart Upselling in Online Ordering

One of the most powerful applications of this Menu Pairing Analysis is in online ordering. The digital checkout process provides the perfect environment for “smart adds”—recommendations that appear dynamically based on what’s already in the customer’s cart.

Instead of showing generic beverage or dessert carousels, restaurants can now present data-driven recommendations that customers are statistically more likely to both purchase and enjoy. This approach transforms the upsell carousel from a revenue afterthought into a guest experience maximization tool.

This allows you to create a more personalized experience without having to know everything about each guest’s preferences—because you’re extrapolating based on trend data and probability. This is when you can move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to something that feels curated for each individual order.

The Future of Menu Intelligence

The true value of Menu Pairing Analysis lies not just in immediate sales lift, but in its measurable impact on customer experience. By tracking CER performance alongside sales volume post-implementation, restaurants can quantify the long-term value of these strategic recommendations.

Early implementations have shown that well-executed pairing strategies don’t just increase average order values—they create customers who rate their experiences more highly, leading to increased loyalty and repeat visits.

Our analysis demonstrates CER improvements ranging from 6.3% to 19.9% depending on the pairing. This creates a virtuous cycle where data-driven recommendations improve both immediate revenue and long-term customer lifetime value.

As the restaurant industry continues its digital transformation, the opportunity for sophisticated menu analysis will only grow. The combination of rich transaction data, guest feedback insights, and advanced analytics creates unprecedented opportunities to understand and optimize the dining experience.