Why do restaurants give mints after eating?

Answer 1

Peppermint was one of the first candies produced, it was thought to aid in digestion. High end restaurants began giving them at the end of the meal to do just that. Today, you can find a variety of candies given away after a meal but peppermint is still #1, it's actually the number one flavor of all hard candy. Most restaurants give candy away at the end of a meal or by the exit because it leaves you with a fresh taste in your mouth. Even if you've just been eating handfuls of onions and garlic, the fresh mint taste leaves you with a clean feeling in your mouth. It's pleasant.

So next time you consider going to the restaurant, you'll remember that you had a good meal and left feeling fresh and happy...despite if you know it or not.