The visit to a restaurant should be an opportunity, not an oral exam. You seat, grab the menu and voila! All of the sudden, everybody turned into critics. It is just paper and ink, remember? The problem is not to understand the menu, which is obvious for you from the very beginning even if you guessed it. It comes down to the confidence and great appetite.
Starting with the basics. Do not listen to any enthusiastic talk of a server about specials unless he or she mentioned the price of them. If he or she does not want to answer, it means a sign of warning. You are not cheap-minded, you are smart. There is a huge difference in price of a market lobster and price of a market potato.
Look at the menu design. Usually, restaurants try to hide expensive items in those spots where people usually look first. And that truffle risotto in the middle of the page? Yes, it is there deliberately. They spend pennies for adding oils to your order, but still ask them to charge twenty dollars for it. Look for cheaper dishes which taste much better in the corners of the menu.
People usually feel lost with the wine menu. Do not try to pretend to be savvy by ordering the second cheapest bottle – everybody does this and sommelier knows about this tactic. Try to choose the certain region of wine you like, e.g. Oregon Pinot or Spanish Garnacha. If you order glasses, then ask them what kind of wine did they open last time. The freshest bottles are the most important criterion here.
Side dishes are the best indicator of the kitchen personality. Try to order Brussels sprouts if the description states three kinds of fats. Chefs invest all their efforts into side dishes since preparing steaks is boring. Perfectly cooked creamed spinach or crispy potato salad tells a lot more about chef’s skills than just plain old filet. And besides, it gives you perfect opportunity to sneak food from other people’s plates.
Ordering desserts can be a hard thing to do. You are full, but menu is tempting. How to avoid eating too much and choosing wrong dessert? Do not choose chocolate cake, it is most likely going to be dry. Choose tart or sorbet if you really want your dessert or just order some Amaro or whiskey – they calm your stomach better and make you look sophisticated.
To conclude, it is worth saying that reading menus is all about trust. Trust your instinct – literally. If the dish description contains lots of adjectives, then there is something suspicious about it. Be confident and order with trust and tip well – that is all you need to know.
Thanks for reading this post! – MyPlugin
