Serious Eats
Do Menus "Lie?"
Former restaurant critic turned columnist Steve Cuozzo says that "Modern menus cheat, tease and sometimes lie outright." Cuozzo is talking about all the dishes he finds misdescribed on restaurant menus. "I've had boiled rice described as 'risotto' and dry shellfish masquerading as 'bouillabaisse'."
His conclusion: "But most restaurants aren't out to deceive you—they just don't pay enough attention when choosing the actual words for the menu."
I would agree and just add that often ignorance or lack of knowledge is to blame.
What's the biggest "lie" you've ever seen on a restaurant menu?