Are You a Menu Whisperer?
Robyn and I recently had lunch with SE contributor Kenji Alt at a comfort food joint near our office. As is my wont, I ordered one of everything that looked interesting on the menu. Most of what we ordered was pretty disappointing, but we left no essential dish unordered. We enjoyed our lunch with Kenji, who sent us an email the following day:
I like the way you order. My wife would kill me if I did that every time. I've resorted to slipping in extra, un-discussed, un-approved dishes while the waiter is taking our order so that she can't veto me.
That cracked me up because I'm the same way with my wife. Wherever we go, Vicky first orders her usual modest repast, then I follow with a slightly more substantial, but still reasonable list of dishes. Then, as I'm handing the menu back to the server and my wife is sitting back, settling into her chair thinking we are done ordering, I say to the server in my very best stage whisper: "We'll also have x and y and z, for the table" (of course). Then, boy, is Vicky surprised when three extra dishes arrive with our order.
Kenji busted me. I'm a menu whisperer. Are you?
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32 Comments:
im a drink whisperer...ill order a regular soda and then whisper that i actually want a diet...
KWBrown at 9:08PM on 09/14/09
I'm not a whisperer, but I'm still pretty ridiculous about my orders. I order everything that sounds good to me (which means extra appetizers and desserts for the table, and sometimes an extra entree). My friends sometimes looks shocked and embarrassed, but have gotten used to it -- after all, they're expected to share the dish with me (but not the check, of course).
fanghsing at 9:20PM on 09/14/09
All I can say is, I'm extremely envious of anyone who can afford to order this way! Frankly, I'm happy when I can eat out at all.
Pants McCracky at 9:31PM on 09/14/09
If I'm at a good place, I always have to order at least 3 courses (app, entree, dessert) and sometimes 4 at certain places - such as Italian (app, pasta, entree, dessert). I'm usually not one of those people who can go to a nice place and order just a salad. However, my big thing is dessert. I always have to sneak it in there, and I just can't call my meal complete until I have something sweet. So, when we are all done with out entrees, and everyone leans back and says how full they are, I do the same. But, in the back of my mind, I'm thinking about dessert, and when the waiter comes to ask if we are hungry for dessert, everyone at the table does that thing where they slightly smile and shake their heads while patting their stomach. But, I slyly will ask to see what they have to offer. Because...you know...just to see what they have >:)
pastry262 at 9:33PM on 09/14/09
do you all eat everything you order?
mgnnn at 10:20PM on 09/14/09
sorry, I only ask because I have a friend who orders one of whatever she craves and then just picks a bit off of each. I makes me nuts that she makes so many leftovers, (which she pretends she's going to eat later but doesn't) arghhh!
mgnnn at 10:22PM on 09/14/09
man, when I saw that headline I was totally hoping this would be something along the lines of the horse whisperer, like with secret menu items and picking awesome dishes all the time, all seducing lonely mothers at the same time.
ChickenFinger5 at 10:25PM on 09/14/09
I thought the same as @chickenfingers5.
As fun as the smorgasbord idea is, I only order what I'll eat because restaurant food is always too filling and the leftovers are not enjoyable to me.
yayfood at 11:09PM on 09/14/09
If we like a place, we know we'll go back. If we don't like it, I sure don't want more of it.
dbcurrie at 12:07AM on 09/15/09
Are you printing your own money??? I'm splurging if a buy an app to share...
sailordave at 12:23AM on 09/15/09
Are you printing your own money??? I'm splurging if a buy an app to share...
sailordave at 12:24AM on 09/15/09
If you can afford to do this, I think it's great!
jlewfoodie at 2:26AM on 09/15/09
Oooo I would *love* to be able to do this. For those with a little less money, just organize a big outing with a bunch of friends. Everyone order something different, and share. :D
Marxy at 2:47AM on 09/15/09
Wife and I will coordinate orders sometimes if we're someplace where we want to have a couple things and share them. Depends on the type of place, though!
Rich at 3:52AM on 09/15/09
Have done what @Marxy does. Have coordinated with friends so we agree on what we're ordering, then get a sample of lots of dishes. Very nice way to go, as we're not going to eat more than a full appetizer, entree and dessert anyway.
lemonfair at 6:56AM on 09/15/09
I can barely afford to eat out at all, let alone order multiple dishes, so this is a fantasy I have never experienced!
radley24 at 7:41AM on 09/15/09
Wow, I'm kind of surprised at the responses. I am far from made of money, but at birthdays I often order a cake with a candle, even if the person said he or she didn't want dessert (and never singing by staff because I'm nice). If I don't do this often it's because I have a small appetite, not out of cheapness, but if someone wanted something but was afraid to order it, I wouldn't hesitate to get something extra for the table.
However, because I don't eat meat, going out to eat is pretty cheap for me!
HeartofGlass at 9:16AM on 09/15/09
I tend to order apps for the table without asking if I'm with family or a group of girlfriends.... If know it's going to be a while until everyone stops talking, looks at the menu, and chooses an entree I'll pick something quickly and order it while putting in my drink order. I just make sure it's something shareable and without any polarizing ingredients. Usually one or two people will catch me and the others are happily suprised when an app shows up and they've just started looking at the menu.
travers at 9:25AM on 09/15/09
Speaking for myself only...it has nothing to do with being cheap. I didn't think the original post was about ordering for the table, but how much do you order in general when going out and do you sneak more onto the order than planned? I am on a pretty tight budget and going out is a treat, so sneaking more onto the order has never been an issue! If I had the means, I would order as much as I could for the table and happily share.
radley24 at 9:30AM on 09/15/09
@radley24--that is what surprised me, the post was more about indulgence, but the responses had more to do with economics. I guess what I like about eating out is sharing with people=more calorie savings, even if it costs more, so I can indulge what I like, with others, in a portion-controlled fashion!
HeartofGlass at 9:56AM on 09/15/09
I wasn't thinking about the economics either -- just the indulgence of ordering something extra or unexpected to share. In my case, it's the little things like sneaking in a side of bacon to share with my friend who loves it, but never gets it because she likes eggs benedict better (which doesn't usually have a side of bacon). Or appetizers for the table, or an extra dessert to share with my friend if I know she's on a budget -- stuff like that. I adore indulging my cravings by ordering two appetizers or desserts instead of an entree -- things like that -- unusual ordering habits as special treats and surprises.
fanghsing at 12:17PM on 09/15/09
I belong in this club, sorta.
I'm sure Vicky appreciates your adventurous-ness Ed!
Much of the time if I'm satisfied with my dining experience I'll note the joint; and note the items I'm curious about.
My ex and I were guilty of this extensively at my favourite local Norther Chinese place: We've tasted everything on the menu. I think!
hungrychristel at 12:21PM on 09/15/09
I don't order that way on a regular basis, but when we're trying to create a festive mood for a group, I don't think there's a better way to make people feel a little special than by having a surprisingly bountiful order show up at the table. Well, maybe picking up the tab is a better way—but when we take it upon ourselves to order with abandon, we usually do that, too.
I do also fancy myself the other kind of menu whisperer, sussing out not just the best overall dishes on the menu, but also the best matches for particular dining companions. Usually I keep my mouth shut, but if someone is having trouble deciding what to order and I know them well enough, they may find themselves the recipients of a little unsolicited whispering.
Carolyn Cope at 1:14PM on 09/15/09
Funny when I think about it, I only ever order this way at Japanese Yakatori or Sushi restaurants. The menus are often huge and I've never had much of it. In my head I choose a few things that sound good, but once the waiter comes, I can't help but ordering more dishes of the menu on the fly that look interesting.
I'm definitely going to use this technique though in the future if I want something that my companion would nix.
EliEats at 2:26PM on 09/15/09
It has never actually occured to me to order extra dishes for the table without asking (except for maybe an appetizer if we are all ravenous)! It just seems gluttonous to have more entrees than people at the table. Do you eat it all or take it home to eat later?
flamingo at 2:52PM on 09/15/09
My problem is I always get busted. This isn't about money it's about food, about the inability to resist the urge to taste, everything. Who says that we are in the wrong for ordering an extra dish, it's not like we are committing a moral sin, it's just another pasta course. Besides life is too short to not order the onion rings AND the french fries...oh yeah let's not forget the butterscotch milkshake...
tressa eaton at 3:04PM on 09/15/09
I don't order that way, but that's because I know I wouldn't finish everything and I hate to waste food. Somethings, like scrambled eggs from a diner, don't make good leftovers. Plus BF and I don't tend to share dishes.
Amandarama at 3:51PM on 09/15/09
Not a menu whisperer (though I did think it meant having a 6th sense for picking out the best dish on the menu). But a friend and I did do the smogasboard thing once. It was so much fun, and we both had plenty of leftovers. I felt less full after small tastes of everything than if I'd eaten a lot of one entree.
Yes, it's more expensive. Try to do it at lunch if you can. As long as you eat the leftovers, you haven't wasted any money or food.
Kerosena at 4:22PM on 09/15/09
I kind of don't understand the concept that your dining partner doesn't want you to order something. Is it that they don't want to eat it? Pay for it? Don't want you to eat it? If you are secretly ordering things behind their back do you not want to look into why? If they don't want to eat it, why are they stopping you? If they don't want to pay, that's easily discussed and fixed. If they don't want you to eat it, maybe you have bigger issues. Secretly ordering isn't going to help any of these situations. I see from the comments that many people secretly order as a surprise, that I get and sometimes do myself.
mgnnn at 4:42PM on 09/15/09
Wait a minute here! You're a menu low-talker, not a menu-whisperer.
Sheesh, a real menu-whisperer would be an amazing being, able to parse the bestest of the best, never erring in a decision, able to pair dishes, wines, impeccably ....ah...well.....
As for menu low-talkers... sounds a little too sneaky for me.
Pointy at 7:19PM on 09/15/09
Uh-oh - the jig is up. My wife read this post. I trusted you with that inside info Ed! Now there's no way I can claim, "Sorry - I didn't notice that on the menu until just now..."
As for the being able to afford it, I guess I usually do order beyond my means - but hey, I eat for a living, so as long as I tell myself that it's "research," then I can at least justify it to myself - if not to the credit card company.
J. Kenji Lopez-Alt at 11:59PM on 09/15/09
@mgnnn-While I understand the importance of willpower, I can only be so strong. I ask my fiancee not to bring chips or ice cream home, because they are much easier to ignore when they are not in front of me. Similar forces are at work at a restaurant. Sometimes I just don't want to be tempted, because I have a tendency to give in when faced with delicious morsels!
Kerosena at 12:08PM on 09/16/09