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The head carries all or most of the flavor of a shrimp. If you can get your hands on shrimp with the head on, you're wasting a good portion of the flavor if you don't take advantage and at least roll the head around in your mouth.

I've never seen anyone order ONLY shrimp heads but hell, I'd do it. Bear thinks I'm nuts anyway because I eat the tails of young shrimp. Older ones have very tough tails with a DANGEROUS spike on them, making them inedible. They're a good source of calcium as well.

I think I have this skill, but only at restuarants in America. I recently discovered that it wasn't so useful abroad...

Anyhow, people have asked me before, and mostly, I don't have any great answers, but I do have only one rule: if there's a dish named after the place, get it. Even if it's chicken. It will be awesome.

I am the menu whisperer in my family. My secret, anytime i see an item with Goat Cheese, or Mushrooms, I know it will be good. I know it sounds ridiculous but its true. Its not the only thing I order, but they are always the best.

it's quite an insight to know about the 'menu whisperer'. I think I have that uncanny ability. and it can be learned, acquired and mastered. I will do more research on it...

My husband is a menu whisperer! In fact, when I read the title of Ed's post yesterday I thought he was referring to this ability to have the better order. I am always envious of my husband's plate when we get our food. Thank goodness as part of our marriage contract, he is obliged to share his food with me in restaurants :)

Many, many years ago, I found myself at a table of people much more food-wise and connected than myself, and at a restaurant in Napa (La Tra Vigne). As clueless as I was about food and ordering, I had the presence of mind to be sufficiently awed and intimidated to order.

The chef (a younger Michael Chiarello, a person I had never heard of), came to our table, owing to the stature of my dining party. He and I somehow made eye contact and he somehow could tell I was a little overwhelmed and intimidated. He sat down next to me and we chatted nervously.

Finally, he said "do you know what you are going to order?" I sort of hemmed and hawed, and finally said "I have no idea. I am totally out of my element and I know I am going to order the wrong thing." After assuring me that I could do no such thing at THIS restaurant, he leaned in conspiratorially and told me the gospel:

"When in doubt, at a restaurant of good repute, always, ALWAYS, order the braised short ribs."

It was the gospel I needed to hear, and ever since, I have followed and spread the divine word.

@Robyn: Do you take pictures of all the menus you're exposed to? If so: thats a rockin' hobby!

Apparently I am a menu whisperer, my ex-girlfriend used to complain that her dishes where never near as good as mine - and I usually agreed. Though I'm actually only good at picking the best dishes at restaurants with American and European cuisine, because I grew up with this food and think because of that, I can spot the interesting stuff. At Asian, Mexican, etc. restaurants, I am horribly inept!

Clever use of the "secondi" menu image for part 2 Adam!
*pat on back*

I read this post with my husband and he exclaimed, "that is exactly what you do!" Which got me to thinking about my method of ordering. I realized that I order based entirely on wish dish has the best side dish/axillary items with it rather than order based on the protein or how the main component of the dish is prepared. I think that that ends up making my dining experience better.

Rereading the comments I'm wondering if a lot of this has to do with how much experience we have as cooks. You develop over time an ability to read recipes and imagine how they'll taste and how easy they'll be to execute, and menu reading is sort of recipe reading. (On the other hand, if you're a really good cook it can be a challenge to find a place where they make things as well as you would at home).

Menu Whisperer. I like that. A lot. Can I get it on a T-shirt?
I always wondered if there were others out there like me. Others who are cursed with jealous looks from fellow eaters, constant requests to "try a bite," humiliated for asking the waiter too many questions...
I never realized this until I went to my FAVORITE mexican restaurant, ordered my FAVORITE dish and recommended dishes to others who had never been there. They, of course, ignored my recommendations and ordered other things. None of them liked what they got, but they all tasted mine and longed for it for the rest of the meal.
I generally pick a recurring ingredient on the menu that I adore and eliminate other items withOUT that ingredient, then I choose something exciting from the remaining dishes. ex: gorgonzola.
I secretly wish EVERYONE let me order for them.