What do you do in this situation

Waiter - Waiter holding a tray.
@totty1969 (1468)
United States
August 9, 2007 9:27pm CST
Say you frequent a restaurant often and the waiter/waitress seats you and gives you a menu. Do you take and read the menu? Do you tell them that you don't need a menu, because you already know what you want? Do you accept the menu and just leave it sit on the table and wait for them to come back and take your order?
5 people like this
13 responses
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
10 Aug 07
I am eating breakfast in the same place twice a week and they always are giving me menu. I always order spinach benedict, but my waitress never remembers it.... I feel like they don't care....
1 person likes this
@totty1969 (1468)
• United States
15 Aug 07
That really irritates me when I frequent an establishment and they dont remember me, in those cases I dont leave very good tip. How does the spinach benedict taste? I have thought about getting one. I love spinach.
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
16 Aug 07
I don't eat meat, spinich benedict is very good, but depends on restaurant....
1 person likes this
@totty1969 (1468)
• United States
16 Aug 07
We have a restuarant that is called the Veggie Garden, a knock off to the Olive Garden. This place serves only vegetarian meals and I have been wanting to eat there.
2 people like this
@vicki2876 (5636)
• Canada
10 Aug 07
I take them only because if I am going to a restaurant which is so rare I would be taking my three kids with me and they would not have a clue what they want and like to look at the menus. So if they want them then I would just take one too as to not complicate things.
1 person likes this
@totty1969 (1468)
• United States
15 Aug 07
Yes, I agree. when taking kids to the restaurant, you have to take the menu, they always change their eatting habits. They want something different everytime or at least mine did.
1 person likes this
• United States
10 Aug 07
I always take the menu even although I usually know what I want. I still like to look and see if there is anything new.
1 person likes this
@totty1969 (1468)
• United States
15 Aug 07
Me too! They always add new items to the menu and sometimes it is a hard decision to make, even though I always choose the same food.
1 person likes this
@brothertuck (1257)
• United States
10 Aug 07
Even if I know for sure what I am going to have to eat, I will take the menu and look at it. There are a couple of places I go to, that even if you were there last week, there are specials and new items. Some even have daily specials so I want to look to see what they are. Even when it is a place that has had the same menu for years, I like to look and see what I am in the mood for.
1 person likes this
@totty1969 (1468)
• United States
15 Aug 07
In some of the places where i eat, they have a board that tells the daily specials. So there I wouldn't ask for a menu. Then the other I go to dont do specials, I might ask for a menu.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
15 Aug 07
If I know what I want then I don't take the menu. I just say I'm ready to order. You get quicker service that way. Otherwise, they give you time to browse the menu.
1 person likes this
• Denmark
15 Aug 07
I would usually take and read the menu. Mainly as i prefer to explore new restaurants, but even if i go to a restaurant i have been before, i might fancy a different meal to the one i had the last time. If i am already decided i will give my order right away, as there will be no need to waste neither the staffs or my own time.
1 person likes this
@multisubj (451)
• India
12 Aug 07
When we know what is available at the restaurant and its price, there should be no need for a menu card. Yet sometimes, prices may change without notice and if we order without knowing the new price, there may be a bite. Hence better to refer to menu and prices. In India, in common hotels, we have a price list painted board displayed on the walls. There may not be menu cards. The board will serve the purpose.
• United States
10 Aug 07
We have a local restaurant that we go that has the same menu but has specials. I usually know what I want when I go in there. If that is the case, when they sit us and ask us what we want our drink we tell them we are ready to order. If it is not our waiter then I will tell the person to get our waiter. Sometimes I have to look at the menu if I do not know what I want. I know the menu by heart but I sometimes have to look at it just to remind me what they have. We went there last night and I had a low cal sandwich and my husband had a steak. He ordered off the specials and I ordered of the menu. I had to look at the menu because I am dieting and have a hard time eating what I should. That is a whole nother topic.
1 person likes this
@cmsk2005 (1770)
• United States
10 Aug 07
I always try to take a look at the menu if i am in that resturant for the ist or second or 3rd time....and if i cant remember what they have. But if i am too much familier with that resturant then probably i will accept the menu/or just tell them thanks and just after a minute i will order the food.
1 person likes this
@squaretile (3778)
• Singapore
13 Aug 07
if i already know what I want, then I'll tell the waitress that as she gives me the menu. If i don't, and that's usually the case, since i like to eat diferent things each time i go to a place, then I'll take some time to study the menu. i have a friend who always likes to eat the same thing at the same restaurant so no thinking is required. I'm totally opposite, and can spend a fair bit of time mulling over options! :)
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
10 Aug 07
I would tell them I won't be needing a menu tonight, because I already know what I will be having, if I know what I am having..lol..If I know and they are in a hurry I will just set it on the table and wait for them to come back. If I don't know I will tell them that I will need a few minutes to look it over.
1 person likes this
• India
10 Aug 07
I dont say anything.If they give me menu i obediently take it and select the items what i want eventhough i know what i want.I do it becoz i am in eager to know is there anything more to eat which is new.I like to taste new items.So,if he doesnt give me menu,i intentionally ask him to give a menu card and also i go to new restaurant every time.This is what i do if the situation comes to me.
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
11 Aug 07
I look at the menu, even though I always order the same thing, because I harbor some idea that I should expand my horizons and try new things. At some point, I tried my current favorite item and liked it, perhaps I will try another some time. What usually happens is that the waitress or waiter will return to take the order and I make everyone else at the table order first. When the server turns to me for my order, my eyes still scanning the menu and my mind still weighing the pros and cons of each possible choice, I look up and in a panic order exactly the same thing I have always ordered at that restaurant.