Understanding the Menu
If you are going to be working in a restaurant, it is
important that you understand the menu. Different menus
use different words to mean the same thing. They also
use certain words to make food sound more delicious. It
isn't just the server who should know the menu. Hosts,
bartenders, and bussers may also get asked questions
about the menu from the guests. Cooks have to know the menu
inside-out as well. After all, if an item says it is smothered in
mozzerella cheese it can't just have a sprinkling of cheddar.
Most menus are divided into sections. You may need to help a guest
find the entrees, or desserts. A guest might call a drink a beverage or
a refreshment. Learn the different terms that are used so that you can
understand and serve your guests promptly and accurately.
Menu Section
Also Known As Example Items
Appetizers Appies, Finger Food, Combo Garlic Bread, Cheese
Platters, Snacks, Starters Plate, Nachos
Salads (and Garden Fresh, Greens, Light Tossed Salad, Caesar
Soups) Fare, Lighter Favourites, Low Salad, Soup of the Day
Calorie Choices, Low-fat
Selections
Sandwiches Burgers, From the Deli, From Grilled Chicken
the Grill, Lunch Menu, Wraps Sandwich, Veggie
(Garden) Burger, Steak
Sandwich
Italian Noodles, Pasta, Pizza Spaghetti, Pepperoni
Pizza, Fettucini
Main Course Entrée, Dinners, Main Dish, New York Steak,
Main Event Chicken Stirfry, Hearty
Stew
Sides Accompaniments, On the French Fries, Rice,
Side, Side Dishes Grilled Veggies
Seafood Catch of the day, Fish, Fresh Fish and Chips,
from the Sea Battered Shrimp,
Smoked Salmon
Mexican South of the Border, Tex-Mex Fajitas, Nachos,
Enchilladas
Specialties Signature items, Favorites, BBQ Ribs, Hot Wings,
Pleasers, 5 Stars Chicken Cordon Bleu
Desserts Sweets, Treats, For the Sweet Apple Pie, Mocha
Tooth Cheesecake, Banana
Split
Beverages Drinks, Non-alcoholic Soda Pop, Juice, Milk
beverages, Refreshments
Wine and Coolers, Draft, Liquor, House Wine, Jug of
Beer Specialty Drinks, Spirits, From Beer, Peach Cider
the Bar
Kids Menu Juniors, Kids Stuff, Little Spaghetti and
Tikes, For the Munchkins Meatballs,
Cheeseburger, Chicken
Fingers
Descriptive Words and Expressions
on a Menu
Menus often contain special language to make items sound delicious.
These words and expressions can also convince the guests to order
more food, such as appetizers or dessert. It is useful for servers to
learn these expressions in order to sound more knowledgable and
achieve better sales. In many English speaking countries, especially
North America, having higher sales means earning better tips.
Description Meaning Example item
available Guests can have this All burger selections
with food served a different are available with whole
way. wheat buns.
bottomless Guests can have more Coffee and tea
(free refills) without paying. is bottomless.
chunky many large pieces of A steaming bowl
meat or vegetables of chunky vegetable soup
coated in, covered in a sauce Breast of chicken coated
glazed (often before cooking) in teriyaki sauce
crispy makes a crunchy Caesar salad with fresh
sound when you chew lettuce andcrispy croutons
drizzled with a small amount of Apple pie and vanilla ice
liquid poured over top creamdrizzled
with butterscotch
finished with final step of the food A generous portion of
preparation spaghetti and garlic tomato
sauce, finished
withhomemade meatballs
fresh just off the farm/ out All omelettes are made with
of the garden/ threefresh egg whites.
garnished decorated with Our dinners
with are garnished with fresh
parsley and seasonal fruit.
generous a large amount of All sandwiches are served
portion, with agenerous portion of
heaping, fresh cut fries.
loaded with
home style, from a recipe (not a Try our
homemade, package) chef's homemade chili with
made from fresh baked bread.
scratch
juicy with liquid remaining Garden salad
for taste with juicy tomatoes,
cucumbers, and onions
lightly rolled in bread crumbs, Our fish is lightly
breaded, eggs, or other mixture battered in beer.
battered and cooked
marinated in left in fridge to soak up Our steaks are marinated in
sauce/juice/flavoring a rich peppercorn sauce.
medley variety, mixture A vegetable medley tossed in
olive oil and served over rice
mouth appearance causes Finish your meal off with one
watering mouth to salivate of ourmouth
watering desserts.
on a bed of on top of a layer of A ginger chicken stir fry
served on a bed of rice
seasonal produce varies at Ask your server about
different times during our seasonalfruit pies.
the year
seasoned herbs and spices added Roasted
with chicken seasoned with fresh
basil and oregano
Matching Exercise
Match the menu items with the menu section they belong in.
1 Dessert a Big Daddy's Hamburger with fresh cut fries
2 Starters b Homemade Iced Tea
3 Specialties c Junior Spaghetti and Meatballs
4 Refreshments d Peach pie a la mode
5 Seafood e Mouth watering garlic cheese toast
6 Sides f Loaded mashed potatoes
7 Kids Menu g Chef Brian's homestyle chili
8 Sandwiches h Lemon and herb glazed Salmon
9 Spirits i Seasonal tossed greens
10 Salads j 1/2 litre house white
