# Restaurants with limited menus **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [January 7, 2024, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738 "2024-01-07T16:55:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738/121 "2024-01-10T15:40:23Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I think Cheescake Factory has mastered the mediocre. I’ve eaten at a Cheesecake Factory twice in my life. Both times I was there because I’d received a gift card for the place. If I had to pay for my meal I would never go there. I’m not saying it was awful, just not very good. And crowded. And a long drive from home. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738/122 "2024-01-10T15:49:27Z")
That’s fair enough, but it sounds like the potential presence of cured meats might not turn you off to a sight-unseen tasting menu (what I got). In fact, there wasn’t actually any cured meat on the whole thing. A few smoked meat items, one used in the pot-pie, and one that was actually a garnish of sorts on a beet dish. Nothing charcuterie-ish though. And yeah… I agree that if my wife had taken me in good faith to a place that I really didn’t like, I’d probably just make the best of it and find something I’d be willing to eat, even if it’s not something I would normally choose or enjoy. If nothing else, it’s an opportunity to potentially reevaluate/recalibrate my feelings about some of those ingredients, as tastes _ **do** _ change over time, and it’s entirely possible that I might like it when prepared by a real professional chef, or my tastes may have shifted over time. > [@doreen](#): > > Then there are ten pasta dishes which is basically “pick a sauce”, And one of the pasta sauces is also used on the chicken and veal. Many (most?) restaurants including Cheesecake Factory, a lot of red sauce joints, Taco Bell, and most American-Chinese type places have that sort of menu approach- five or six basic sauces, five or so proteins/meats, between five and ten vegetables, and a similar number of garnishes/accents. Mix and match to come up with the various dishes. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738/123 "2024-01-10T16:10:34Z")
> [@bump](#): > > if my wife had taken me in good faith to a place that I really didn’t like, I’d probably just make the best of it and find something I’d be willing to eat, even if it’s not something I would normally choose or enjoy. A guy I know was doing field research involving an animal (monkey IIRC) in Vietnam. He lived with a family in a village for a month or so while doing his work. When he left, the village threw a big party for him. They went all out, serving dog in a stew, which he forced himself to eat rather than insult his hosts… It actually caused a sorta PTSD for him. When he told me the story he had dry heaves talking about it and eventually ran to the bathroom and puked. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738/124 "2024-01-10T16:11:56Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > How interesting! I’d never heard of the celery aversion before. What else do you put your peanut butter on? 😀 Not really an issue for me since I’m not that fond of peanut butter either… 🙂 I like quite a few types of nuts: almonds, walnuts etc… but not particularly peanuts. I mean, I can eat them, they aren’t repulsive, but not something I reach for. Botanically they aren’t actually nuts, it seems… ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738/125 "2024-01-10T16:15:07Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > 6-ish choices is limited? > > You get that if there is more to choose from it is all coming out of the microwave? And someone who turns up their nose at a place because they have too many things on the menu is a different kind of picky eater. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738/126 "2024-01-10T16:16:47Z")
Is it rude (or AITA) if I’m at a fancy restaurant and want the pork loin without the braised monkey brain & eel fart sauce to just order it with no sauce? ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738/127 "2024-01-10T16:19:31Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > dog in a stew, which he forced himself to eat rather than insult his hosts… > > It actually caused a sorta PTSD for him. When he told me the story he had dry heaves talking about it and eventually ran to the bathroom and puked. I have to wonder if this is an emotional rather than physical reaction? Maybe if they hadn’t told him it was dog meat, would he have noticed, or had the same response? For instance, in France it is not uncommon to eat horse meat. I have had some while working there, and to be honest it was OK, just some kind of slightly unfamiliar meat. Whereas my American wife goes into hysterics at the concept… ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738/128 "2024-01-10T16:27:28Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > I have to wonder if this is an emotional rather than physical reaction? Very likely. During her trip to Iceland, my gf had pony, whale, puffin, etc. She told me about it but I haven’t mentioned it since, knowing she is uncomfortable even thinking about it. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738/129 "2024-01-10T16:28:20Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > For instance, in France it is not uncommon to eat horse meat. I have had some while working there, and to be honest it was OK, just some kind of slightly unfamiliar meat. - i always thought the bigger problem is the price yet they still expect you to pony up. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738/130 "2024-01-10T16:29:31Z")
Depends on the restaurant. I guess some places, you eat the food the way the chef prepared it or you don’t eat at all. There isn’t even salt or pepper at the table. You don’t paint a smiley face on the Mona Lisa, and you don’t tamper with Chef Maurice’s masterpiece. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738/131 "2024-01-10T16:51:30Z")
Yes, I’m a snob because I like my food freshly made. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738/132 "2024-01-10T16:51:43Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > they still expect you to pony up. Groan. Actually it was in the company cafeteria and not expensive at all. Probably subsidised? And being France, it was cooked very nicely, with a good sauce. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738/133 "2024-01-10T16:53:49Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > Yes, I’m a snob because I like my food freshly made. - It _was_ freshly made… …at some point. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738/134 "2024-01-10T17:03:08Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > You don’t paint a smiley face on the Mona Lisa, and you don’t tamper with Chef Maurice’s masterpiece. There are two kinds of restaurant like that, and it’s hard to tell before you actually try them. One, where the chef really _does_ know what he is doing and the food is amazing; something you would never achieve at home, and Two: the wannabes trying to imitate the first kind, where they make up bizarre combinations or, as someone said earlier, an ‘artfully’ arranged blob of foam on the plate. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738/135 "2024-01-10T17:07:50Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > the chef really _does_ know what he is doing Oh, and to head off any pointless digressions: yes, I typed ‘he’ out of habit. Great chefs can obviously be of any gender. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738/136 "2024-01-10T17:21:09Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > During her trip to Iceland, my gf had pony, whale, puffin, etc. She told me about it but I haven’t mentioned it since, knowing she is uncomfortable even thinking about it. Did she know what was being served? Why wasn’t she uncomfortable at the time, if so? ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738/137 "2024-01-10T17:37:11Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > How interesting! I’d never heard of the celery aversion before. What else do you put your peanut butter on? 😀 The correct answer is apple slices. I’ve never thought of celery as bitter in any way, but it does have a kind of unpleasant aftertaste eaten raw. I mainly use it to add depth to broths and soups, and I don’t leave big chunks of it in the finished product. > [@kayaker](#): > > A guy I know was doing field research involving an animal (monkey IIRC) in Vietnam. He lived with a family in a village for a month or so while doing his work. When he left, the village threw a big party for him. They went all out, serving dog in a stew, which he forced himself to eat rather than insult his hosts… > > It actually caused a sorta PTSD for him. When he told me the story he had dry heaves talking about it and eventually ran to the bathroom and puked. I ate a small amount of dog (I’m remembering it as a kind of patè on a cracker, but that could be wrong) at an Indonesian wedding when I was five years old or so. The bride handed it to me, and my dad patted my shoulder in a way I knew meant “just shut up and eat it” when I asked him what it was. That didn’t emotionally scar me, but I was really indignant when I found out what it was. I’m really glad my parents taught me to be a gracious guest, though. I’ve been a vegetarian (another kind of food issue) for about 40 years now, and I have a very long experience of finding something without meat at a restaurant without making too much fuss. If someone knows me well enough to treat me to a special meal, they usually know to find a restaurant with vegetarian options. I always volunteer to bring food to gatherings; that way I know there will be at least one non-meat dish. The stepmother of one of my daughter’s kindergarten classmates once asked her over for a play date, and when I got there, she’d made lunch for all of us (she was apparently not accustomed to the norm of moms dropping their kids off and getting an hour or two to themselves). She served a gigantic, dry boneless chicken breast on a white bun with a dollop of mayonnaise, and I choked that sucker down. But if I’d been at a restaurant, I’d have felt free to reject the choice. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738/138 "2024-01-10T17:37:39Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > Why wasn’t she uncomfortable at the time, if so? She knew what she was eating. I think there is an effect from being in an exotic location and trying what they consider normal. I’ve eaten iguana on the beach in the Caribbean. No way I’d order it at a local pub. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738/139 "2024-01-10T18:00:13Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’ve eaten iguana on the beach in the Caribbean. No way I’d order it at a local pub. We’ll try anything once. We’ve had conch and even rattlesnake as an experiment. Conch was just like chewing a rubber erasor, and rattlesnake like a tough fishy chicken. Rather suspect iguana might be similar? Maybe we need to start a new thread about foods you have tried that actually turned out to be BETTER than you expected? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738/140 "2024-01-10T18:05:00Z")
Lucky me, I love just about everything edible. When I’m at a restaurant and others at the table are asking endless questions about the menu, I just pick something I don’t recognize and look forward to the surprise. I understand that taste is highly variable, both between individuals and over time in the same person - I also remember my first experience with cilantro was off-putting, but like many of my favorite things that’s a promising start. Coffee, beer, cumin, etc. I’m also very inclined to try unconventional combinations, especially when dealing with leftovers. I put a spoonful of pesto and a dash of soy sauce on my morning groats, what my partner considers an inappropriate “mixed metaphor.” Decades ago at a construction camp in the desert of Saudi Arabia, the Filipino cooks threw food scraps out the back of the dining hall to the wild salukis. One day after a delicious stew for lunch we noticed that the dogs had vanished. Didn’t bother me then, doesn’t now, especially compared to the way most of our meat and poultry is raised today. But I know perfectly well that few people are as omnivorous as I am, and I think most people are well aware of how distinct everyone’s tastes are, so I can’t fathom the OP’s hypothetical situation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-limited-menus/995738.md?page=8)