Ordering off the menu

[ts4them]

No! This is so rude and unacceptable, especially in a 3+ star restaurant. You are basically telling the chef that none of his creations are good enough for you (maybe if you're a celebrity it'll fly). Many chefs will take it as a slap in the face, the rest will think you're just a pain the ass; as will your server. They've planned and prepped for what is on the menu, and if you're lucky there are specials. If you are truly interested in the chef's talents, order a tasting menu and they will ask what items you would or would not like to be served. These will be special creations that are off the menu. Mind you, not many restaurants offer tasting menus (mostly 4 stars), but I highly recommend them. You can even have the sommelier choose the wines to go with each course. Those have always been my fave dining experiences.

 

[Thomas]

Originally Posted by shoe

this reminds me of the scene in the movie Big Night , where the american lady asks for a side of spaghetti with her seafood risotto and the chef brother was enraged at the thought of it. haha


Patron: "Why doesn't my spaghetti have meatballs?"
Brother: "Sometimes spaghetti just wants to be alone"

That was such a good movie.

 

[Viktri]

Off the menu's popular at Asian (mostly *** & Chinese for me) places because the dishes that might not be on the menu are you popular the cooks know how to make them anyway. I've done it a few times but not often

 

[SamIam33]

umm i think rest. hate this!

 

[odoreater]

I'm pretty sure Burger King allows you to "have it your way."

 

[Shikar]

Chilean Sea Bass.....at most places its off the menu. I have it at least 5 times a month, its honestly addictivly good. Polos in Houston makes it just right.

Regards.

 

[heavyd]

depends on how far off the menu - they are in the hospitality biz and usually take a certain amount of pride in being able to make you happy.

 

[a-rock]

i think its always safe to ask if the chef has anything special up his sleeves that evening. that's hardly rude and depending on the place, it might be a flattering request.

rolling into a nice joint and saying, "you know, none of this looks appealing... can you whip up X, Y, and Z" on the other hand is rude.

 

[GQgeek]

Originally Posted by sonick

Another thing about chinese restauraunts; I just don't know how they manage to often have over 50 different items (sometimes nearly 100!) on their menu's when conventional european/north american restauraunts only offer 15-20 different dishes.

Because most of those items are all variations based on the same ingredients. They're prepped and cooked exactly the same way but they just add a different sauce at the end. The stuff offered at continental restaurants is more complicated to prep and cook.

 

[Histrion]

I never order off the menu as intended by the OP.

However, when I go to a restaurant and they have something special on that day that they recommend me, I will often order it.