“How do you always know what to order?” my boyfriend asks me every time we’re out to eat together. And though I’d rather convince him I have some sort of magical culinary superpower that makes my plate look more appetizing than his, that’s not quite it. The truth is, I’m just a “menu sleuth.”
A menu sleuth is someone who knows everything about a restaurant’s menu before even entering the establishment. They read the reviews, look up photos of the entrees, and scour the internet for insider tips, like how the portion sizes run or which sauce to add to the steak.
If food is as important for you as it is for me, menu sleuthing is absolutely essential in making sure you order the restaurant’s best of the best. You can find out which main dish is worth the price, which appetizers are too tasty to miss, and whether the restaurant is secretly known for pizza despite being a burger joint.
A menu sleuth is someone who knows everything about a restaurant’s menu before even entering the establishment.
Even beyond said benefits, menu sleuthing helps me plan the rest my day accordingly. If I know I’m going to order the chicken dish later, I’ll make sure to eat other proteins throughout the day. If I know I’m going to want something with a red sauce, I’ll make sure to pack a few Tums. And if I had allergies or dietary preferences, menu sleuthing would help me see if I had options outside of a side salad.
Menu sleuthing is also just really fun. Similar to my fascination with “Zillow peeping,” I love looking up restaurant menus . . . even when I have zero intention of eating there. When one of my favorite TikTok content creators share a video of them at brunch, I’ll look up the menu fully knowing I’m thousands of miles away. Even on a local level, if I pass a place that has a line out the window, you can bet the first thing I’m doing is checking out what they serve.
Up until a few weeks ago, I assumed everyone was a menu sleuth. But apparently, there’s a whole subset of people who don’t look up the menus beforehand – including my boyfriend. When he told me this, I wasn’t too shocked. (He recently ordered ribs at a place known for their fried chicken.) But walking into a lunch spot with no idea what to order ahead of time feels like a dangerous game of, “How much do I actually want to enjoy my meal today?” And for me, spending on bland food is not a gamble worth taking – especially when I could just make my own bland food at home.
My boyfriend insists that part of the fun of eating out is the spontaneity that comes with ordering. He likes to ask for waiters’ recommendations or look at the daily specials, which aren’t always accessible online. Sometimes, it works out. But other times, it leads to him looking longingly at my plate and asking if I want to trade bites. (I don’t.)
That’s the beauty of being a menu sleuth, though: I rarely have to experience order regret. It isn’t about being a control freak, it’s simply knowing what to ask for. And if being a menu sleuth means I never have to experience a bad meal again, I’m happy to spend more time on Yelp.
Taylor Andrews (she/her) is the balance editor at PS, specializing in topics relating to sex, relationships, dating, sexual health, mental health, travel, and more. With seven years of editorial experience, Taylor has a strong background in content creation and storytelling. Prior to joining PS in 2021, she worked at Cosmopolitan.
