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Original poster

Items that you no longer see on menus.

636 replies

DeathAndParsnips · 10/09/2023 17:53

Which foods do you rarely see on menus now? I was watching some old adverts on YouTube for Little Chef and such which made me think of this.

Do you still get melon as a starter? I used to love that as a child. Also a glass of orange juice as a starter. I went to a hotel in around 2010 and they still had that as an option on the menu. I found it rather charming.

OP posts:
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23
StormzyinaTCup · 10/09/2023 20:11

GCAcademic · 10/09/2023 20:05

They closed all their branches down permanently during the Covid pandemic.

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Thanks, that's a shame.

Lurkylurks · 10/09/2023 20:12

Crepesandconans · 10/09/2023 18:13

Chicken in a basket

Came here to say this. Adults seemed to be constantly eating this when I was a child in the 80s and then it disappeared forever. What even was it?

Tigger1895 · 10/09/2023 20:13

Plain ordinary pate with Melba toast, I really don’t want truffle or foie gras in my pate.

FKATondelayo · 10/09/2023 20:14

Whenwillglorioussummercome · 10/09/2023 19:57

Deep fried stuff and sugary puddings?

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We still have deep fried stuff and sugary puddings. My point is that the portion sizes and proportion of veg/fruit & protein to carb were much healthier then. A starter today is often nearly the same size as a main and will include a lot of starch or a meat - bruschetta, garlic bread, ribs, wings, pate. Puddings are much richer (sticky toffee, salted caramel brownies) and with ice cream on the side.

Waitwhat23 · 10/09/2023 20:14

NoTeaNoShade · 10/09/2023 18:53

Anyone have a good recipe for Black Forest Gateau? Fancy trying to make one 😋

Not gateau but I made this Black Forest Gateau cake for my husband's birthday a couple of years ago - thegreatbritishbakeoff.co.uk/recipes/all/steph-black-forest-chocolate-cake/

I bought the cherry jam and didn't bother with the bark or gold leafing but it's extremely nice. Works well as sort of modified Cupcakes too.

GolgafrinchamB · 10/09/2023 20:15

mewkins · 10/09/2023 19:25

You could get this in Cafe Rouge a few years ago (our cafe rouge has since closed).

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Yes! Our Cafe Rouge and our Côte have both been closed down.

I guess the brasserie style chains are out of fashion currently. Much more Levantine and Asian places now.

MsRosley · 10/09/2023 20:15

Shitty Chef and Crappy Eater - those were the days 😁

Nanny0gg · 10/09/2023 20:16

Sirzy · 10/09/2023 17:58

Prawn cocktail

That's on loads of menus near me - I often have it!

Occasionally they switch it up and add crayfish!

rookiemere · 10/09/2023 20:16

Banoffie pie was really popular in the 90s but seems to have disappeared. Duck a l'orange.

silvertoil · 10/09/2023 20:18

Chicken Kiev / hunters chicken

Lorrymum · 10/09/2023 20:18

Cariebo · 10/09/2023 18:04

A lemon filled with lemon sorbet

Lidl stock them at least once year along with oranges with orange sorbet.
I buy at least a dozen and keep some for Christmas. My DH says I need to get out more...

EggInANest · 10/09/2023 20:20

Duck a la Orange
Zabaglioni
Irish Coffe served in a big wine glass, lots of puffed up cream on top, and a little padded coaster mat with slots in so it fitted on the base of the glass

enjoyingscience · 10/09/2023 20:24

Cauliflower cheese as a veggie main - I do miss it.

Cookiedough41 · 10/09/2023 20:24

I had whitebait as a starter at a hotel a few months ago. The waiter actually looked at me and said "no one ever orders that" after receiving a plateful of crispy whitebait I can see why.

FKATondelayo · 10/09/2023 20:26

I miss proper old fashioned vegetarian cafes like Cranks in Covent Garden and the Beatroot in Berwick Street. Delicious food that wasn't made of processed fake meat and also had lots of cheese and eggs. Veggie food was so much nicer in the 80s / 90s. Rich and filling and not trying to pretend it was meat.

notprincehamlet · 10/09/2023 20:27

A lemon filled with lemon sorbet
I haven't tried them yet but crosta & mollica do these
www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/crosta-mollica-lemon-shells/850003-804200-804201

Doggymummar · 10/09/2023 20:29

Opi made prawn cocktail tonight it was lush

silverbubbles · 10/09/2023 20:31

never see whitebait, or garlic mushrooms on starter lists anymore

mrsrobin · 10/09/2023 20:31

Has anyone mentioned trout? I used to love trout when I went out but I never see it anymore.

PrimitivePerson · 10/09/2023 20:32

Caramel that isn't salted
Pork that isn't pulled. :)

Pate as a starter seems to be getting quite rare.
Scampi seems to be getting rarer too.

As for those carved out lemons filled with sorbet, a lot of Indian restaurants still seem to do them.

SperaT · 10/09/2023 20:34

Toad in the Hole - would love to find a good one on a menu somewhere in London. I've looked everywhere.

I loved Little Chef!

blisstwins · 10/09/2023 20:36

EverythingYouDoIsaBalloon · 10/09/2023 18:55

Veal. For obvious reasons, and it's quite correct that it's not considered an acceptable dish any more. It didn't half taste nice though.

I feel like I see it all the time and wish it, foie gras, lobster, and everything else that requires excessive cruelty would go. A meal isn’t worth causing so much suffering.

Malbecfan · 10/09/2023 20:37

Chicken in a basket was a quarter of a chicken and some chips that were served in a basket. It was lovely.

My grandparents always served tomato juice with Lea and Perrin's as a starter. I drank it but I wasn't that keen.

I loved Black Forest Gateau and would always have it if I could.

Does anyone else remember the "sweet trolley" in a restaurant? You finished your main course and the waiter/waitress would ask "would you like to see the sweet trolley?" and then push it over.

Whenwillglorioussummercome · 10/09/2023 20:38

FKATondelayo · 10/09/2023 20:14

We still have deep fried stuff and sugary puddings. My point is that the portion sizes and proportion of veg/fruit & protein to carb were much healthier then. A starter today is often nearly the same size as a main and will include a lot of starch or a meat - bruschetta, garlic bread, ribs, wings, pate. Puddings are much richer (sticky toffee, salted caramel brownies) and with ice cream on the side.

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Your point wasn’t very clear, given the list of food. And indeed many of the lost dishes that are deeply unhealthy.

It would be good to have a thread discussing food that isn’t derailed by handwringing over people’s diets. The rest of MN is full of it.

2023forme · 10/09/2023 20:38

Notthisnotthat · 10/09/2023 18:01

Egg Mayonnaise as a starter. Friend had it at her wedding in the late 90s and it was retro then. With a wee sprinkle of paprika.

This is what I was going to say! It’s still my BIL’s fave starter and my sis goes to great lengths to make it just right for him as she has done during their 40+ years of marriage!