Bring back physical menus in restaurants

[Globules]

What is it with online menus?

I really miss holding a menu in my hand that I can flick through.

Just had another farce where my data dropped out so I can't access the online menu. Amazingly a menu in a leather bound folio then appeared.

I understand it's cheaper for the company for everything to be online as there's less printing. But boy I miss the book.

Particularly when I need to speak to waiting staff to place my order anyway.

I've left at that stage several times. It's a downward spiral. We're going to be collecting our own food next.

May be just not in your area...they are everywhere though. We spend a bit of time in Spain and it's absolutely everywhere there. Awful.

I was listening to a programme about QR code scams (Quishing)this week. They’re very common. Advice was to run your finger over the QR code in restaurants to ensure it’s not a fake one stuck over the top. Even more risky to use the ones on parking meters or anywhere out and about. Apparently several people scammed by fake QR codes on parking ticket machines in the Lake District. Never use a QR reader app as the embedded apps can be scams; always ask if there’s a paper alternative in cafes etc; if possible type in the website rather than scanning the QR; don’t trust QRs received in emails. Essentially, avoid them where possible!

Incorrect. I went to one restaurant, sat down and asked for menu. Was pointed to QR code. Said I didn't have phone and was handed a laptop! I left.

I live in London and often go out and about to eat outside London too. The vast majority of restaurants and pubs still have proper menus. The only places where we've ordered online have been in smaller cafes, or in some places on holiday abroad.

We eat out a fair bit and, truly, I have never been presented with anything but a paper menu.
We never think to take a phone into a restaurant. Our kids sometimes have theirs but leave it in their bags.
Even when using drive throughs, we never say YES to using an app. Always use our eyes, ears, voice and a card or cash.

Stop making your phones visible and physical menus will appear.

I begrudge scanning a qr code to order and then being asked if I want to leave a tip. For what? At this point ive had no food and no service, how do I know whether i want to leave a tip.
If you go somewhere where you eg order at the counter or the bar, and pay first, I dont think it would occur to leave a tip until after eating a meal?

I hate when you have to order online. I hate having to make drs appointments on complicated booking system. I hate online parents evening. I hate online physio appointments. I hate that everything requires a sign up, password or subscription. The main reason being I need to remember millions of passwords and details. I can't even remember my own phone number....just the one from when I was a kid. It's exhausting.

There is always a paper option.
Say you can't use screens due to migraines.

I hate it. Have to put on my glasses, it stops the conversation I am having with the person I am eating with and we both have to get our phones out.
It’s cheap of the establishment and a hassle. Fuck that.

I think the only one I have been to is The Botanist. I tend not to eat in chains very often, and none of the local pubs or Indian restaurants offer online ordering.

Refuse to do it. I always ask for a menu and once walked out when they didn’t have one.

What a shit start to a meal out with the family - everyone already with their phones out.

What the fuck? No thanks.

Most pubs around here have QR codes on the tables and I actually find it really handy for ordering food and drinks, so I usually use them. But in a nicer restaurant I’d find it a bit odd. If I’m paying for the whole restaurant experience, I’d rather have an actual menu and order from a person. Sitting there scrolling on my phone would kind of ruin the vibe a bit.

If someone has specific dietary requirements for health reasons - coeliac, allergies I find it much easier to talk to waiting staff who will check with the kitchen, than to order online.

I really don't have a problem with online menus or online ordering. If that's what some people prefer, then that's great.

I just don't want it to be the only option available. I was only given a physical menu when it was established my phone wasn't playing ball.

Like PPs, i like flicking through the pages, i like not having phones out at the table. And in this case, i actually ordered a more expensive drink because i was given the physical menu.

Businesses need to take note.

Seems The Botanist is one to avoid then @RampantIvy . I'll go elsewhere for overpriced cocktails.

I'm obviously eating at the wrong places. I've never not had a physical menu to choose from.

Same here! I eat out at lunchtime regularly and have always had a physical menu.

But you can have a paper menu but still use a QR code to pay - eg in Bills. I do like it when you can pay that way. It's annoying when they make you download an app to pay though like Pizza Express - I don't want any more apps on my phone.

Pubs are better as you usually order and pay at the bar and once you've finished you can go.

Not always. My old phone didn't recognise QR codes so I couldn't get the menu. They brought me a small ipad with the menu on to look at instead!

Well back in the day you used to leave a few coins on the table when you left. So you can leave a tip in cash on the table, although some places are completely cash-free so I don't know what they'd do with cash tips.

I like having a physical menu but like to be able to order and pay using my phone. My biggest bugbear is when you have eaten and want to leave and the waiting staff vanish into thin air. Sat awkwardly trying to get someone’s attention so you can pay drives me mad.

Agreed. I’ve actually started leaving phone in the car when I go out. So I need a physical menu, and an actual person to take my order. Absolutely sick of having to doomscroll through a menu on my phone to find what I want, unable to ask for minor changes (no ice for example), order and pay before I get to see what I’m eating-then the cheek of adding service charge/tip…I did most of it myself!

Now you've said that, i remember being given an ipad a while back to select from the menu when i refused to get my phone out.

It was the Shangri La in The Shard. Thanks for the memory prompt!

As mentioned above, I've been to two places in different countries on the continent which didn't have physical menus. Nearly walked out, but particularly wanted to try these specific restaurants - not chains and not cheap-and-cheerful cafes either.