To Read the menu online

[Booklover23]

I am going for dinner with DH this evening somewhere we’ve not been before.

I’ve no allergies, am not a fussy eater (quite the opposite) but I like to have a nose at the menu before going.

Mainly because I’m a weirdo who likes reading a menu. DH had just said “reading the menu online “spoils the surprise”.

I think “well it’s an Italian restaurant- it won’t be that surprising”.

But wise women of MN… I open the door to you - so you read the menu online before going to a restaurant

I'd not book anywhere I'd never eaten in before having a look at the menus online. Same as I'd never walk into a restaurant without having a look at the menu outside. I love reading menus, checking out wine lists and cocktail menus. Your DH is the odd one.

https://111bymodou.co.uk/

If your husband wants a complete surprise, then this is for him.
I went a few months ago and it was amazing, both food and service and brilliant value for money, obviously you need to be open to eating anything, which I am

Plus I'm a menu junkie - I like to see what people are eating around the world!

Always, if I can. Dh, ds's don't like to, they like the surprise. I love perusing menus, mains, starters, cocktails.

I check beforehand whenever I can, both for vegetarian dishes and because I need to watch my weight. Spontaneity leads to calorie-laden carbfests. I am happy to have a calorie splurge sometimes, but things go better with a little advance planning.

Always ... and like others in this thread I check all sorts of restaurants on line, if somewhere nice is mentioned on Mumsnet I frequently research it ... even if I have no intention of ever going there . Off to look at the YouTube reviews now ...

I hate the ‘fuck you Thai curry’. I know that I can cook it myself at home. Equally the ‘fuck you Moving Mountains burger’. I have them in my fridge. And if you ask for real cheese rather than vegan cheese you get a look, and vegan cheese anyway.

I always do. It started from needing to check what DS may eat but now I do find it useful to have an idea what’s available and how much it is.

That looks amazing @TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening

Also - I love MN. In one post about menu obsession one person has managed to infer twice that DH is potentially abusive and another “a dreary bollockless wimp”. 😁

I always look at menu online. I'm not picky or have any allergies. Especially before I go on a trip.

perusing the menu saves lots of time trying to decide what to order at the restaurant — I’m rather indecisive when there’s a good choice and and left dithering while my fellow diners sit waiting for me to make up my mind. If the choice is limited prior warning gives me time to work out what I would enjoy eg starter as a main etc.

I wrote on MN that DH and I doted on each other and got told that it was unhealthy co-dependence, and that I was smug into the bargain.

I love reading menus, online or in person. In fact I wish restaurants would leave the menu even after I've ordered!

Yes

I always do this, especially if in a big group. I find it hard to decode what I want and be part of a conversation at the same time. I also like to get ‘excited’ about what I’m going to eat.

I like to see the menu in advance; especially if meeting friends as usually too busy chatting to properly look, so far easier to know what you want

I’ve definitely done it before but it’s not something I’d do routinely. I go out to eat a lot, I generally have an idea of what might be on the menu and although I have a few dislikes I’ve never struggled to choose something from a menu. Last month I went somewhere there is no menu at all, even when you sit down to eat there’s no menu (other than a drinks one). They just bring you out the courses one by one and explain what they are.

A lot of MNetters seem to think a male DP/DH voicing an opinion about anything is 'controllling'.

I do this to see if I can afford it really. When I say "afford it", I do have enough money to go out for a meal from time to time, but I don't have enough money to piss it up the wall on an overpriced restaurant where the selection of dishes isn't that great.
It's no different to when you wander round in a different city in the evening and look at menus posted outside the restaurants to decide where you might want to eat - price point is important to me but so is the choice of meals.

I always do.

Yes, it's bloody annoying how often "controlling" is bandied around.
However, I've seen it used on here against women fairly often too. OP posts about something and there's a pile on of "You sound controlling OP".

Oh we love looking at the menu if we are going somewhere that's been booked. It's pleasurable finding something fab to look forward too and easy to change if it's not to your taste.

Never, if I'm already committed to going there (rather than trying to decide if I want to go there).

I don't understand why I would! I'll look when I arrive and need to order!

Same! I'm "tell me where you're going so I can see the food, I genuinely want to know"