If you are going out to dinner do you have a sneaky advance look at the restaurant's menu?

[shoppingbagsundereyes]

or am I the only saddo who likes to get all excited about what she is potentially going to eat hours in advance???
(have already decided on tonight's dinner from the new restaurant we are going to later!)

Only once I've checked out the wine list.

We tend to pick a restaurant based on the menu, but that's because there's a fantastic bit up the student area of the local town where you can wander along the road and pick a country to try

I don't go to can't afford posh restaurants with websites and slebrity chefs

Oh I always do! I'm usually too busy chatting to concentrate properly on the menu once I'm there, so it helps to have an idea of what to have beforehand!

I always do that if I can - I am obsessed with food plus I like taking my time to choose what I want to eat but am always starving by the time we get to restaurants so I jsut want to order rather than read the menu!

so tonight I am going to start with:
crispy confit duck with plum sauce and prawn crackers
followed by:
mediterranean vegetable tart with handcut chips (the handcut bit made me chuckle) and dressed (!) leaves
and if I can squeeze it in:
chocolate fondant.
YUM - will be grr if their online menu isn't up to date :)

Gosh yes. We only go out together abour once a year so it has to be worth it!

I do if I get round to it, but I prefer to order under pressure so I don't choose until I am there :)

i like to look at the menu, but don't get your hopes up as often it is "sample" menus on websites ....plus there might be an exciting special to plump for which will affect all your other choices!

Does anyone else crane their neck to see if what the people on other tables are having looks good?

Ooh yes. But I usually end up choosing something different to what I expect, either because the specials sound even better, or I see what others are having.

Always!

I only recently realised you could often do this , but yes I do look now!

I like to have a really good shufty in case I've missed anything. But then as 40 says, when you get there there are the specials too....and then I'm all

I always do abit of menu porn before going to the restaurant. Then, I have an idea of what I want and I only get way-laid by the Specials Board. Damn it.

Always look at what others are having on other tables too.

I always check and see if they do my favourite wine too, as if they don't I'd order something other thatn wine.

Yes, I do, and if someone I know is going out I google the menu to choose what I'd have if I was there.

Ooh I do that too netto and choose imaginary dinners from restaurants I can't afford to go to!
Was too stuffed for the chocolate fondant last night :(

I've virtually eaten at every Michelin starred place in the country, and some in other countries too, I love reading menus.
I rarely choose puddings, I'm a cheese girl.

Yes sometimes.

I like menus.

I like to look at the food and think about it, even after I have decided what I want.

Yes as I'm a vegetarian and quite fussy so I have to make sure there is something I will like!

Yes, because i'm a fussy bugger.

Always. I like to plan ahead!

I always choose a restaurant based on it's menu so yes.

I love having a look online and sorting out side dishes and sauces if needed.

I booked a Christmas meal for a group of work colleagues and before I sent them the menu I wrote down what I thought each person would pick and got nearly every course right

\often yes.

As I am on a permanent diet - so have to figure out what will be suitable.

Sigh......................

Ooh, absolutely. And like a bit of food porn - DH was away with work recently and told me via email where they were going each evening, I was straight onto the websites choosing 'my' meal.

Not normally, as I'm easy to please. However, I've been weightwatching for the last few months and I like to check the menu in advance to give me time to think about making appropriate choices - I'm making and effort to try new things and not just go all out for my most favourite foods.