Should I Call Silly Menu Names When Ordering at a Restaurant?

When ordering at a restaurant, it's generally best to use the name on the menu, even if it's silly. This practice helps ensure that the staff understands your order correctly. However, if you feel uncomfortable saying the name, you can always describe the dish or ask the server for help. Ultimately, it's about your comfort level!

Personal Experience with Silly Menu Names

I never call dishes by their silly names. For instance, instead of ordering 'Brazed pork in a balsamic jus with celeriac porridge,' I would say, 'Can I have the pork, please.' I've come to call this situation the 'Jumbo Happy Clown Burger' syndrome, a phenomenon where business clients should avoid naming things in a way that might make them look foolish. The catchiness of a name can be outweighed by people's reluctance to order something they might think sounds silly.

Examples of Silly Menu Names

A carnival of odd-sounding dish names can often be found in restaurants, particularly at establishments owned by micro-brewers. For example, there's the 'Citra Ass Down' from Against the Grain brewery, or 'Hoppy Ending' from Palo Alto, which makes explicit innuendos in its label art. Then there's the 'Circum Session Ale' from Scmaltz brewing, which is quite nasty-sounding.

I had an interesting experience working as the menu development chef for a new BBQ place. We had a dish called 'The Meat Sweats,' which our servers hated because it was too cheap for such a large quantity of food. It was a deal for 2-3 people but was enough for a family of five. Despite the servers' objections, one of our managers named the dish 'The Meat Sweats.' I was the lone voice of dissent, arguing that it was far too vulgar and should be called something else, like 'Pig Lebowski,' 'Pork Side of the Moon,' or even 'Charleston Meatwave.'

Customer and Server Dynamics

Sometimes, customers may struggle with the name of a dish, especially if it seems silly or hard to pronounce. In such cases, servers can often help by describing the dish in a more customer-friendly way. If a server notices a customer struggling with pronunciation, they might intervene with something like, 'Ah yes, our unfortunately-named Five Meat Assortment!'

It's important to remember that the job of a server is to make customers feel comfortable. They will often step in to help if a customer is trying to order something but is struggling with the name. This runs the same principle as when a server helps pronounce difficult restaurant names or helps with wine selections. In rare instances, you might encounter a server who is haughty or doesn't understand your accent, but such situations are uncommon.

Conclusion

While sticking to the menu names is generally best, it's acceptable to ask for clarification if you find the name of a dish particularly silly or hard to pronounce. Your server is there to help you navigate the menu. By doing so, you can enjoy your meal and have a more comfortable and pleasant dining experience.