What to Do When Nothing Looks Good on the Menu

Entering a restaurant with an empty stomach can be a daunting experience, especially when the menu fails to offer any tempting options. It's natural to feel frustrated or even deterred from ordering at all. However, navigating these situations gracefully and maintaining an enjoyable dining experience is entirely within your reach. In this article, we explore strategies for handling menus with unsatisfactory selections, ensuring your visit is both polite and satisfying.

1. Handle it Politely if You’re Being Treated

If you’re being treated to a meal by a friend or part of a group event, maintaining a positive dining experience is crucial. Here's what to do if the menu doesn't appeal to you:

Leave a Small Tip: Leave a few bucks as a tip on the table for the server and tell the hostess that you've changed your mind. Express Gratitude: Say thank you to your server and ask the host to clear your table. Address Drinks: Pay for the drinks if you've ordered any.

2. Consider the Options if You’re Invited

When invited to a restaurant by a friend, you have different options depending on the situation:

Order a Salad: If the menu doesn’t offer anything that appeals, order a simple salad or a drink instead. Pick Dessert: If dessert looks tempting, consider ordering only from the dessert menu and be playful about it. Tell your host you’re “naughty” for only eating dessert. Select Sides: A personal favorite is to ask the server to combine sides on one plate. This way, you can still enjoy the restaurant's ambiance and company.

3. Handle It Alone or Purposefully

If you’re alone or visiting a restaurant you’ve never tried, approach the menu with a bit more flexibility:

Read the Menu on Entry: Look at the menu at the door before entering the dining area. Be Picky but Not Overly So: If you find nothing that appeals, you might as well skip the visit. However, if there’s a side dish or appetizer that looks appealing, give it a chance. Leave if Feeling Disgusted: If the restaurant environment is unclean, it's perfectly acceptable to leave without further ado.

4. Reflections on Exceptional Occasions

Occasionally, you may find yourself in a situation where no menu choices appeal to you. Here's how to handle such an occurrence:

First-Time Visits: At a new restaurant, take the time to look at the menu in the window before entering. Older Experiences: Remember, as time goes by, it's possible that you may have visited an unfamiliar restaurant years ago, tip your host and leave if nothing tempts you. Select Something Basic: In a pinch, order something very bland or simply prepared, then move it around the plate if you genuinely cannot eat it.

5. What Draws You to the Place?

When you do venture to a dining establishment, the draw could be the ambiance rather than the food. Here are some common reasons why people still enjoy dining out despite the menu not appealing to them:

Topless Waitresses: Some people enjoy the company of topless waitresses. Waterfront Views: Eat at a restaurant with a waterfront view to take in the scenery. Easy Parking: The convenience of easy parking can make a difference.

Regardless of the reason, it's important to handle the situation gracefully and not let a menu that doesn’t appeal you ruin your dining experience.