"If you've ever stared at a restaurant menu, overwhelmed by a sea of flowery language describing items like seared scallops, pasture-raised rib eye, and charred organic kale in what seems like excruciating detail, we feel you. However, according to Frankie Weinberg, Restaurant Manager and Co-Owner of Good Catch Thai Urban Cuisine and Pomelo in New Orleans, menu descriptors like these actually may serve an important purpose."
"'For example, a basic chicken dish would sound more appealing by describing it as 'house-roasted chicken,'" explains the restaurant manager, who also teaches Management Professor at Loyola University. He adds that highlighting the cooking process (a simple one, at that) indicates key details of the meal. Instead of wondering if what you're ordering includes outsourced, pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, you can rest assured that it was at least cooked in-house."
Menu descriptors add clarity and intrigue by briefly describing preparation, sourcing, and cooking aspects so diners understand what to expect. Descriptive phrases can signal in-house preparation, differentiate items beyond vague labels, and reduce uncertainty about outsourced or pre-cooked components. Highlighting simple cooking processes, ingredients, and flavor indicators helps diners make more informed choices and increases the perceived appeal of dishes. Thoughtful menu language can communicate exact preparations and taste profiles, turning ambiguous options into clear, enticing selections that guide ordering decisions.
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