The Priceless Menu
Jun. 15th, 2021 05:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithI came across an article today about a lawsuit to ban menus without prices.
My thoughts on this ...
* It didn't need a lawsuit at all. It could have been solved by arranging a number of feminist friends to go to those restaurants with a male date and, when handed a priceless menu, pass it to their partner and say, "It's my treat." Enough of that would embarrass the restaurants into not assuming who's paying. Especially at high-end restaurants, people are very sensitive about saving face. They damn well learned not to assume it with checks, because a check fight at a table is a real nuisance; they can learn it about menus, chairs, or anything else.
* Or you use the standard method of disapproval for public establishments and throw a boycott. You could also start your own restaurant and run it however you please.
* Calling it a priceless, date, or discreet menu instead of a ladies menu would remove the sexist description.
* One person's self-important bitchfest took away a tool that other people were using, and may have relied upon for other reasons. For example, anyone could be uncomfortable with high prices, and some people find math and numbers stressful. Others have trouble sorting through the visual clutter of a menu, especially in dim lighting, and anything that reduces the clutter is helpful. But now fewer places offer that option, because somebody threw a tantrum. Helpful tip: don't take tools out of other people's hands just because YOU don't like them.
* Also, some feminists in general and butches in particular like taking a masculine role. Conversely, some men and some femmes like taking a feminine role. While removing all the gender markers may please some groups of people, it undermines the opportunities for gender expression in some other groups.
* Think about your responses and the wider implications, not just getting what you want. Stuff like this makes feminists look like fussbudgets and makes it harder to fix big, concrete problems like how to access health care without getting sexually assaulted.
My thoughts on this ...
* It didn't need a lawsuit at all. It could have been solved by arranging a number of feminist friends to go to those restaurants with a male date and, when handed a priceless menu, pass it to their partner and say, "It's my treat." Enough of that would embarrass the restaurants into not assuming who's paying. Especially at high-end restaurants, people are very sensitive about saving face. They damn well learned not to assume it with checks, because a check fight at a table is a real nuisance; they can learn it about menus, chairs, or anything else.
* Or you use the standard method of disapproval for public establishments and throw a boycott. You could also start your own restaurant and run it however you please.
* Calling it a priceless, date, or discreet menu instead of a ladies menu would remove the sexist description.
* One person's self-important bitchfest took away a tool that other people were using, and may have relied upon for other reasons. For example, anyone could be uncomfortable with high prices, and some people find math and numbers stressful. Others have trouble sorting through the visual clutter of a menu, especially in dim lighting, and anything that reduces the clutter is helpful. But now fewer places offer that option, because somebody threw a tantrum. Helpful tip: don't take tools out of other people's hands just because YOU don't like them.
* Also, some feminists in general and butches in particular like taking a masculine role. Conversely, some men and some femmes like taking a feminine role. While removing all the gender markers may please some groups of people, it undermines the opportunities for gender expression in some other groups.
* Think about your responses and the wider implications, not just getting what you want. Stuff like this makes feminists look like fussbudgets and makes it harder to fix big, concrete problems like how to access health care without getting sexually assaulted.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-06-16 12:55 am (UTC)A) the event host requests it in advance (i.e. so Great Aunt Maude doesn't get sticker shock at her birthday dinner she's being treated to) or
B) a member's club might assume guests will be treated and offer a guest menu, (unless otherwise requested).
Yes ...
Date: 2021-06-16 04:20 am (UTC)If I ran a restaurant, I'd offer it on a sign along with other special menus like the Braille, picture, and Spanish ones that I've seen advertised in various places.
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2021-06-16 04:54 am (UTC)Come to think of it, they could ask about preferred accommodations at that point. This could be anything from checking about special diets, to needing a wheelchair-accessible table or a Braille menu or a high chair or asking if they have a waiter who speaks ASL / Chinese / Klingon...
I think picture menus are a splendid idea. (And add something -a utensil?- to the picture for scale...) Even if a picture menu isn't feasible because of size, you can have pictures and a search feature on the website.
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2021-06-16 05:21 am (UTC)Typically true. But given the list of applications, I don't think it should be just for fancy restaurants. A lot of stores can print a "gift receipt" that doesn't include the price but does allow someone to exchange things.
>>Come to think of it, they could ask about preferred accommodations at that point. <<
That would be a good idea for places that take reservations. It'd save a lot of embarrassment over having to request a different menu at the table.
>>I think picture menus are a splendid idea. (And add something -a utensil?- to the picture for scale...) <<
Good idea.
>>Even if a picture menu isn't feasible because of size, <<
It's not that hard, unless you're being cheap and printing small cards on your own printer. Full-size booklet menus often have pictures.
>>you can have pictures and a search feature on the website.<<
You could also simply set the menu to toggle the prices on or off as desired.
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2021-06-16 02:30 pm (UTC)So maybe whoever is taking the reservation can ask about special accommodations at the fancier places, but they can use your idea of a sign near the host stand for less-fancy ones. "Please feel free to ask about [list of accommodations, menu and otherwise]."
Or if it is a "Take your own menu" place, have color-coded ones in separate little cubbies, like the different account slips at the bank.
One could even do separate vegitarian or other special diet menus, if demand is high enough.
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>>It's not that hard, unless you're being cheap and printing small cards on your own printer. Full-size booklet menus often have pictures.<<
I'm thinking...it depends on how much information you've got, how much space you've got, and then how much paper/ink you'll need multiplied by how many menus you need. That will likely add up
Good pictures might take a single sheet menu to a four or five page one...or a five page to twenty-five.
While I've never had to make restaurant menus, I've had to fiddle with other things to include relevent data while excluding extraneous data and making it look good. Even with a god budget, expenses add up quickly.
(And I could see a small just-starting restauraunt either DIYing the menus, or trying to have them made as inexpensively as possible.)
...plus an online picture menu let's you peruse the offerings before going, or allows you to see the availible takeout.
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Also, re: feminism, I find I'm a lot less irritable about minor but still Annoying Sexist Things if whoever I'm talking to simply /acknowledges that I am upset/ (as opposed to the 'you're overreacting' speech, or the 'it's not that bad' speech). Usually its other women who are best at that, but I have met a few guys with that skillset.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-06-16 03:34 pm (UTC)Well ...
Date: 2021-06-16 07:12 pm (UTC)Re: Well ...
Date: 2021-06-16 11:04 pm (UTC)Not sure how it would've worked in decades before my time - they had some wierd ideas about money and gender.
Re: Well ...
Date: 2021-06-16 11:08 pm (UTC)