The Making of a Restaurant Menu

Like Smoke House Grill,for most restaurants,menu change is an annual,if not,seasonal exercise. Shamsul Wahid,Executive Sous Chef of Smoke House Grill,says,“At first,we choose a concept which forms the base for all the elements of the restaurant,from food to ambience. This is followed by formulating a food philosophy,the base of all dishes we put in a menu.” Thus,creating a menu involves much deliberation by a group of four to six people,either foodies or chefs. It takes a combination of classic dishes of a restaurant,innovation to change the fare,and feedback to recast a menu. For instance,is it just a coincidence to find three fish recipes,four chicken or meat dishes on a menu? A lot of emphasis is in serving an exciting vegetarian fare as on any given day,about 50 percent of guests eating out in a restaurant are vegetarians. This process of reaching a new menu sometimes takes up to eight months.

Restaurants keep several basic parameters in mind. Owners mull over the size of the eatery and its nature,the target clientele and the cost. Even then,every new menu carries a risk of rejection. That’s why food trials are a must. “One of the most important factors is the feedback of guests,” says Glenn Eastman,Executive Chef,The Leela Palace,Chanakyapuri. He invites a selection of regular clientele for the final food tasting and their feedback determines which dishes make it to the menu.

A change in menu also depends on the season and the availability of ingredients. “We change the menu as often as possible as this keeps the guests interested in novelty,” says Wahid. Location is another vital factor. “We had opened an outlet of Pind Baluchi in an area which comprised mainly vegetarians. It did not do well and we had to shut down,” says food consultant and writer Rupali Dean,who works with restaurants like The Buzz in Saket and Pind Baluchi.

So next time,as you rack your brains over whether to have Goulash soup or Bouillabaisse ,remember that a world of thought has gone into the list of items in front you. It’s only fair you take your time to make the right choice.