The Menu Reality Check Every Operator Needs to Do
Most menus slowly drift out of alignment with staffing, training, and execution. Regular reality checks prevent chaos.
Menus don’t usually fail overnight.
They drift.
One item gets added.
Another never leaves.
A special sticks around.
A garnish gets complicated.
A technique sneaks in.
Suddenly the menu no longer matches the operation.
Ask These Questions
Can this be executed on our worst staffing day?
Can every cook make this correctly?
Does this item justify its complexity?
Does it share ingredients with other dishes?
Does it slow the line?
If the answer is no, the menu is lying to you.
Reality Beats Romance
A menu should reflect:
staffing reality
training capacity
prep windows
equipment limits
service expectations
Not just creativity.
Final Thought
The best menus are honest.
They tell the truth about what your operation can execute.
