Food

The Ultimate Restaurant Menu Cheat Sheet

Want to beat restaurants at their own game? Here’s your cheat sheet listing the sneakiest of sneaky tricks.
Google LogoMark Us Preferred on Google
The Ultimate Restaurant Menu Cheat Sheet
Don't be fooled by the flowery language on a menu. LightField Studios/Shutterstock
|Updated:
0:00

A restaurant menu is no big deal, right? It’s just a list of the food items that a restaurant offers its customers. Sure it is. Plus a whole lot more.

Before menus ever make it to the printer, restaurant owners hire menu engineers and consultants to bury super sneaky psychological tricks into the pretty pictures and mouth-watering descriptions for one reason only—to get you to spend more money.

Google LogoMark Us Preferred on Google
Mary Hunt
Mary Hunt
Author
Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, “Ask Mary.” This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “Debt-Proof Living.” COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM