Menus are designed to make you crave more food, believe you’re hungrier than you are, check your calorie guilt at the door and believe everything is a good deal. That’s why you walk into a restaurant expecting to spend $20 and end up signing a check for $50. That bill can be a little shocking, which is strange because you knew what you were doing–you added the side salad and the dessert. Nobody forced your hand in the matter. But after you’re done enjoying the food (which you devoured in 20 minutes) you’re left with the bloat and the bank account guilt for hours or days. Here are menu tricks not to fall for.
Appetizers for two, lite eaters, etc
Menus often tell you for what occasion each item is. They may put cute little notes like “perfect for two” or “for big eaters” next to items. This makes couples feel unromantic if they don’t get the appetizer for two and it challenges men who call themselves big eaters to get the triple size burrito.