Menú

Menú is a term used in Spanish and many other languages to denote a list of dishes or options offered for a meal, typically in a restaurant or catering setting. In restaurant use, a menú can be a fixed-price selection of courses or a shorter set of items from which the customer may choose. Variants include the menú del día, often a budget-friendly daily lunch, and the menú degustación, a tasting menu with multiple small courses. A children’s version, menú infantil, is commonly available in family-oriented establishments. In contrast to a carta (à la carte), a menú presents predefined choices at a set price, though many venues also offer changes.

Etymology: The word derives from the French menu, from Old French menu meaning detailed or refined, with roots in Latin minutus meaning small. The term was adopted into Spanish and other languages and is used with local diacritical marks (for example, menú in Spanish) or as plain 'menu' in other languages.

In computing and user interfaces, a menu is a graphical or textual list of commands or options that a user can select, typically presented in a menu bar, as a dropdown, or in a context menu. Menus organize functionality and can include submenus, shortcuts, and grouping.

Cultural notes: Across regions, menus reflect culinary traditions, price structures, and dietary practices. The contrast between fixed menus and à la carte offerings shapes dining experience, while the repertoire of terms such as menú del día and menú degustación highlights regional usage.