Menús

Menús are the lists of dishes offered by a restaurant, café, or event, presented to diners to help them choose what to eat. In Spanish, the plural is menús, and the singular is menú. The term menu itself comes from the French word menu, historically meaning a detailed or small list of items; etymologists trace the root to Latin minimus meaning "smallest."

Typical menus include sections such as entrantes or antipasti, platos principales, postres, and beverages. They may be fixed-price sets, called menú del día or menú ejecutivo in Spanish-speaking countries, or they may be à la carte, where dishes are priced separately. Tasting or degustación menus present a curated sequence of courses, often with wine pairings.

Menus serve several functions: guiding customer choice, structuring kitchen workflow, and communicating information such as dietary options, allergens, ingredients, and seasonal availability. Cultural differences affect menu style, naming conventions, and presentation, with some traditions emphasizing regional specialties or daily fresh offerings.

Digital menus, including QR code scans, are increasingly common, enabling multilingual translations, dynamic updates, and enhanced accessibility. Trends emphasize sustainability, transparency in sourcing, and clear labeling for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or allergen-friendly options. Menu design balances legibility, aesthetics, and speed of decision-making, particularly in high-volume settings.