men ‧ u S3 /ˈmenjuː/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Language: French ; Origin: menu 'small, full of details' , from Latin minutus ; ⇨ ↑ minute 2 ]
1 . a list of all the kinds of food that are available for a meal, especially in a restaurant:
Could we have the menu, please?
on the menu
Is there any fish on the menu?
a three course set menu (=dishes which you do not choose for yourself)
2 . a list of things on a computer screen which you can ask the computer to do:
Select PRINT from the main menu.
pull-down/drop-down menu (=a list of choices which appears when you CLICK ON a place on the screen)
menu-driven (=operated by using a menu)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ read/study the menu
Sandy read the menu, but didn’t see anything he wanted to eat.
▪ look at/see the menu (=read the menu)
He looked at the menu and decided to have the salad.
▪ plan a menu (=decide what foods will be served)
Erika began planning a menu for the dinner party.
▪ choose/order something from the menu
He ordered a chicken dish from the menu.
▪ offer a menu
The restaurant is offering a three-course menu for New Year’s Eve.
▪ have a good/long/unusual etc menu
The new restaurant on Fifth Street has an excellent menu.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + menu
▪ extensive (=with many different dishes on it)
The menu is extensive and adventurous.
▪ a dinner/lunch/breakfast menu
There is an extensive dinner menu, and seafood is a speciality.
▪ a set/fixed menu (=when the cook decides which dishes will be served to you, rather than you choosing for yourself)
Dinner is three courses from a set menu.
▪ an à la carte menu (=a menu listing many separate dishes which you choose from)
In the evening there is a full à la carte menu.
▪ a children’s menu
I asked the waiter if there was a children’s menu.