only one indian takeaway menu?

[crisgal]

has anyone noticed how all indian takeaway menus use the same wording as each other? I've read quite a few in my time, from different parts of the north west, and they all use EXACTLY the same descriptions for the standard dishes!

does this mean that they've all copied off each other to save the bother of thinking of anything new to write? in which case, who was the first one to think them up? i think he's owed a few bob!

we are fortunate to have a new indian in our area but when i got the menu - there it all was, word for word!

[Clare A]

I'm not sure, crisgal, whether you mean the way the restaurants name the dishes, or describe them? If the latter, then there could be a bit of collusion going on - perhaps the local restaurants are owned within the same family? I've seen variations in the names of dishes between restaurants, and always thought this was regional. 'Dopiaza' in one place, and 'Dupliza' in another, for example. Also 'pilau' and 'pullao' rice.

[Gevs1966]

Surely a description of a 'Chicken Tikka Massala' would be the same in most places as it would be the same dish. If it wasn't the same it would be called something else. Maybe a bit like a dictionary definition.....

[Nenrulez]

Why would u even go near a indian restautant????

indians are so lame

[Pinotage]

Yes, its true. A new indian restuarnat opens, after a time the chef or waiter goes of to open their own and they duplicate the menu, after a time a chef or waiter goes off and opens another, taking the menu.

After a while you have a dozen restaurants in a town all using the same menu. But travel 50 miles to another town and all the menus there will be similar to others in that town, and the style of cooking, but different to the first town.

 

Then if one resrtaurant gets an innovative chef and produces some original dishes which are popular, it'll be copied by others, even down to the original name and description. Happens all the time.

[mfewell]

Respectfully I would like to disagree with this. I live in South London (Croydon), a paradise for curry houses, and so many different menus, certainly in terms of wording and descriptions.  I keep about 30 different menus in my kitchen, good to read when hungry.  I especially love the spelling howlers.

Ask them for a phall with extra chilli - that sorts out the good from the endless CTM/Korma boredom.