amount of menu choices

When reading a menu do you feel in general they are too busy and have too many choices. Would you like a restaurant - assuming they did all things well - to be limited in choice. Maybe the question is do you go to a restaurant for variety. Do limited menus only work in high traffic retail locations? Is it a risk if a first time customers orders an OK dish the first time and may never return for what you really do well. Your thoughts - I sware I have not been drinking -

I prefer something in the middle.

I want more than five entree choices and less than twenty. Picky, huh?

I'm with Amy. TGI Fridays length and I think the menu is too large for them to do anything well. Five or less options and I think they're not creative.

I like a menu that varies periodically - seasonally or less. That shows me the chef is trying new things based on ingredients that are available. Staleness is a bad thing.

Hi Neil,

It's been years since I was last at your place, would love to rediscover it. Is there a website that has a menu or do you have a PDF version?

Thanks,
Brian W

I agree that some place in the middle is good for the number of menu choices. An example of a restaurant was too many choices is certainly Cheesecake Factory (of course the ads in the menu also bug me) I can't name one with too few of the top of my head but I believe probably a dozen or so entrees should be the minimum split between seafood, beef and chicken at a minimum with more meat types being preferred. A vegetarian option is also nice.

In addition to the entrees there should be a nice selection of appetizers, several salads and maybe a couple of soup choices. Dessert selection can be relatively small with 3 to 4 choices.

I also think changing menus seasonally is a nice idea. A few house specialties should remain at all times but other items should change.

I love reading menus--something of an obsession, really. I really love it when a restaurant has their menu on their website.
Despite the length, it always seems that I'm waffling between 2 or 3 items.
One of the many reasons I love Mojito is that I can taste so many different things on a single visit.
That being said, I hate menus (like those mentioned--Fridays & CF) that are too long. If I want to read a book, I'll read a book.
I like menus that offer good, interesting descriptions of the food--If I get hungry just reading the menu, that's a good sign.
Some of my faves: Mojito, Havana Rumba, Cafe LouLou, Meridian Cafe, Primo, Lilly's, Corner Cafe (Despite, being a bit on the long side--I've never had a bad meal there.), North End Cafe, La Rosita...

Neil,
Since you now me I can let you know honestly no more than 10 entrees. Separating Lunch and Dinner can help your selections. If you want to limit to 5 I would offer 3 specials nightly and changes them frequently. For example, don't put Prime Rib every Friday as a "Special" it is a menu item.
Track your menu sales, lose the dogs and add the specials that sell best. Change the menu 4 times a year s ideal. Of course this is just my opinion, but I used to get paid to give it.