Monday, April 14, 2008

making a scene


Click image for larger size. We see a lot of poorly punctuated menus here, and I'm a bit bored of them, but this one is way better because the story Jennifer told me about it, which I present here now:

After we started talking about this blog, one member of our party asked the waiter if he knew why there were so many quotation marks. Our waiter then went and asked the owner, who acknowledged the exuberance with which the menu editor emphasizes many, many words and phrases. We could not resist putting the tip in quotes... I wonder if he actually gets it now... Our memorable evening was topped off by several of the wait staff wishing us a "good night" and "thanks for coming" with their hands as we left the restaurant.
Also, I like that they serve free appetizers on "wednesdays" (whenever they want) and their "famous" dipping sauce that nobody has heard of.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Local" chicken - please allow 35 minutes... For it to cross the road?

Karen said...

While I know that this isn't the blog of stupid-headed apostrophes, I have a sneaking suspicion that even the name of this restaurant—perhaps the proprietor's own last name—is written incorrectly. The Van's. What's that?

Anonymous said...

The actual name of the restaurant is this:

The Van's "On the Hill"

Don't believe a word they say, they are on a hill.

I love The Van's! They have excellent food, views, and history. Good times will be had here! Exclamation abuse!!

Anonymous said...

The van is on the hill?

Anonymous said...

Quotations or no, I'm starting to salivate looking at it.

Anonymous said...

I find "our country gravy" rather ominous.

jspencer said...

eilbeback, your comment was so bad it just has to be fattening!

Anonymous said...

Perhaps they make the "Chicken Fried" Steak with the "Local Chicken..."

V'ron said...

Actually, I applaud the use of the quote marks on "chicken fried" steak, simply because I remember when I ordered it the first time, and was disappointed that neither the meat nor the seasoning tasted anything like chicken. This simply points that out: "chicken fried" steak is basically a way of pointing out that the steak is battered and fried as you normally would do with chicken.

Or that the owners knew their clientele had now clue what sicilian steak was.

Anonymous said...

One good thing: rack of lamb isn't listed as "rack" of lamb.

Michael said...

Too bad this place is in California. This post actually makes me want to "go" there.

Anonymous said...

I thought the Van's was down by the river.
Huh.

Anonymous said...

This "menu editor" should be stripped of his/her title and beaten with the job description. I could (reluctantly) pardon some overuse of punctuation if it were consistent, but if it's "our blend," then why isn't it "our charcoal"?
Now we need to call the ownership of food into question too?

Anonymous said...

Love the food at the Vans. It was minutes from our house. Made me nostalgic to see the menu. (found you via salon.com)