tasting menu
/ˈteɪstɪŋ ˈmɛnjuː/
CommonA multi-course meal where small portions of many dishes are served in sequence.
The term carries status. Saying you went for the tasting menu signals you did a serious, expensive dining experience.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | did the tasting menu and it was 14 courses, still thinking about the third one | Had a long multi-course meal with one standout dish. | instagram, 2024 |
| 02 | the tasting menu here is the only way to go, ordering a la carte is a waste | The multi-course option is the best way to experience the restaurant. | reddit, 2023 |
| 03 | got the tasting menu for our anniversary, $350 a head but it was that good | Chose the expensive multi-course meal for a special occasion and felt it was worth the price. | x, 2023 |
| 04 | restaurants with only a tasting menu are either the best meal of your life or a mistake | Restaurants that offer only multi-course meals have no middle ground. | x, 2024 |
Use it when
- Describing a pre-planned multi-course meal at a restaurant.
- Referring to the full tasting experience at a fine dining restaurant.
- Distinguishing from a la carte or prix fixe ordering.
Do not use it when
- You mean the chef is improvising based on what's fresh.Use “omakase” instead.
- You mean a fixed multi-course meal with fewer courses and set pricing.Use “prix fixe” instead.
Tasting menu vs omakase
tasting menu
Tasting menu is scripted and the same for every guest at every table.
VS
omakase
Omakase is improvised by the chef based on what's fresh or the chef's mood that day.
Tasting menu vs prix fixe
tasting menu
Tasting menu is multi-course, chef-driven, often 8+ courses with no choices.
VS
prix-fixe
Prix fixe is a fixed-price meal where guests still choose between options at each course.
Origin and context
Rooted in French fine dining tradition (menu degustation). Became a standard term in English-speaking food culture as upscale dining expanded globally.
- First seen
- 20th century
- Confidence
- medium
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Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/tasting-menuUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0