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Public dining may be back in full swing but turns out, it's not without its anxieties. According to a study by the British restaurant chain Prezzo, a significant majority of young people experience menu anxiety when dining in public. The research, which surveyed 2,000 participants about their dining experiences, found that 87 per cent of adults (aged 18 to 24) suffer from menu anxiety, compared to 67 per cent of all respondents.
The study revealed that 34 per cent of these young adults feel anxious about ordering directly from the wait staff or placing an order at the counter, prompting them to delegate the task to others. Dean Challenger, the CEO of Prezzo, shared, "[While] most people look forward to dining out during the [holiday] season, we know — as our research shows — it can be stressful for some."
Menu anxiety can be triggered by anything, be it high prices or just the general pressure of deciding a meal or asking questions. It’s an umbrella term for the feeling of stress or discomfort that some may experience when confronted with a menu, especially in a restaurant or cafe. One of the most noteworthy things that was revealed as part of the survey is that 40 per cent of Gen Z customers said that they won’t go out for a meal unless they have browsed through the full menu beforehand.
“I like looking up the menu online mainly for prices; when you’re going out with people to a new restaurant, it’s always safer to get an idea about the prices. But I won’t say I’ll get anxious if I don’t do that, it may take me some more time to order, that’s all. But I do have friends who hesitate to share their queries with baristas or the wait staff,” says Subhayu Sen, a Kochi-based techie.
A Post-Covid Side-Effect?
Gabriel Rubin, Professor of Justice Studies at Montclair State University, also released a study recently reporting that Gen Z is more afraid of social interactions than previous generations.
“They are digital natives but, between COVID and other factors, they have missed out on important in-person social skills,” Rubin told the New York Post. “Because so many Gen Zers are anxious and because so many have trouble in non-digital social spaces, even activities as simple as ordering food sometimes become things to be avoided.”
In the past year, several content creators have talked about menu anxiety and how anxious they get when ordering at restaurants. Tik Toker Elyse Myers who is best known for her mental health-related content says in one of her videos, “Why do I look at a menu for hours before I walk into a physical restaurant? I have menu anxiety! Honourable mentions, I’m also cheap and I do like to cook so I don’t want to order something I can cook better at home than cheaper.”
Salmali Gupta, a literature grad from Kolkata has something similar to share. “The idea of ordering wrong is kind of scary, especially if you have paid good money for something. I won’t say I have anxiety thinking about it, but it’s more of a peeve, I think. When we’re hanging out with friends, we tend to choose upscale spots and venting out your frustrations about pricey food can be a bad look in public,” she shares.
Are Bigger Menus To Blame?
There are many reasons why some diners may face indecision or anxiety when ordering on-spot. Bigger menus are one reason. Cafe menus which used to be optimised for shorter visits are now much lengthier, since people spend more time at cafes, be it for brunch or for work. Restaurants too, are looking to be more inclusive with more dietary choices.
A large menu with numerous options can be overwhelming, making it difficult for some to decide within a few minutes. “I do think some menus are needlessly long now, while some of them are designed badly, which takes longer to peruse through them,” Subhayu points out. Dining in a group as part of a celebration or for a reunion can add pressure, as people may already be dealing with social anxiety.
“I think a big reason why home chefs are so popular at the moment is because the back and forth with them can be longer and it can even take multiple days to set a menu for one meal. It’s normal and at times necessary. At restaurants with a big group, ordering wrong is an anxiety for some, “ says Sakshi Rao, a home chef from Delhi.
A great way to alleviate some of the stress from menu anxiety? Share! It’s best to start with a collective decision and to order something for the table. “I think it’s best if you start by splitting appetisers. By the time the food gets there and you have to order for individual portions or for meals, you’d have enough time to consider your options,” suggests Salmali.
