5k Restaurant Menus, Years 1880-1920: A Look Back
- 5,000 restaurant menus from the late 19th and early 20th centuries have been compiled and analyzed.
- These menus provide a unique glimpse into the dining habits and food trends of the past.
- From boiled dishes to beer consumption, these menus reveal interesting insights into the culinary culture of the time.
The Internet’s Verdict: 80% Fascinated, 20% Unimpressed
Introduction to Vintage Menus
Restaurant menus from the past offer a fascinating look at the food trends and dining habits of bygone eras. With 5,000 menus from 1880-1920, we can gain a deeper understanding of how cuisine has evolved over time.
Beer Consumption in Germany
In Germany, beer consumption was tracked using a unique system. As one forum user noted:
in Germany, they used to, and still count beer consumed as pencil strikes on the beer paper mat. Altering the number by the guest is legally considered forgery and the disappearance of the beer mat is also punishable by law.
Menu Story and Pompeii
For a curated story on menus, users can visit a dedicated website. Another user commented on the similarity between ancient and modern menus:
As a foodie, I love this. In many respects, menus don’t seem to have drastically changed over the past 175ish years but it looks like a “Boiled” category was common early on, which I assume was because boiled foods were popular and/or easy for restaurants to make in bulk.
Focus Keyword: Vintage Menus
