The Drinker Recommends... The Menu 

The way that cheeseburger was made in the movie made me want to eat a cheeseburger lol

The Menu is what happens when a writer, director and actors come together to make something that will entertain for its sake and not to tick off a huge checklist to please the modern audience.

"The cheap one your parents could barely afford." Jesus, when he said that it took me out of the movie for a moment, felt he was talking to me. I still remember being told to savour it because we can't afford to be eating like that every day.

As always Ralph Fiennes owns every single movie he’s in, he never misses

So far, Anya Taylor-Joy is one of the good surprises Hollywood has produced in recent years. She's been one of those weird industry obsessions since Queens Gambit, but I actually like her acting.

That little smile that Slowik shows while making the cheeseburger, that little hint of remembering when he enjoyed cooking was awesome, especially because he still went through with his plan after.

I like that when Margot goes through Chef Julian's office and sees photos of his accomplishments over the years, his Employee of the Month award from Hamburger Howie's is the only one where he's smiling. It was a perfect underline for how 35 years of working for entitled jerks brought him to that point.

What I love about the cheeseburger is both Slowik and Margo get what they want in the end. She gets good food as well as leaving with her life, but she also gives Slowik what he asked for at the start of the night: Dont eat, taste. You can tell she made him so happy as she made the "mmm" sounds of enjoyment and chewed it. Didnt say anything other than, "THAT is a cheesburger." All the praise a chef needs.

Anya Taylor Joys character is one that I truly respect as a modern strong female character. She has a reason to survive this horror she’s been shoved into and she in a way finds something to sympathize with the antagonist and brings something out of him that he felt he lost. It did take me a couple watches to appreciate her role. But a second viewing is a must

This is precisely why I enjoy the Critical Drinker. You don't get all pretentious and jaded Even when you see the flaws in a movie you still sing its praises where it is deserved. And you call out the hidden gems that get lost in the sea of garbage that is being made today. Thanks Drinker!

The way he made that cheeseburger had me taking notes and trying it the exact same way. It was so good, I decided not to off myself in the kitchen.

As someone who worked as a professional cook for many years, this movie hit on another level. Slowek's frustration with people being fussy and uptight about food without appreciating the work that goes into it reflects my own, and I'm sure most others in the industry would agree. It's almost cathartic to watch as he tears every single one of them to the bone for their bullshit.

This movie was funnier than a lot of modern “comedy” movies

I'm a trained chef and still work in the food and beverage industry. This movie hit me in so many ways. Loved it.

As an ex-chef, I can confirm the ending scene with him just making a good burger is quite accurate. We had the regular menu which was fine but we loved cooking the specials. Because they were ours! We didn't have to do anything except what we loved. Cooking. My first Chef made a banging Cajun Chicken Burger with Grilled Pineapple. The first special I put up was a traditional Meatballs and Pasta with my own sauce that I'd been making at home for 10 years. When we were allowed to just cut loose and do our thing, that was when we turned from cooks into chefs.

My favorite part is when the chef is talking to the assistant of the actor and asks her which school she went to for her degree. He was about to let her go until he finds out that she didn’t have student loans so he went “I’m sorry. You’re dying.”

The movie truly brings meaning to: “ The simplest things in life are best”

Nicolas Hoult should be credited here too. One can't help but noticing the parallel between Fury Road and this - being emotionally fulfilled by his idol's acceptance then flush the entire thing down the gutter a minute later.

“You don’t cook with love, you cook with obsession.” The single best line in this movie that does such a great job at describing most of what has happened with the culinary industry and the expectations around it.

I love how the other diners stare in disbelief as Anna eats that burger, because they've lost their souls and don't even know how to enjoy something anymore.

This is sort of like a modern rendition of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with more stern social commentary on the themes of the lack of passion or enjoyment that is derived from an art form.

I’ve only ever worked in a kitchen, this movie was fantastic. The suddenness of the sous introducing his dish and offs himself was a great scene.

That cheeseburger scene and everything it represents is just so damn good! It let the chef cook something he enjoyed cooking one last time, and cook it for somebody he knew would enjoy it. He got to see her enjoy it. Then she asked for it to go, helping him out with another problem, since he really didn't know what to do with her since she wasn't on the menu, and had no part in any of this. Then, she pays for it in cash, with a wrecked and worn out $10.

I love the line “you’ll eat less than you desire but more than you deserve.” Sets the tone.

I'm convinced that anything with Anya in it is worth watching. She's been turning in stellar performances in nearly every genre from Split, Glass, Last Night in Soho, The Queen's Gambit, The Witch, The Northman, The Menu, and now she just recently did excellent voicework in the Super Mario Bros. Movie. The girl is just talent and I see a couple or so Oscars in the near future for her!

Anya and Ralph killed this movie. It's sad most categorized this movie as just another eat the rich movie which came last year like glass minion and triangle of sadness but this was clearly a well intended movie about critiquing the "high art" and "elitism" culture that exists in almost every form of life. Loved the end. ❤❤

The three main reasons why I was excited to watch The Menu were 1. To see Aimee Carrero begin to reach the heights of big star acting as her Elena of Avalor co-star Jenna Ortega, 2. Watch Anya Taylor-Joy act with Nicholas Hoult in a much better film than The New Mutants or Dark Phoenix, and 3. Enjoy a movie where I was surprised to see myself rooting for Lord Voldemort for a change.

As a former sous chef and line cook in high profile restaurants, this movie resonated highly with me. Didn’t know what to expect, but got an amazing film that was crafted so well I can rewatch this over and over

I was expecting a Voldemort joke somewhere but when I see Ralph Fiennes's flawless display of touched and appreciation in the burger scene, I thank The Drinker for showing Fiennes the respect he deserves.

I saw this movie at an Alamo draft house, twice. They are a theater that serves real food and actual pints of beer at your seat, etc. On second viewing, I asked my server to bring me a burger at the exact moment they pull out "just a well made cheeseburger". People around me were so jealous!

I loved every minute of this movie. It positively surprised me with how the story played out, and I totally love the moment when the chef "makes a mess" and suddenly the whole movie makes a 180 turn and you start to realise what this is about. I never thought that a movie about cooking could be this impactful.

One of the small things that struck me, seeing this the first time, was the schedule the chef's second-in-command describes the restaurants' staff living under. I thought, "That's not the kind of sleep schedule that people allows people to function, long-term. It's about right if you were trying to brain-wash people, though..." And my sense of tension immediately began to ramp up.

I love it when The Drinker finds a film that he can describe in increasingly majestic praise. It really makes me what to watch and appreciate these movies.

Being critical of things is not a sign of a negative mindset, it’s a sign that you care more deeply about the world around you than others care to. Keep being critical Drinker.

To sum up the menu in a quote Friedrich Nietzsche: “They muddy the water, to make it seem deep.”

This is one of your best written reviews. I've seen this movie, and you absolutely captured the essence of it. You keep getting better and better, Drinker. Keep at it.

The cheeseburger scene did the unthinkable: it rivalled Ratatouille for the best meal-serve climax in film history 😋🍔

Watched this movie on a whim during a flight a couple months ago. It's funny: I thought it was just *ok* after first viewing, but it's only grown on me big time since. "Tyler's Bullshit" was one of the funniest captions I've ever seen in any movie

My 16 year old picked this for our family movie night, not what I was expecting her to pick but we both really enjoyed it. I wish there was more of these smaller movies without CGI everywhere being made. Movies with great characters and writing are always enjoyable and makes you want to rewatch them .

This movie just gutted me with how good it was. Pacing, story, characters, arc, growth, and consequences. Tight, orderly, and one unexpected outcome after another. The exchange between Anna, and the chef, and the making of a simple cheeseburger, was some of the best bit of film I've seen in years.

Having now seen this film... regarding the speech before each course, to quote a CEO I used to work for just before he was off to write his speech to the stockholder meeting: "If you make your numbers, it doesn't matter what you say; and if you don't make your numbers, it doesn't matter what you say."

Anya Taylor-Joy is quickly becoming a household name, in the best way possible. Very talented, focussed, easy on the eyes and a very characterful voice, which I personally really appreciate.

Watched this in the theater with my daughter. An excellent movie. The acting was great, the social commentary, the way the scenes were shot. I don't know what I expected but it was definitely worth the watch. Most movies these days are reboots or sequels. This was original and though provoking. Not to mention darkly hilarious. The final scene with the s'mores was so ridiculous it was amazing.

"You'll eat less of wt u desire n more of wt u deserve." I've seen this movie a few times already, I even tear up a bit while watching it. I've spent a decade of my life in the food service industry, doing everything from serving, bartending, food prep, cooking, dishwashing, inventory, everything that needed to b done at the restaurant, I did it. I was living there, literally. I did all this cuz I had a lot of love and joy for serving, and I esp had a lot of love for the restaurant itself. But after a while of giving so much of myself to the restaurant n customers, I was neglecting my life outside of the restaurant. I became an extreme alcoholic to cope with this imbalance that I had created for myself, threatening everything that I worked n sacrificed for, including my ownself. I eventually was able to let my dependence on alcohol go by leaving the restaurant altogether. This is why I cry watching The Menu, I relate to being an extreme giver, n I just have nothing but respect for those that serve the takers. This film reminds me of how much we tend to take and relentlessly b cynical of wt we take. It seems every other person is a damn wannbe Roger Ebert with lil room for empathy, gratitude, n compassion. Yes, there does seem to be a lot of shit being served, but how many critics who r ready to shit over everything do we actually need in a society that seems so full of takers and not enough genuine givers? The Menu is def on my personal list of top best films. Cheers 🫡

When John Leguizamo did the meta repudiation of his past career choices it was absolutely hilarious

I saw this in the theater. A few people left mid way thought. I'm not sure what they were expecting. My wife and I laughed a pretty hard a few times. I could tell by some of the chatter at the end that the movies social commentary flew over a few of their heads. The acting was superb and ending was strangely heart warming in a messed up kind of way.

I did a basic chef training course for 3 months when I was 45 years old and was working in a real commercial kitchen trained by a professional chef who would occasionally fly off to exotic locations and cook for celebrities. I bailed out but the other students who were much younger carried on for another three years. My old bones and joints couldn't take it. The thing that people don't realise cooking at home is just how damn physically hard it is to work in a commercial kitchen and produce food of amazing quality day in and day out. I can do it to a degree in a few areas of a menu and sometimes feel underwhelmed in a restaurant because I know just about enough to know when it hasn't been done right. Sounds like an interesting film. Yes an amazing cheeseburger is surprisingly hard to get 'amazing'.

Yeah, man. Anya Taylor Joy seems to be one of those actresses that can do no wrong. Ray Fiennes was also outstanding.

All of the guests, aside from Margo, show what happens to people when they've never had to really fight for anything in their lives, or truly stand up for themselves. Even in the face of imminent death, they have no idea how to stop it. They barely even try to. This film was pure gold. Favorite character was Elsa, the maître d'hôtel - the absolute DRAMA of this woman had me wheezing. "WE GEL!"

Watched this film blind after seeing this review drop. A Drinker recommendation cannot be ignored. And I was not disappointed. I think what makes this film great is how the comedy is worked in without distracting from the tension. Some pointed out the very enthusiastic sommelier, but the simple title cards explaining the dishes had me rolling towards the end "Just a well-made cheeseburger" Damn, that's never been more right!

From the first shot of Slowik looking at everyone before he spoke, the expression on his face made me go, "Oh shit this is going to be bad." The way Fiennes had all that mixed emotion in his face wordlessly was perfect.

Anya Taylor Joy is so great in everything she's in.

If a movie about food can make me want to eat something, it did its job. I wanted the food in Ratatouille, I wanted that grilled cheese in Chef, and I really wanted that Cheeseburger at the end of The Menu.

Having already seen this I can personally say this is the greatest Chef/Restaurant movie I have ever seen...other than Ratatouille

People like you are the only movie recommendations I trust anymore. As soon as I saw this video in fact I immediately went to my favorite streaming site to legally watch this film. It was pretty damn good I must say.

Anya Taylor-Joy is such a treasure to watch. Even though "Last Night in Soho" fell apart at the end (not her fault), she's simply mesmerizing. I agree, Drinker: I applaud her not playing it safe with her role choices.

One of the most interesting and self-aware films I've seen in some time. I suspect it will get even better with multiple viewings, since there's a lot of nuance there. It took a while for me to start to get the bit, but once I understood what was happening, it got a lot better. The pathos of the final scene took me weeks to unravel. More like this, please.

That trick of putting sliced onions on top of the patty before the turnover is pure gold. They sauté in the beef juices when underneath and make a next-level burger. And two slices of cheese if you just have one patty.

Saw this movie when it came out. I think having some food service experience is helpful to appreciate the movie, but not totally required. The edgy balance between protagonist and antagonist was masterfully done. Really enjoyed the creativity of The Menu. It was a refreshing cinema taste without the rotten characteristics of many recent "modern audience" movies in the past 5 years.

I found it to be a pretty interesting movie all the way through, reasonably good all around. It was the final act and ending that elevated it for me. Margot's "final girl" moment and how she executes her escape was just poetry.

Just like the drinker said before, sometimes you want a greasy cheeseburguer with a couple of pines of cold beer. I couldnt help but feel satisfied when margo finally got decent food

I watched this film with zero expectations. It made me FEEL. It got under my skin. It's rare to feel anything for modern movies these days.

Weirdly, everything I watch that has Anya in it, she always kills it. I saw the Netflix show about Chess, and I thought it would suck, and slept on it for a while, but when I gave it a watch, I was hooked the whole time. I think she's going to be the Actress that can play a huge variety of performances.

I got into cooking professionally at a fairly young age, it got old fast and I found myself going back to college soon after that. I used to enjoy pushing myself and making more advanced meals not for myself but for my friends and family. I loved sharing my passion and seeing it be enjoyed fully by those that meant the most to me. But I grew to hate cooking and food in general. When I saw the menu I couldn’t fully understand the villain but I absolutely sympathized. I understood why he was doing what he did even if I thought it was horrendous. I hadn’t been spoiled on the ending and when I saw the photograph of the young chef cooking a burger and smiling my only thought was, “wow that really does a great job of humanizing him for me” but when the main character asked for a burger at the end it blew my mind in every possible way. She felt his pain and despite his actions she knew she could draw one last moment of joy out of the chef before he ended his own life. He in turn knew it wasn’t fair for her to be in that room with them for the s’mores desert. For such an odd movie that seems so outlandish in its principle to wrap itself around to a very human ending finding mutual respect between protagonist and antagonist. It blew my mind and brought a tear to my eye. I had hoped for so long that the drinker would review this movie. I didn’t think this day would be any good but a hope and dream was answered tonight. Best RU-vidr.

I was hungry yesterday. Had skipped breakfast, (reasons) & as such when my late afternoon lunch came about, I went through the cabinets & found a Top Ramen (Shrimp flavor.) I sat with my hot bowl & turned on a video of someone walking us through vending machines in Japan so I would have someone to eat with. I was pretty hungry, & as such? The Ramen was delicious. Thank you, Critical Drinker, for all you do for us.

The Menu is one of the very few movies in recent times I really really came to love, what a ride. And not to forget Hong Chau, she was absolutely killing it (literally at times, hehe).

Just watched this on your recommendation - Really enjoyed this movie! Wish they'd make more stuff like this, clearly there are still talented script writers and actors around - so why are so many movies today so trite and unimaginative??

It's one of those movies that make you think way after the end credits. Great acting and perfectly executed.

I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie. The ending with the cheeseburger was so perfect, I couldn't stop thinking about it. It just worked so well, I had to rewatch it.

The cheeseburger part reminds me of my childhood. My mother who has been a staunch vegetarian for almost all my life would about once a year ask me if i wanted a burger. We would drive to Kellers (its a drive in burger joint in Dallas). She would order a bacon cheeseburger and 2 beers, and sit there and say "God damn life sucks, but its what you make of it that matters" or some other bits of realist wisdom to blow off steam in her own life. To this day, though I try to remain fit and healthy, sometimes a greasy burger and beer is exactly what you need to just reset.

When I saw the trailer to the Menu I thought it looked incredibly dumb but when I actually watched it I loved it. This was truly a movie for the middle class, and to me, Margo asking for the cheeseburger was the average person just wanting to appreciate art for art's sake. No overly intellectualized message shoved in their face.

Loved this movie. It was one of the best surprises of 2022, with great acting, depth, satire, a killer script (pun intended), and that perfect balance of being weird but not so weird that you lose the ideas the story tries to make. And now I want a cheeseburger.

John Leguizamo as a washed-up actor might be perfect casting

Watching chef slowik cooking that cheeseburger made me want that cheeseburger more than any McDonald’s or any other fast food schism commercial ever has.

Have you seen succession?? The director of the menu "Mark Mylod" is the head director of the show and it's amazing!!

As an Exec Chef with over 40 years of experience, (some of which was at Mobil 4 and 5 star properties) I highly approve of this review. I did not watch this movie when it came out, as my career was crushing me at the time and I wanted to shoot myself, and to be honest, I thought the premise was a bit odd. But I finally watched it a few weeks ago, and found it to be really good! Fiennes was awesome, as usual, and I could relate to his momento as the top burger cook from his childhood, as I also had humble beginnings. Like the Chef I also have a love/hate relationship with my customers. I needed them, but knew that mostly they were idiots and didn't understand or deserve my food, yet, there was a relationship that we needed to maintain. Like how the chef needs the owner to support his goals, yet also yearns for freedom. I also just wanted to cook for people that enjoyed and understood what they were eating. To be honest, while I did some of the super modernist stuff, like jells and what not, I myself rebelled against that pompous stuff and tried to keep my food real. But, this movie does a fine job of showing how the Chef, despite being super talented and unique, is still, in a way, a slave to the ignorant diner that he despises, trapped by the pretensions of the diner, pretensions that he unwittingly, in his quest for perfection, helped to enable, and at the same time has to walk the line between cooking the food he wants to cook, and coking what the diners want to eat. Trouble is, the diner rarely knows what they want, and usually can only tell you what they don't like. If its helpful, there are a lot of true to life things here, the crew is focused, true, but today kitchens are not what they were like 20-25 years ago, expesially in the cities where hard core chef wannabes have been replaced with cheap labor who don't really care about technique, don't want to be a real chef, they just want to bank some cash, send it back home and than get out of hte US and live well back home. So, kitchens like these are becoming very rare. Perhaps others have other views, but I was in a big city running one of the flashiest rest in town and let me tell you, 75 percent of back of house didn't even speak english. But yeah, there are still some places like this out there, for sure. I think what real is the Chef, feeling that it was all for nothing, looking back over his life and career and realizing that it was, at its essence, a bit of a failure. He failed to really reach the customer, failed to really teach them, to get them to understand. Even his top Sous Chef couldn't follow in his footsteps and had to resort to shooting himself. Now that is a piece of reality! Working all those years than realizing that no, you don't have what it takes!!! Yup, that happens, every, freakin, day. Not as messy, but it happens. So good movie, and good review. Writing good, characters all realistic, Ms Taylor-Joy was a breath of fresh air, I actually had her "service" role pegged as some kind of waitress, so I was slightly off in that regard. The diners were all true to type, of course. The ending, with the S'mores, as the large white paper/plastic sheet was being rolled onto the floor, brought a smile to my lips, as I thought of Grant Achaz (who was a few years behind me at the CIA) who led the US with his over the top creativity, and would cover the table with a white sheet of "paper" and lay out streaks of food, sauces, and crumbles, eschewing any plate at all. So yeah, that was a big visual easter egg. Well done. If there is any take away, please try to appreciate what a good, hardworking Chefs puts on your plate. It might be a bagged sauce (if you're at Olive Garden type of corp rest) but at some places every pickle might be homemade with care, every sauce thought out, every seasoning 9even on your smashburger) has been carefully blended and thought out. Please don't replace the Morel and Fava Bean Risotto with a baked potato, it really doesn't do justice to the Fennel dusted Chilean Sea Bass, really, it doesn't. Favas and Morels are only here for a brief period in the spring, and should be enjoyed. Its a meal, someone worked hard, say thanks and just try to be grateful. Like a concert by a classically trained pianist, your money is buying more than just a bite to eat, or a few minutes in a seat in a theater. Its buying a brief moment to share in the result of years and years of training. Someone worked very hard, studied for years, practiced and practiced to bring you a version of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata that is as good, even better than the original. Please don't ask the have the second movement replaced with something from Beyonce. Of the Chef might have to have you removed.

Every day I find myself respecting this sarcastic movie critic more and more, who is able to joke with himself and take criticism like a champ. Keep it up drinker!

"Babette's Feast" is one of my favorite movies and is also about food as an art form, but more from the artist's perspective. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a more positive, pastoral movie experience.

This movie was so enjoyable. Does everything a movie should, tells a WHOLE story, show actual believable CHARACTERS, try to tell me SOMETHING, leaves an EXPERIENCE. Thanks for the recommendation my dearest drinker!

I saw The Menu at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Film Festival. I went in with low expectations because of the recent low quality of films as of late. I was blown away by how much I actually liked it and I absolutely agree that the crux of the film could be applied to any art form.

Ralph has never missed on playing Villains, he is one of the greatest actors of all time in my opinion.

When the legendary American chef Anthony bourdain tried the high end delicacy of the Scottish King Rib (deep fried mystery meat) he said "to be honest, that doesn't suck". Legend.

I've never wanted a cheeseburger more than after I saw this. That smash burger Slowik made looked delicious.

Ralph Fiennes made this movie. If it weren't for his performance I'd have been bored senseless.

Glad to see you enjoyed this. My wife selected the film that night and surprisingly I found it enjoyable... even relating to the Chef. Your reviews and critiques are friggin' solid. It's come to the point that my wife and I say "don't know," when something happens around the house.

I saw this back in theaters when it released and I have gotten some flack for recommending it to people, but honestly it's one of those movies that reminds people it's ok to enjoy something even if it's not totally perfect

This movie will always be memorable to me due to having been sent a meal and ate it whilst watching this. A short time later as I was still watching I got a message asking "how was the meal?" only for the direct next line spoke was " I don't like it, I want to send it back!", well I nearly choked due to laughing so much due to incredible coincidental timing even though I did enjoy the meal. Weird how the universe works and how life can have hilarious timing.

I actually watched this movie last week and after finishing it, my first thought was "let's see what the drinker thought about it". Was bummed when I couldn't find a review for it. But here we are today, the drinker delivered!

Phantom Thread is another phenomenal movie in the same vein as The Menu but using different genres. They would probably go really well as companion pieces.

The hamburger scene was art. On the level of the movie Pig honestly.

This may be my new favorite film, I absolutely love it for how it perfectly balances horror with (admittedly highbrow less accessible)humor. Fiennes in my view deserves tremendous praise.

Even though this isn't a top 10 kind of movie, what made it so good for me was that it had me thinking hard about what I just watched for the next day or so. Not a lot of movies like that coming out in the last 10 to 15 years.

I love everything The Critical Drinker does, but nothing beats The Drinker recommends when he has seen a film he likes. Brilliant. Thank you so much, I will be going to see this.

This is one of those movies where everything comes together! The writing, the acting, the directing, the editing... all masterful. *Chef's kiss*

Easily one of the best films of the last couple years. The casting was spot on, Fiennes was absolutely perfect as Slowik. His subtle expressions in every scene, especially during the cheeseburger sequence, which almost brings tears to my eyes, are amazing and speak far more eloquently than any dialogue could. I run a movie theater and spent three nights after hours watching and re-watching this feature and gained more and more respect for the film and insight into what the director is saying with each viewing. Thank you for reviewing it and I wholeheartedly agree with your observations. This is one movie everybody should watch and try to discern if you are represented in one of the diners.... or the chef himself.

Ralph Fiennes is the broken black heart of this fabulous confection and Anya Taylor Joy is the perfect foil who restores in him - a brief but joyful moment of cooking a simple, no bullshit, honest to goodness cheeseburger

Thanks for another great recommendation, Drinker! Watched it with my wife a couple days back, and we both loved it.

I had no idea this was going to be a satire, and I'm so glad that ut was. This was surprisingly one of my favorite movies of the year.

When the Drinker recommends something, you know it’s worth seeing.

There is a damn good reason why I tip well when I go out to eat, regardless if the meal was amazing or not. Because I’m not tipping the food. I’m tipping the people who made me food. I’m tipping the people who stand over a hot stove for hours, no matter what the temperature is. I’m tipping the waiters who have to project an air of comfort, even when the customers aren’t cooperating. The food has to be truly problematic for it to even be considered in the tip. And, even when it is, you have to think if it was the restaurant’s fault or the supplier’s or just bad luck.