The Menu, directed by Mark Mylod, follows Margot Mills and Tyler on their trip to Hawthorne, a highly renowned restaurant owned by Julian Slowik. Though Margot Mills doesn’t share her date’s passion for food, she still tries her best to enjoy her stay. That is until she learns what Slowik’s true intentions are.
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The Menuis an incrediblyquotable horror comedyfrom start to finish. It’s littered withiconic lines, but it can be hard to pick a favorite seeing as there are so many. No matter what character is on screen, the viewer should prepare themselves to hear something memorable come out of their mouth.
5"These Are Tortillas."
Aside from Slowik, Elsa is arguably the most unnerving character in all ofThe Menu. First introduced during the movie’s opening, Elsa makes it clear to the guests that she will not be humoring their lavish lifestyles while they are on the island. It seems clear that she has spent a long time dealing with spoilt and ignorant people, but now that she knows what fate has in store, she fails to see any reason to pretend anymore.
One of the courses Slowik prepares for his guests centers around the idea of Taco Tuesday, but this version features a slight twist. Instead of regular tortillas, each tortilla has been designed to display a picture relevant to each guest. When Bryce, Dave, and Soren notice their tortillas depict a somewhat incriminating image relating to them, they immediately beckon Elsa to their table. Bryce asks Elsa what the image is, but Elsa, knowing exactly what he means, responds by saying"These are tortillas.“Not only does this line further enhance the mystery ofThe Menu, but it also happens to be one of the funniest lines in the entire movie.
4"It Wasn’t Cod, You Donkey!”
Slowik,played by Ralph Fiennes, puts on a decent front to appease his guests for a good portion ofThe Menu, but even he can’t conceal his true motivations forever. There are several moments throughout the story where he offers his guests subtle glimpses into his mind’s inner workings, but everything seems to spill out during the movie’s halfway point, where Slowik begins to interrogate Richard.
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According to Slowik, Richard has visited Hawthorne eleven times within the last five years. During his visits, he has eaten countless meals, but he is unable to remember the names of Slowik’s dishes. When pressured for an answer, Richard responds by saying “Cod,” to which Slowik replies with “It wasn’t cod, you donkey.“The Menuwas alreadya hilarious movie, but referencing one of Gordon Ramsay’s most iconic quotes while discussing food truly solidified it as a masterpiece.
3"I’m Sorry, You’re Dying.”
From the moment he is introduced, Julian Slowik makes a point to highlight his opinion on his dinner guests. The reason he invited them to his remote island was to punish them for the ways they chose to live their lives, but not all guests are equally deserving of the punishment Slowik wishes to deliver to them. Aside from Margot, Felicity is arguably the least deserving of Slowik’s wrath.
She was brought to Hawthorne by a wealthy movie star, but she doesn’t really live as extravagantly as him. She doesn’t understand why she has been chosen to partake in Slowik’s game, so she decides to ask him why. Though Slowik doesn’t have an immediate answer for Felicity, he eventually finds one by asking her if she has student loans. When Felicity reluctantly responds with “No,” Slowik confidently states “I’m sorry, you’re dying.” Not only isthis iconic linequite humorous, but it also serves to highlight just how cold Slowik can be.
2"Even Your Hot Dishes Are Cold.”
Chef Slowik has grown used to receiving high praise for every dish he creates, so it understandably comes as a shock for him whenever his work is criticized. Margot,played by Anya Taylor-Joy, is likely the first to insult his cuisine in years, but instead of crumbling under the weight of her words, he embraces the challenge and vows to impress her in any way he can.
The “Even your hot dishes are cold” line is iconic for a variety of different reasons, but the best part about it is Slowik’s reaction. He is utterly stunned by the conviction behind Margot’s words, so much so in fact, that he attempts to insult her upbringing before addressing her words directly. Margot can break through Slowik’s act with her mocking words, an action not many are capable of.
1"Now That Is A Cheeseburger."
Though “Now that is a cheeseburger” may not be the most revolutionary line in cinema, it certainly has an incredible impact inThe Menu. For the majority of the narrative, Margot stands out from the crowd through her lack of interest in Slowik’s cuisine; she finds the idea of fine dining a bit pretentious. Slowik, however, is unable to accept that Margot doesn’t appreciate his cooking. Margot tries her best to appease Slowik’s ego whenever she can, but she eventually decides to fight back by insultingthe final course.
She approaches Slowik and berates his cooking before asking him to make her a cheeseburger. Slowik began his career making burgers, so this request surprises him, but he refuses to back down from the challenge. Like a good host, he prepares a mouthwatering burger for Margot to enjoy and serves it to her while eagerly anticipating her thoughts. The “Now this is a cheeseburger” line is used to showcase Slowik’s love of creating delicious meals for sincere people, while also highlighting Margot’s love for life’s simple pleasures. As if this quote wasn’t already iconic enough, it is also used to trick Slowik into allowing Margot to leave.
The Menuis now available to stream on HBO Max and Disney+.
