This online exhibition from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas offers a glimpse into the history and development of menus. This site begins with a brief history of restaurant menus, which proffers an overview of the history of the restaurant, early restaurants in America, the origins of the menu, and a short treatise on early menu format and structure. Unsurprisingly, the menu was likely invented in mid-19th century Paris, a city known even then for its exquisite cuisine. There are also opportunities on the page to read comments and share one's own stories. But the most fascinating draw is the 1,699 menus that can be viewed on the website, many of them from France, Italy, and the United States, and documenting trends in dining from 1870-1930. Notable items in the collection include a menu from the R.M.S. Majestic and an 1884 New Year's Day menu from the Sweet's Hotel.
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