Translation errors on restaurant menus<\/b>\u00a0are par for the course, just like parmesan on macaroni pasta with tomato sauce (or \u2018macarons to the sauce of tomato,\u2019 of course).<\/p>\n
The internet is a real gold mine for people wanting to have a good laugh at the expense of restaurant-owners who have underestimated the importance of translation, and there is certainly a lot of content out there.<\/span><\/p>\n Below is a series of blunders that have certainly made for some memorable menus \u2013 ones that probably aren\u2019t likely to encourage customers to return.<\/p>\n Most restaurant-owners have no intention of setting up a Michelin-star restaurant. Very often, an entrepreneur\u2019s primary goal is to balance the books at the end of the month so that they can earn enough to feed their family.<\/p>\n It\u2019s hardly surprising then, that entrepreneurs who are just starting out in the business often try to cut costs,\u00a0saving where possible<\/b>\u00a0and, therefore,\u00a0also when it comes to their menu translator<\/b>. Macaroni<\/b>, which is a very common type of pasta in Italy, is often referred to as \u2018macarons\u2019 on English menus. It\u2019s a pity then, that\u00a0macarons<\/b>\u00a0are actually little, round, sweet French pastries.<\/p>\n What would you like to drink with your\u00a0pizza \u2018margarita\u2019<\/b>? How about a nice pint of\u00a0\u2018beer to the thorn\u2019?<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 \u2018Birra alla spina\u2019 is usually translated as \u2018draught beer\u2019 in English, however, the literal translation of \u2018spina\u2019 in Italian is \u2018thorn\u2019!<\/p>\n A few regional specialties have become real institutions when it comes to Italian cuisine, so much so that they are often enjoyed both in Italy and abroad. An inevitable example of this is\u00a0\u2018beef special to irons from Florence second quantity,\u2019<\/b>\u00a0which is actually supposed to be a grilled Florentine steak (paid for by the weight), a dish that\u2019s also commonly known as\u00a0\u2018Fiorentina.\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n And what about dessert? At the end of a traditional Italian meal, what could be better than a nice big serving of\u00a0\u2018baked cream\u2019<\/b>? Panna Cotta, usually known by its Italian name, is, of course, a dessert that has earned its place in the international hall of fame. Just like\u00a0tiramis\u00f9<\/b>, a dessert that tends to lose its accent from time to time.<\/p>\n You\u2019ve probably opened the menu at an Asian restaurant only to come across a translation error that sends the evening in a somewhat comical direction. And while we\u2019re on the subject,\u00a0\u2018Spicy Housewife Tofu\u2019<\/b>\u00a0might lead to mental images that aren\u2019t necessarily appropriate for a public place. \u2018Spicy Homemade Tofu\u2019 might have been a better option.<\/p>\n As well as being a place that serves food, a restaurant is also a business. And just like any other company, it needs to build a reliable and solid brand image by paying attention to its\u00a0business marketing.<\/b><\/p>\n A passer-by who drops in for a quick bite to eat might turn into a loyal customer after sitting down at the table to read the menu.<\/p>\n Restaurant\u00a0menus<\/b>\u00a0are essentially\u00a0business cards<\/b>\u00a0and creating one that is full of translation errors is bound to cast a shadow of unreliability on any company and its employees. What if your chef was as bad at his or her job as the person who translated your menu? It is a legitimate customer concern, and one that must be avoided at all costs.<\/p>\nInternational menus and lazy restaurateurs<\/h2>\n
\nBut they can just use Google Translate, right? Wrong.<\/p>\nFunny menu mistakes at Italian restaurants<\/h2>\n
Steamy slip-ups: translation errors on Asian restaurant menus<\/h2>\n
\nA restaurant claiming to serve\u00a0\u2018The Tortoise Cook The Pork\u2019<\/b>\u00a0probably intended to mean a tortoise and pork stew, rather than a pig cooked by an actual tortoise. However, we must stress that we\u2019re only guessing, as, after all, a chef\u2019s imagination knows no bounds!<\/p>\nWhy is a good menu translation so important?<\/h2>\n