Help The New York Public Library improve a unique collection

We're transcribing our historical restaurant menus, dish by dish, so that they can be searched by what people were eating back in the day. It's a big job so we need your help! Learn more

Start Transcribing!

Questions? Comments? Want to stay in touch as the project develops? Contact us at menus@nypl.org | Join us on Facebook

How's it going?

As of Wednesday May 16, 2012, there have been 907,081 dishes transcribed from 13,698 menus.

What they're saying

Mario Batali, Chef, Author, Entrepreneur:

"Menu writing is an art form seldom appreciated. In our restaurants, we put an incredible amount of time and thought into crafting menus. It's remarkable to see menus being preserved and documented, for them to become a resource for future chefs, sociologists, historians and everyone who loves food. It’s not just What’s on the Menu, it reveals so much more."

Rich Torrisi, Chef:

"What's on the Menu is a tremendous educational resource that breathes life into our city's most beloved restaurants and dishes. It has been an indispensable and hugely inspirational tool in the ongoing development of my restaurant...."