Viral: Melbourne woman left “panic-ordering air” after encountering cryptic minimalist food menu

A Melbourne woman’s recent dining experience has stirred equal parts amusement and confusion online after she shared a video of what may be the most minimalist menu ever printed.


TikTok user @randombutclassy.x visited an unnamed local eatery expecting a standard dining experience, but what she received instead was a menu that sparked an existential crisis. “POV: The menu’s just vibes, I’m not cool enough for this, and now I’ve panic ordered air,” she captioned the now-viral video, which has clocked thousands of views in just a few days as per NY Post.


In the short clip, viewers can see the restaurant menu pages if they can be called that, filled with single, almost abstract words scribbled across them in lowercase. Words like “food,” “wine,” and “mocktail,” appear on separate pages, offering no explanation, description, or pricing. No itemised lists, no ingredients, no categorisation. Just ambiguous terms that felt more like a stream-of-consciousness art project than a guide to ordering dinner.


The video sparked a flurry of reactions online, with users debating whether this was a clever branding move, a prank, or simply a mistake. “Minimalist menu, mistake, or millennial confusion?? Pls advise,” she asked her followers in the caption, mirroring the sentiments of many who watched the clip.


While the venue remains unnamed, the mystery of its menu is drawing comparisons to the rise of conceptual and experience-based dining that’s increasingly popular in trend-forward cities. The stripped-back aesthetic is hardly new in design circles, but applying it so drastically to a restaurant menu is what caught people off-guard.


This isn’t the first time diners have encountered menu confusion. In the world of haute cuisine and new-age bistros, vague descriptions like “air'' are common. But they usually come with a tasting note or a verbal walk-through from the server. Here, it appears diners are left to their own interpretations and their own panic.


The TikTok creator didn’t name the dish she finally ordered, but based on her reaction, it’s likely the experience became less about the food and more about the moment. “I’ve been here 10 minutes and I still don’t know what I ordered,” she said in a follow-up clip.


Reactions to the post ranged from amused to annoyed. Some joked that this was peak hipster Melbourne energy, while others wondered how the staff explained the menu or whether they just winged it.


It’s unclear whether the minimalist menu was a temporary marketing gimmick or a long-term brand decision. Either way, the video highlights the growing tension between innovation in hospitality and the customer’s desire for clarity, especially when it comes to something as fundamental as knowing what you’re about to eat. For now, the restaurant remains a mystery, but its menu has certainly earned a moment in the spotlight, scribbles and all.