Instead of starting with food on the table, this film kicks off at a dock where a group is waiting to board a boat. Among them is Tyler, a man who is completely obsessed with a very exclusive restaurant known as Hawthorn, which is situated on a remote island and run by a highly respected chef, Chef Slowik.
Tyler spends his time explaining all this to his date, Margot, who doesn’t exactly share his enthusiasm and appears doubtful about the whole outing. The couple then joins a bunch of other wealthy and self-important guests as they make their way to the island for what is expected to be a fancy, multi-course dining experience.
Margot reads the room while others savor the spectacle (Photo: The Menu/Searchlight Pictures)As soon as they arrive, it becomes obvious that the staff at Hawthorn have a strange, almost ritualistic way of doing things. This unsettles Margot, but she decides to stay calm and go with the flow, even if all the drama around the fine dining feels a bit too much for her.
The Dinner Turns Dark and Deadly
The mood begins to change as each dish served carries a deeper and more disturbing message. Chef Slowik accompanies each course with intense speeches that reveal his frustration with the diners, with fine dining culture, and even with his career in food.
By the time the third course is served, things become alarming. Tortillas with personal secrets of the guests printed on them are handed out. Then the fourth course takes things to a new level when a member of staff takes his own life in front of the diners, just to prove his loyalty to the chef.
From that point, the tension rises quickly. The guests are made to confess their wrongdoings—financial crimes, infidelities, and other hidden faults. Chef Slowik accuses them all of playing a part in his loss of passion for cooking, and tells them they’re all going to die that night along with him.
Margot’s presence turns out to be a mistake. She’s not part of the intended guest list. It is revealed she’s a sex worker whom Tyler invited after his girlfriend left him. Despite this, Margot appears to have a unique understanding of the chef’s emotional struggles, especially his clear loss of interest in the work he used to love.
A Simple Burger Sparks the Final Course
The menu forces each guest to reflect deeply on themselves. Tyler becomes overwhelmed by the truth and ends his own life. When it’s time for dessert, Chef Slowik gives Margot a task. He sends her to his private quarters to fetch a particular barrel needed for the final course.
Every dish at Hawthorn tastes like a warning (Photo: The Menu/Searchlight Pictures)While she’s inside the room, she finds a photo of him looking genuinely happy—he was once named employee of the month at a simple burger joint. Later, when she returns with the barrel, Slowik asks whether she enjoyed the meal.
Margot says no, and instead tells him she’s still hungry. She then requests something basic: a cheeseburger with fries. That small request seems to touch something deep in the chef. It reminds him of the joy he once felt for cooking.
He prepares the meal with care, appearing more human for the first time. After Margot tastes the burger, she compliments it and politely asks if she can have it packed to go. The chef reacts differently this time. He agrees and gives her a takeaway bag.
Margot quietly leaves the restaurant by boarding a Coast Guard boat. Back inside, Chef Slowik and everyone else allow themselves to be consumed by fire as he sets the building ablaze. The closing moment shows Margot, now alone, eating the burger and watching the restaurant burn in the distance.
