Restaurant menus can be surprisingly revealing. Sure, they’ll tell you what you can order at the hottest restaurant in your city on a particular evening. But they’re also a time capsule of culture, reflecting the comforts, habits, flavors and values of an era. We visited hundreds of restaurants of varying styles, cuisines and price points — and left with 121 menus in hand. Together, they provide a snapshot of the distinctive new shape of dining right now.

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Persons: they’re, That’s Organizations: New York Times Food