The Moment I Knew My Mission Was Bigger Than Me
- Oct 8
- 3 min read
By Susan Abbott
Know My Menu
The idea for Know My Menu came a few weeks after visiting a developer friend in Las Vegas. I had been eating very clean to support my health after reversing a chronic illness, and dining out had become a careful balancing act. I thought I was easy to accommodate—until my friend laughed and said, “You are such a pain to go out to eat with.”
It stung. I wasn’t trying to be difficult; I was just trying to eat in a way that kept me healthy. Sure, I could usually find something on the menu. Was it always delicious? Maybe not. Was it sometimes complicated? Absolutely. Would I like to avoid the awkward back-and-forth with the server? Definitely.
A few weeks later, driving with my two sons, I casually asked, “Want to go out to eat?” I don’t know why I even asked, I already knew the answer. I paused and said, “Nah, I don’t feel like interrogating the server.”
And that’s when it hit me. I saw a clear, simple solution to help diners go out with confidence. Why hadn’t this been done before?
At first, my focus was purely on helping diners find food they could eat. But as I started interviewing servers and restaurateurs, I realized the problem ran both ways.
It’s challenging for restaurant staff to handle the flood of dietary questions and special requests—especially when allergies require extra care in food preparation. Many want to accommodate, but the information isn’t always easy to find or communicate.
With 25 years of experience as an IT consultant, I was used to tackling complex problems. I dug deep into the real-world challenges of dining out and quickly saw that needs vary widely. Some people have life-threatening allergies. Others are following strict diets for medical or athletic reasons. Some care about sourcing and sustainability. Some just want to see a photo of their dish before ordering. And many, me included, are simply tired of deciphering menus or feeling like that customer asking too many questions.
So why hadn’t anyone solved this? The answer was obvious…it’s hard. It requires technology, collaboration, and trust from both diners and restaurants. And as a single mom and a single founder, the hill looked steep. But once I understood how many people struggle to enjoy something as simple as a meal out, the better question became: How could I not try?
I got creative. I designed the platform and assembled a small, talented team. Ironically including the same developer who once called me a “pain” to dine with. He built the backend while a front-end developer I’d worked with for years brought the user experience to life. We worked tirelessly, building the platform piece by piece, while I watched my savings shrink.
Every time I felt doubt creeping in, I pictured the people we were building for:
The 8-year-old with a peanut allergy who just wants to feel normal at a birthday party.
The executive at a client lunch who can’t risk triggering their IBS.
The bodybuilder sticking to a meal plan before competition.
The single mom on her first date after divorce, hoping to focus on conversation—not the menu.
They each carried part of the load, just like my sons, friends, and colleagues who cheered me on. And through them, I remembered why this mattered.
Because at the end of the day, dining out should be about connection and joy—not anxiety or guesswork. With Know My Menu, diners can truly know before they go—and restaurants can welcome them with confidence.
Connect With Susan
Comments