"Dish of the Day" – Restaurant Cartoon

This cartoon, printed in The Sun newspaper on 9th April, 1999, is set in a busy restaurant, where a diner has the startled waitress sitting on his lap. 

Standing beside the table, the maître d’ looks on disapprovingly and says, “That’s our waitress, sir – the dish of the day is on the blackboard!”

The humour here comes from the play on words between the restaurant’s “dish of the day” and the situation at hand. 

The maître d’s dry response perfectly punctures the awkwardness of the moment, adding a touch of classic British understatement. It’s a cartoon that relies on timing, expression, and that delicate balance between suggestive humour and everyday farce.

Like many of my cartoons, it takes a familiar social setting and introduces an unexpected twist.

If you liked this cartoon, take a peek at “Hate Tattoos” or the relationship-themed “Treat Her Like a Woman”.