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Do you remember the scene in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers where Ugluk says, “Looks like meats back on the menu”? What exactly did he mean by that?

During a Lord of the Rings reunion panel at Liverpool Comic Con 2024, a fan asked the cast about the implications of that line. Does this mean restaurants exist in Middle-earth, and if so, what’s on the menus?

Elijiah Wood dismissed the possibility, using Star Wars to make his point.

“This is a thing that happens in modern writing for old times. It happens a lot. In Star Wars: The Last Jedi, there’s a bit when he’s talking to General Hux, and he says, ‘Hold for General Hux,’ like it’s a fucking telephone call. Sorry, let me patch you in….what are you talking about?”

“It’s the same thing. Meat is back on the menu…what menu are we talking about? It’s the kind of thing where you take liberty because it’s a fun joke. It’s a good bit of writing and it gets attention.”

Elijiah Wood has a point, but maybe he’s being too quick to dismiss the possibility. Middle-earth has taverns and inns, so I don’t think a restaurant would be unusual. Perhaps Frodo would’ve seen a TGI Friday’s if he had explored more of Middle-earth. 

Whether you're Shirefolk, Elven, Dwarven, or something else, there's a good reason to love Lord of the Rings. We do! With that in mind, we have a dragon's horde of goodies for you from a Lord of the Rings reading guide, a Lord of the Rings watch guide, details on the upcoming animated film Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim, a full the Lord of the Rings reunion panel you can watch, how the OG Hobbit actors stay in touch every day on a groupchat, and the true message of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, according to Gimli himself - John Rhys-Davies.