Magic Menu volume 5, number 27 (Jan - Feb 1995)
by Jim Sisti

Considering the staggering volume of issues spanning The Magic Menu (and overall weight within the canon of magic literature), reviewing a single episode of this publication seems borderline silly. I chose to do so for a few reasons:

1. I think this is roughly the 6th issue of 'The Magic Menu' that I've read front-to-back (maybe not quite that many even). I believe I have spared the world my comments on this publication, but felt inclined to offer them now (Fall 2026 -- eons after Jim stopped publishing this series). I have a smattering of electronic versions AND paper versions of this publication.
2. Overall: I just think magicians alive today need to know what an important thing this publication was. It was good. It was talked about because it was popular.
3. I am moderately certain (within the scope of bar/restaurant magic) this very well might be the absolute first published issue (up to early 1995) in the western hemisphere devoted largely to bizarre magic in a restaurant setting. Yes, that is niche -- but it was special for its time. I am a magic magazine/serial nerd and I've read a lot of written stuff about our art.

So: enough of that blathering. This is a great issue -- full stop. Jim, as he was prone to do, offered bits of sage advice and if heeded, would serve a performer well even 30 years on now! I love the contributions from his guest contributors and one even commented (with minor shock) that he'd would be asked about "bizarre" magic in a restaurant setting. But: he handled his assignment swimmingly. While this is no 300-page work, it belongs in your library, if only for this (arguably) 'First of its kind' nature. Buy it. You'll like it! It's a keeper, through-and-through.