CNCER01 – No. 62
“Menu Code,” a favorite of the Third Cafe and Diner, is a Disk Substitution Cipher. Menu Code can typically be recognized by long strings of numbers with often repeating digits along with Hs and 1*s. However, Menu Code can be further obscured by converting the numbers back into letters via A1Z26 or by substituting the special characters. Menu Code additionally has a set of rules to follow:
A la carte: What you see is what you get, meaning in Menu Code there is only A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6. There is no 7 8 9 or 0 (though you can always spell out numbers or get creative.)
Substitutions only for Daily Specials: Typically, Menu Code will always be in the format of 1*-16 with 8 written as H. This is to ensure it is easy to detect.
Price negotiable: Menu code does not need to use 1*, 2, 3, etc. As these can be swapped for any set of 16 unique characters.
No haggling: The 16 unique characters cannot be confused when typed together. For this reason, 1 is always followed by an asterisk as to not be confused with 11.
No double orders: Text enciphered with Menu Code cannot have repeating characters. For example: “This coffee tastes funny” would become “This cofe tastes funy”
We only serve coffee, unless a special request is made: Unless indicated, the default position is used meaning 1*=A, 2=B, 3=C, etc.
1*. Black Coffee $1.17 (A and Q when repeated)
Latte $2.18 (B and R when repeated)
Mocha $3.19 (C and S when repeated)
Bacon $4.20 (D and T when repeated)
Fruit $5.21 (E and U when repeated)
Eggs $6.22 (F and V when repeated)
Hash Browns $7.23 (G and W when repeated)
H. Sausage Links $8.24 (H and X when repeated)
Sausage Patty $9.25 (I and Y when repeated)
Breakfast Burrito $10.26 (J and Z when repeated)
Toast $11.01 (K and 1 when repeated)