A system and method monitor the progress of a meal and provide course menus in synchronization with the monitored progress of the meal. The system includes a menu application for retrieving course menus and sending them to a patron communicator located at a table in a restaurant. The patron communicator displays the course menu for viewing by the patrons seated at a table. When an attendant receives orders from the patrons, an attendant service indicator is activated to provide an attendant service signal to the patron communicator. The attendant service signal is provided to the menu application so the meal status may be updated and the next course menu corresponding to the updated meal status retrieved. The menu application may insert advertising in the course menus. The advertisements may also include special offers and discounts generated from food supply data so that dishes prepared with food approaching freshness expiration dates may be timely offered. In an alternative embodiment, the patron communicators may receive selection data for identifying menu items for an order so attendants may limit their presence at a table to the delivery of the ordered food.