The goddess explained to him in a kind, but stern way that he could not leave the abode without selecting a menu; that was how this worked. Stranded in a void, all he could do was think, think and occasionally challenge the bartender/goddess. He mulled over for the longest of times, but all train of thought circled back to square one: what did I do to get stuck here? And how would I escape to a heavenly Isekai?
Entering the gateway was simple. You would choose a menu of your dreams and the goddess would give you your meal. After that, just wave the receipt that comes with the meal and poof! Happily on your way in a new world. He sat in the corner and watched countless amounts of people order a menu, and disappear. A few pitied him; some resented him in fear of becoming like him; and others mocked him of his cruel fortune.
In his mind, there were two ways this could go down. Plan A: find out the reason why the menu was invisible, and solve of that problem. Or Plan B: a much quicker but riskier tactic: Steal the receipt from the goddess somehow.
After the 2312th try of closing his eyes and counting up to ten and opening them didn't work, he was officially done looking at the goddamn menu in the goddamn bar in the middle of nowhere.
Mustering up a smile, he spoke to the goddess. "I was wondering, considering this is a bar, could you fashion me a good clean Manhattan?" She replied dryly, much like the drink, no. That was not on the menu. "Then," he asked, could he have the menu? That word or dish was certainly on the menu, yes?"
The goddess shrugged and handed him the menu, adding that the menu was not a 'dish' and was not consumable.
He grinned; He had no intent of eating the menu.