diff --git a/modules/gallery/libraries/Admin_View.php b/modules/gallery/libraries/Admin_View.php
index 6eedec0d..4cbefbbd 100644
--- a/modules/gallery/libraries/Admin_View.php
+++ b/modules/gallery/libraries/Admin_View.php
@@ -47,8 +47,7 @@ class Admin_View_Core extends Gallery_View {
   public function admin_menu() {
     $menu = Menu::factory("root");
     module::event("admin_menu", $menu, $this);
-    $menu->compact();
-    return $menu;
+    return $menu->compact()->render();
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/modules/gallery/libraries/Menu.php b/modules/gallery/libraries/Menu.php
index 47af8531..22261557 100644
--- a/modules/gallery/libraries/Menu.php
+++ b/modules/gallery/libraries/Menu.php
@@ -80,19 +80,10 @@ class Menu_Element {
  * Menu element that provides a link to a new page.
  */
 class Menu_Element_Link extends Menu_Element {
-  public function __toString() {
-    if (isset($this->css_id) && !empty($this->css_id)) {
-      $css_id = " id=\"$this->css_id\"";
-    } else {
-      $css_id = "";
-    }
-    if (isset($this->css_class) && !empty($this->css_class)) {
-      $css_class = " $this->css_class";
-    } else {
-      $css_class = "";
-    }
-    return "<li><a$css_id class=\"g-menu-link $css_class\" href=\"$this->url\" " .
-      "title=\"$this->label\">$this->label</a></li>";
+  public function render() {
+    $view = new View("menu_link.html");
+    $view->menu = $this;
+    return $view;
   }
 }
 
@@ -111,19 +102,10 @@ class Menu_Element_Ajax_Link extends Menu_Element {
     return $this;
   }
 
-  public function __toString() {
-    if (isset($this->css_id) && !empty($this->css_id)) {
-      $css_id = " id=\"$this->css_id\"";
-    } else {
-      $css_id = "";
-    }
-    if (isset($this->css_class) && !empty($this->css_class)) {
-      $css_class = " $this->css_class";
-    } else {
-      $css_class = "";
-    }
-    return "<li><a$css_id class=\"g-ajax-link $css_class\" href=\"$this->url\" " .
-      "title=\"$this->label\" ajax_handler=\"$this->ajax_handler\">$this->label</a></li>";
+  public function render() {
+    $view = new View("menu_ajax_link.html");
+    $view->menu = $this;
+    return $view;
   }
 }
 
@@ -131,19 +113,10 @@ class Menu_Element_Ajax_Link extends Menu_Element {
  * Menu element that provides a pop-up dialog
  */
 class Menu_Element_Dialog extends Menu_Element {
-  public function __toString() {
-    if (isset($this->css_id) && !empty($this->css_id)) {
-      $css_id = " id=\"$this->css_id\"";
-    } else {
-      $css_id = "";
-    }
-    if (isset($this->css_class) && !empty($this->css_class)) {
-      $css_class = " $this->css_class";
-    } else {
-      $css_class = "";
-    }
-    return "<li><a$css_id class=\"g-dialog-link $css_class\" href=\"$this->url\" " .
-           "title=\"$this->label\">$this->label</a></li>";
+  public function render() {
+    $view = new View("menu_dialog.html");
+    $view->menu = $this;
+    return $view;
   }
 }
 
@@ -242,11 +215,9 @@ class Menu_Core extends Menu_Element {
     return null;
   }
 
-  public function __toString() {
-    $html = $this->is_root ? "<ul class=\"$this->css_class\">" :
-      "<li title=\"$this->label\"><a href=\"#\">$this->label</a><ul>";
-    $html .= implode("\n", $this->elements);
-    $html .= $this->is_root ? "</ul>" : "</ul></li>";
-    return $html;
+  public function render() {
+    $view = new View("menu.html");
+    $view->menu = $this;
+    return $view;
   }
 }
diff --git a/modules/gallery/libraries/Theme_View.php b/modules/gallery/libraries/Theme_View.php
index 68ec325f..d4d8ee2a 100644
--- a/modules/gallery/libraries/Theme_View.php
+++ b/modules/gallery/libraries/Theme_View.php
@@ -81,19 +81,19 @@ class Theme_View_Core extends Gallery_View {
   public function site_menu() {
     $menu = Menu::factory("root");
     module::event("site_menu", $menu, $this);
-    return $menu->compact();
+    return $menu->compact()->render();
   }
 
   public function album_menu() {
     $menu = Menu::factory("root");
     module::event("album_menu", $menu, $this);
-    return $menu->compact();
+    return $menu->compact()->render();
   }
 
   public function tag_menu() {
     $menu = Menu::factory("root");
     module::event("tag_menu", $menu, $this);
-    return $menu->compact();
+    return $menu->compact()->render();
   }
 
   public function photo_menu() {
@@ -107,13 +107,13 @@ class Theme_View_Core extends Gallery_View {
     }
 
     module::event("photo_menu", $menu, $this);
-    return $menu->compact();
+    return $menu->compact()->render();
   }
 
   public function movie_menu() {
     $menu = Menu::factory("root");
     module::event("movie_menu", $menu, $this);
-    return $menu->compact();
+    return $menu->compact()->render();
   }
 
   public function context_menu($item, $thumbnail_css_selector) {
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ class Theme_View_Core extends Gallery_View {
       ->css_class("g-context-menu");
 
     module::event("context_menu", $menu, $this, $item, $thumbnail_css_selector);
-    return $menu->compact();
+    return $menu->compact()->render();
   }
 
   public function pager() {
diff --git a/modules/gallery/views/menu.html.php b/modules/gallery/views/menu.html.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0731c7b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/gallery/views/menu.html.php
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+<?php defined("SYSPATH") or die("No direct script access.") ?>
+<? if ($menu->is_root): ?>
+
+<ul class="<?= $menu->css_class ?>">
+  <? foreach ($this->elements as $element): ?>
+  <?= $element->render() ?>
+  <? endforeach ?>
+</ul>
+
+<? else: ?>
+
+<li title="<?= $menu->label->for_html_attr() ?>">
+  <a href="#">
+    <?= $menu->label->for_html() ?>
+  </a>
+  <ul>
+    <? foreach ($this->elements as $element): ?>
+    <?= $element->render() ?>
+    <? endforeach ?>
+  </ul>
+</li>
+
+<? endif ?>
diff --git a/modules/gallery/views/menu_ajax_link.html.php b/modules/gallery/views/menu_ajax_link.html.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..00a394bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/gallery/views/menu_ajax_link.html.php
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+<?php defined("SYSPATH") or die("No direct script access.") ?>
+<li>
+  <a id="<?= $menu->css_id ?>"
+     class="g-ajax-link <?= $menu->css_class ?>"
+     href="<?= $menu->url ?>"
+     title="<?= $menu->label->for_html_attr() ?>"
+     ajax_handler="<?= $menu->ajax_handler ?>">
+    <?= $menu->label->for_html() ?>
+  </a>
+</li>
diff --git a/modules/gallery/views/menu_dialog.html.php b/modules/gallery/views/menu_dialog.html.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..99b1b013
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/gallery/views/menu_dialog.html.php
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+<?php defined("SYSPATH") or die("No direct script access.") ?>
+<li>
+  <a id="<?= $menu->css_id ?>"
+     class="g-dialog-link <?= $menu->css_class ?>"
+     href="<?= $menu->url ?>"
+     title="<?= $menu->label->for_html_attr() ?>">
+    <?= $menu->label->for_html() ?>
+  </a>
+</li>
diff --git a/modules/gallery/views/menu_link.html.php b/modules/gallery/views/menu_link.html.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8e4cdb95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/gallery/views/menu_link.html.php
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+<?php defined("SYSPATH") or die("No direct script access.") ?>
+<li>
+  <a id="<?= $menu->css_id ?>"
+     class="g-menu-link <?= $menu->css_class ?>"
+     href="<?= $menu->url ?>"
+     title="<?= $menu->label->for_html_attr() ?>">
+    <?= $menu->label->for_html() ?>
+  </a>
+</li>