Unity – What is the Ubuntu Equivalent of the Windows Start Menu

I think you need to create a .desktop file in your /usr/share/applications/ folder. Have a look at any .desktop file and create a new one with what you need.

Here's my Banshee.desktop. Only replace Exec, Name, Icon and a few things.

[Desktop Entry]
Exec=banshee-1 --redirect-log --device-activate-play=%u
NoDisplay=true
MimeType=x-content/audio-cdda;
Version=1.0
Name=Banshee Media Player
GenericName=Media Player
X-GNOME-FullName=Banshee Media Player
Comment=Play and organize your media collection
Icon=media-player-banshee
StartupNotify=true
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=GNOME;Audio;Music;Player;AudioVideo;X-Ximian-Main;X-Novell-Main;X-Red-Hat-Base;
X-GNOME-Bugzilla-Bugzilla=GNOME
X-GNOME-Bugzilla-Product=banshee
X-GNOME-Bugzilla-Component=General
X-GNOME-Bugzilla-Version=1.7.6
X-Ubuntu-Gettext-Domain=banshee

I think also you can create in "alacarte" (the Menu Editor) a launcher (it creates it self a .desktop file).

Yes, if you need a classic menu in Unity you can use "classic menu indicator applet", press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open Terminal.

When it opens run the commands below:

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:diesch/testing
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install classicmenu-indicator

To run the classicmenu immediately hit the super key, type classic then click the classicmenu icon. A new icon will appear in the top right hand corner near the clock.

Else you can open application via the Unity dash

Links

1. https://askubuntu.com/a/46811/39372
2. What are PPAs and how do I use them?