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Dear bars and restaurants, we do genuinely appreciate how hard you try to impress us. After the pandemic hit, it has been a continuous struggle to save your business and attract both workers and clients. So it's only normal to put that extra bit of effort into everything, from the thoughtful playlist to premium Marseille soap in the bathroom.

Some restaurant owners and chefs take the dining experience up to the next level and come up with very ingenious ways to serve their food. Think of starters served straight on the table, croquettes served in an iron mask and no, I am not kidding.

Thanks to the internet's beloved We Want Plates project founded by Ross McGinnes back in 2015, we now have a crazy collection of absurd food servings to scroll through. “It’s the global crusade against serving food on bits of wood and roof slates, chips in mugs and drinks in jam jars,” says its description and hey, thanks for the public service, you guys.

Psst! More hilarious food servings from We Want Plates can be found in our previous posts here, here and here.

More info: wewantplates.com | Reddit | Facebook | Instagram |Twitter

#2

The Juices Dripped Onto My Legs Through That Nice Crack In The Board

The Juices Dripped Onto My Legs Through That Nice Crack In The Board

Platinumtide Report

#3

This Rose Flavored Chocolate Dessert That You Have To Lick Off Your Hands! (Miami)

This Rose Flavored Chocolate Dessert That You Have To Lick Off Your Hands! (Miami)

TheFlavorFox Report

Previously Bored Panda spoke with Ross McGinnes, the founder of the ‘We Want Plates’ community. Ross started the campaign in 2015 after a friend posted a picture of an average-sized steak on Facebook, which had been served to him on a large chopping board.

“It was captioned, unironically, 'That is a big meal!' It wasn't a big meal—he'd fallen for all this style-over-content hipster gastropub nonsense,” he recounted. Then, Ross searched Twitter for an account which would allow him to vent his spleen with like-minded people, but he found nothing. That’s how We Want Plates was created. Today, the project has 900,000 followers across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Reddit.

#4

Reject Modernity, Embrace Tradition

Reject Modernity, Embrace Tradition

theirskills Report

#6

You Could Order Barbie Meat At A Chinese Hot Pot Restaurant My Sis-In-Law Went To Last Night

You Could Order Barbie Meat At A Chinese Hot Pot Restaurant My Sis-In-Law Went To Last Night

luketherock Report

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McGinnes also noted that some restaurants put food on strange things because they want to try to impress their customers. Sometimes, that turns against them. “My local pub used to do a great Sunday roast: twelve quid, piled high, tasted great and yes, it came on a plate. One weekend they added a quirky offering to the menu: little sandwiches, pies, dainty cakes and mini milkshakes served on a miniature picnic bench. The benches, painted bright pink and yellow, sat on top of tables seating actual grown adults. And what was the first thing these infantilized diners did? It wasn't to try the food—it was to whip out their phones and take a picture.”

#7

So I Went To Alinea This Weekend

So I Went To Alinea This Weekend

dabuttmonkee Report

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amyleigh-ritediesel avatar
Yuki Li
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's just pretentious. Am I supposed to lean over the table and risk getting my arms all dirty just for more blueberries lol.

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#8

Pasta, Sauce, Bread. In A Wire Cone

Pasta, Sauce, Bread. In A Wire Cone

AI_YA Report

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NoneYa41
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

one of the more ridiculous trends unfortunately. i keep seeing this and can't grasp the "why" of it at all....

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#9

Breakfast In A Egg Carton

Breakfast In A Egg Carton

Vastylez Report

“Over the following months the picnic benches became increasingly popular, coinciding with the specials board becoming progressively smaller, before it eventually disappeared altogether,” Ross told us. He remembered sitting there one Sunday, watching bench after garish bench emerge from the kitchen like a technicolor carnival of idiocy, before his usual roast arrived.

#10

Dinner With A Side Of Tetanus Anyone?

Dinner With A Side Of Tetanus Anyone?

rawgabbitschnitzel Report

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#11

A Friend Ordered Tiramisu In Scotland. Why Sugar The Lid?

A Friend Ordered Tiramisu In Scotland. Why Sugar The Lid?

NoBid9404 Report

#12

Friend Of Mine Went To A Restaurant And Their Starter Came In A Book

Friend Of Mine Went To A Restaurant And Their Starter Came In A Book

deadsocial Report

“The meat was cold and the potatoes were burnt. It was once their main Sunday trade, but the traditional roast had died an unpalatable death. But that’s OK because they were doing a roaring trade with the benches, right? Sure, until the pub down the road started doing them too. Then the one around the corner.”

Ross recounted that before you know it, everyone’s doing the same ‘quirky’ thing. “Except it’s not ‘quirky’ anymore because you can’t move for mini picnic benches and now all their roast dinners are rubbish to boot,” he told us.

#13

Plates Shouldn’t Fall Over When You Stab Them With A Fork

Plates Shouldn’t Fall Over When You Stab Them With A Fork

ruspow Report

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yeciye
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When asked for food served in a stable way, this restaurant would bring straw and horses instead of plates.

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#14

Uhm.. How Do I Drink It..?

Uhm.. How Do I Drink It..?

lmews Report

#15

Our Corn Chips Came In A Rusty Bucket

Our Corn Chips Came In A Rusty Bucket

mezzoforte24 Report

#16

The Croquette In The Iron Mask

The Croquette In The Iron Mask

izzygomes Report

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Binx
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, would be fun if every time you pick one up, the tongue goes in to retrieve one more

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#17

Lunch Served On A Heavy Stone? I Felt Bad For My Server Who Had To Carry It

Lunch Served On A Heavy Stone? I Felt Bad For My Server Who Had To Carry It

Xboxben Report

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#18

Crepes Served As Babushka Barbe

Crepes Served As Babushka Barbe

auxdear Report

#19

My Meal Was Served In A Folded License Plate. I Mean I Guess It Is A Plate In A Way

My Meal Was Served In A Folded License Plate. I Mean I Guess It Is A Plate In A Way

motherofdargans Report

#20

Friend's Mother Went To A Restaurant And Got A Glass Of Pasta! Upside Down!

Friend's Mother Went To A Restaurant And Got A Glass Of Pasta! Upside Down!

VinWing13 Report

#22

On A Cleaver...

On A Cleaver...

kolli299 Report

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NoneYa41
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

in comparison to most of the others in this thread, this is actually pretty cool

kathrynbaylis_1 avatar
Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not only sitting on a cleaver, but also stabbed through the heart with a pretty formidable-looking knife. Does the chef have anger issues?

lindacowley avatar
Auntriarch
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They stab it with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast

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Loty
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Guess what, I bet they told all their friends about the place that serves food on a clever and now we are discussing it on BoredPanda. Well done.

kfidei avatar
GoddessOdd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That looks like it would be messy to eat (plates have a lip for a reason) but at least it looks clean, except for the wooden handle.

lindacowley avatar
Auntriarch
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least it's something that is meant to be around food, it's flat and easy to pick up. Wouldn't want to cut on it though, teeth hurting already

kathyl avatar
Kathy L
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Handy when you'd like to butcher your dinner companion.

stephen-bormann avatar
htbq
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

when you finish your meal, you can chuck the cleaver at the chef.

nulnemoo avatar
Nul Nemo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I shudder to think of a brawl breaking out in such a place...😳

marypigott avatar
Mary Hilton
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Monty Python is coming to mind..Good thing you didn't mention the dirty fork..

bronnie69 avatar
Bron
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least the serving tray is clean, unlike a lot of these

marcoconti avatar
Marco Conti
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hopefully not sharp, or the chef is going for a trip to emergency after dinner.

cwilkinson93 avatar
Nugget
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Once you've eaten it you can threaten the chef. Get yourself a real plate lol.

bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can use the cleaver to tell the server how unimpressed you are by their way of serving food.

veronicapopescu avatar
Veronica Popescu
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's actually easy to wash and to "handle". Just 1cm of bended inward margins and it would have been functional too.

amyleigh-ritediesel avatar
Yuki Li
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay, that's slightly acceptable. Except if your seat neighbour knocks your handle the entire time.

blasphemousriots avatar
Rick
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s all artistry until a patron feels like they’ve been overcharged and gets angry about that…

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#23

My Boyfriends Ice-Cream Came In A Little Metal Tub, But Mine Came In A Little Plastic Wheelbarrow

My Boyfriends Ice-Cream Came In A Little Metal Tub, But Mine Came In A Little Plastic Wheelbarrow

lazycarrotcake Report

#25

I’d Send This Back. This Replaced An Amazing Restaurant In My Town That Was Killed By Covid

I’d Send This Back. This Replaced An Amazing Restaurant In My Town That Was Killed By Covid

throwawaydogmama Report

#26

Spaghetti-No

Spaghetti-No

sarahdara Report

#27

Pasta Flight, Ended Up Everywhere

Pasta Flight, Ended Up Everywhere

moglyman Report

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Gaby Almodovar
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ridiculously unnecessary, not practical for guests and too much idiotic work for the kitchen. The chef here is a jerk.

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#28

My “Flying“ Noodles. They Where Cold Within A Minute

My “Flying“ Noodles. They Where Cold Within A Minute

PaulusLangus Report

#30

Kids Food On Dvd-Case (Photo From Restaurants Own Page)

Kids Food On Dvd-Case (Photo From Restaurants Own Page)

Minion2 Report

#32

Removing Splinters With Greasy Fingers

Removing Splinters With Greasy Fingers

aloofloofah Report

#33

We Want Tables?

We Want Tables?

Bragisson Report

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Marcellus II
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I actually was planning to do my garden table somewhat like this, with left over 'green roof' materials. I hate mowing and grass, so it would be Sedums; the problem it it's either boring or very uneven.

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#34

I Swear, It's A Chocolate Mousse And Pop-Corn On A Wooden Board....

I Swear, It's A Chocolate Mousse And Pop-Corn On A Wooden Board....

Call_Me_Bitsch Report

#35

Flattened Chips Due To The Weight

Flattened Chips Due To The Weight

EverFinch Report

#36

I Guess We Are Serving Fish On Fish Bones?!

I Guess We Are Serving Fish On Fish Bones?!

mmajamm Report

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Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Should I quit my job, and become a professional fish skeleton cleaner?

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#37

Aah Yes, I Finally Experienced The Classic Shovel Plate

Aah Yes, I Finally Experienced The Classic Shovel Plate

deodit Report

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#38

An Actual Non Stick Pan, Instead Of A Plate

An Actual Non Stick Pan, Instead Of A Plate

henlohihenlo Report

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Horatio Jay
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, that's bowel cancer waiting to happen. Never use metal on non-stick cookware, kids.

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#39

This Would Be Embarrassing

This Would Be Embarrassing

kooshetty Report

#40

So This Is Supposed To Be The Best Way To Eat Caviar...

So This Is Supposed To Be The Best Way To Eat Caviar...

Zaea Report

Note: this post originally had 100 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.