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When you don’t have any expectations, you can’t get disappointed. But when there’s an advertisement for a delicious meal shoved right up in your face but you get served a big pile of cheap-looking cooking, you can’t help but get angry.

Nobody expects picture-perfect food at restaurants. However, some of these meals are so incomparable to their ads, Bored Panda just had to show you side-by-side examples. Check them out below, upvote the most egregious cuisine lies, and let us know about the times when a restaurant has made you swear like a souped-up version of Gordon Ramsay.

We’re not talking just about fast food here. Restaurants in seemingly good standing are also known to violate the most basic tenet of human relations ever: don’t mess with someone’s food. (Though, come to think of it, can you really expect anything good from places that have pictures of food on their menus? Kidding! Haha! Just kidding! Please don’t hurt me, Picture Menu Restaurant Mafia.)

#1

My "Cookies And Cream Stuffed French Toast" From Ihop

My "Cookies And Cream Stuffed French Toast" From Ihop

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Hilary Mol
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Mom, check it out - they have Poo Grilled Cheese on the menu!"

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#2

I Ordered Bruschetta From My Local Pizza Shop

I Ordered Bruschetta From My Local Pizza Shop

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As I see it, there are two main problems when it comes to sloppy reality being far from the picture-perfect gourmet meals you expect to receive. And they have a lot to do with our expectations. The problems are all about the actual cooking standards and the way food adverts can raise our expectations too high.

The first issue is very human: sometimes, the people making your food don’t 'five a guck' about what you’ll get served or they mess up and decide to put the meals out anyway. They might be overworked and burned out. Or they might be lazy and inattentive.

The solution here is simple (and incredibly hard at the same time)—the kitchen staff need to find the inner motivation to take pride in their work. Meanwhile, management needs to maintain acceptable standards. If you wouldn’t eat something you make, why would you expect your customer to? It’s better for the food to be late but presentable instead of rushed and disappointing.

#4

This Steak Salad That Looks Nothing Like It's Advertised

This Steak Salad That Looks Nothing Like It's Advertised

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Samantha Lomb
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The second looks like when you throw all the leftovers in the fridge together at 2 am because you have the munchies

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#5

This Is So Outrageous

This Is So Outrageous

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Erin Presley-Froemke
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jameson and Ginger had been online dating for a while, when the day came where they would finally meet.....

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The second problem, however, is directly related to how things are advertised. What you see on the menus are the ‘perfect’ versions of meals that restaurants want you to see. While some restaurants go for amateur snaps, others go all out and hire professional food stylists to turn grub into glamor shots.

Food styling is an art. Pros can end up using a whole array of tools, from tweezers and tape to blowtorches and paint. So when you take so much time and effort to create a work of art, can somebody in the kitchen who is under pressure really deliver something that’s comparable? Sometimes? Yes! Always? Dear Lord, no.

#7

Menu vs. What They Served Me. No, Millennials Didn’t Kill Appleby’s, They Committed Suicide

Menu vs. What They Served Me. No, Millennials Didn’t Kill Appleby’s, They Committed Suicide

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#9

Burger King Grill Dog Cheddar And Bacon

Burger King Grill Dog Cheddar And Bacon

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#10

Part Of A $3.50 School Lunch. Picture On The Menu And What Was Served

Part Of A $3.50 School Lunch. Picture On The Menu And What Was Served

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Lyra Fortune
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, and including the calorie count isn't a great move either, body image is forced so much already that adding sprinkles of this can lead to disordered eating. I speak from experience.

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

So American kids not only have to worry about Covid-19 and school shooters but also about food poisoning or malnourishment?

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Evelína Zlá
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It looks like it fell on the floor sometime during its way to you...and not just once... and maybe someone stepped on it?

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Jessica Cifelli
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a former lunch lady, I can say not a single sun butter and jelly that I made ever looked like that. We would be in serious trouble if we ever served that to a kid. That sandwich on the right looks like it sat in a locker for a few weeks judging by the mold on the bread. And of course all of the sandwiches we made were made to order, meaning the kid ordered on the spot and waited in line.

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PeachPossum
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is a bite out of the bread. You are seeing the paper placemat (or whatever it is) underneath.

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Sarina Greenhaven
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can see how much more love went into the picture than into the kids

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Elaine Mattingly
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Our son told us about their lunches so we went to some event and Dad orded some chili. They droped the bowl on the floor top down, picked it up , filled it up and handed it to him, we didn't know he could talk that loud as he put it in the trash. Rest of the year,home cook meals.

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JD Lee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A lot like the public school system here in America; “Everyone gets a healthy sandwich!... then, reality.

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Dawn K
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What the actual eff? Looks like something you might give your dog. Actually I don't think it's even fit for a dog to eat.

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Tammy Ralph
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How can that even be considered lunch? as well as being crap they could have at least spread it on the bread or made some kind of effort with it.

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jevais
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unbelievable, really school lunch? This is so shocking, I remembered with much fondness the wonderful school lunches at San Mateo, California, elementary school. No one cooked the roast chickens as well as our school cook. She made the best desserts, salades, and we always had many different vegetables, all this served with a carton of whole milk. Everything was wholesome, we couldn't wait for lunch break. My mother is a fine cook, so these school lunches were as good as mother's. All the children's plates went back to kitchen empty.

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Sherry Hart
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is EXACTLY the reason why I’ve been packing my kiddos lunch from Kindergarten to present. I refuse to eat what they serve so why should I let my kids eat it. I’ve packed bento boxes, hot thermos lunches in the winter, sub sandwiches, etc. Just try to get creative and change it up so the kids won’t get bored with it, plus you know exactly what your kids are eating because YOU packed it! 😊

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Avery Jones
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can’t believe they even took the time to make that little photo on the right, from my experience, you eat what you got for school lunch because you’re hungry even it’s disgusting because the majority of school lunch attendants (not all of them) don’t really care

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Nadine Bamberger
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

3,50 for disgusting, nutrition free garbage. Way to care about the children.

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Louchebert
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What's the word I'm looking for? Aah, yeah... 'shart' that's the one :-(

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Kennedy Longworth
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like how you added a piece of poop to the photo on the right! But where's the sandwich?

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CharliAnn Olney
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I could make a comment about the Previous Administration's highly touted School Lunch Program, but I would probably get marked wrong again.

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Gogubaci
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

wth is that blue cardboard in there? surely somebody can be sued for this

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Tardis42
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I absolutely do not believe this is a picture of what the child actually got. I call fake on this one.

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Cybele Spanjaard
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Disgusting and worse as for a child's lunch..poor kid.Is that a piece of paper or cardboard in it as well?I hope loud complaints were forthcoming to that canteen junk.

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Jane Doe
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seriously ... ummm what the hell is it? It doesn’t look like peanut butter or jelly

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Oskar vanZandt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No one spread that non-existent PB&J... just dolloped on. Appalling. I wouldn't eat that.

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Chelle R.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Puke🤢Puke🤮! And now a day's if a kid doesn't have any money on their accounts they don't get anything & or worse then that Puke!! This is so Freaking Wrong!!

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Sam Kunz
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank Michelle Obama for that one. You can do a search for the meals served under her forceful mandated change of school lunches

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#11

A Texas Sized Disappointment

A Texas Sized Disappointment

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#12

The 3 Pieces Of Lettuce Was A Nice Touch I Guess

The 3 Pieces Of Lettuce Was A Nice Touch I Guess

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#16

Taco Bell, I Try To Love You, So Why Do You Treat Me This Way??

Taco Bell, I Try To Love You, So Why Do You Treat Me This Way??

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#17

Restaurant’s Charcuterie Board As Advertised vs. What I Got

Restaurant’s Charcuterie Board As Advertised vs. What I Got

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#18

Damn, I Am So Looking Forward To Eating This Delicious Burger With Copious Amounts Of Guacamole, Just As Advertised, And Then- Oh Wait..

Damn, I Am So Looking Forward To Eating This Delicious Burger With Copious Amounts Of Guacamole, Just As Advertised, And Then- Oh Wait..

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#19

Tim Hortons New Fruit Loop Donuts

Tim Hortons New Fruit Loop Donuts

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#21

Thanks KFC, Totally What I Expected

Thanks KFC, Totally What I Expected

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#23

Arby's Bacon Beef 'N Cheddar

Arby's Bacon Beef 'N Cheddar

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Phoebe Bean
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So... they don´t "have the meats" after all... (as opposed to the Arby´s tv commercials declaring "We have the meats")

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#24

The Tempura Green Beans Looked Delicious On The Menu. I Think They Fell A Smidge Short

The Tempura Green Beans Looked Delicious On The Menu. I Think They Fell A Smidge Short

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#25

The Burger I Ordered Tonight

The Burger I Ordered Tonight

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#26

I Know It's Airline Food, But Sweet Baby Jesus United Airlines, Why Would You Let Someone Pay $10 For This?...

I Know It's Airline Food, But Sweet Baby Jesus United Airlines, Why Would You Let Someone Pay $10 For This?...

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#27

This Is Why You Check Your Food Before You Leave The Restaurant...

This Is Why You Check Your Food Before You Leave The Restaurant...

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#28

So I Bought This New Burger From Burger K!ng...

So I Bought This New Burger From Burger K!ng...

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#29

When Reality Doesn’t Meet Expectations

When Reality Doesn’t Meet Expectations

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RaroaRaroa
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Eww. These must all be franchisee run businesses skimping for the biggest profit. I can only assume they live in highly populated areas where they can still survive, even if no one ever goes twice.

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#30

The Pico De Gallo Burger At Whataburger

The Pico De Gallo Burger At Whataburger

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Note: this post originally had 69 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

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