This Online Group Shames Overly Pretentious Dishes That Are Just Stupid And Here Are 50 Of Their Funniest Posts (New Pics)
When your spaghetti bolognese gets served in separate jars that are supposed to represent the restaurant's own deconstructed version of the meal, you can’t help but feel confused. After all, paying good money for a dish that looks like something you’d find in your grandma’s pantry is far from anyone’s idea of an ideal dining experience. But the food industry is brutal, and establishments will do everything in their power to impress you.
Thanks to the internet's beloved corner of Reddit called 'Stupid Food,' we get to see just how far they’re willing to go. This online community successfully calls our restaurant owners and chefs who come up with pretentious ways to serve their dishes, overwhelming and repulsing their customers along the way.
"A place to lambast idiotic methods of serving food, or any other epicurean inanity worthy of ridicule," says its description, and you know it’s gonna be good. Scroll down below to devour this crazy collection of absurd food creations we’ve gathered from the group, upvote the best of the worst, and let us know what you think in the comments. And don’t miss the chat we had with food blogger and journalist Ellen Manning about the importance of presentation in dining.
Psst! For more arrogant dishes that ever left a restaurant kitchen, check out our earlier pieces of this feature here and here.
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"What's Wrong...?"
"Food. Point. Laugh," says the subreddit’s tagline, and hey, thanks for being a source of entertainment we didn’t know we needed! The 'Stupid Food' online group has been calling out arrogant and ridiculous dishes since 2015, and they definitely don’t hold back. With a following of more than 800k members, the community seems to have an enormous appetite and is always hungry for new monstrosities to grace their screens.
Getting your edible rocks (yes, that’s a thing) served on a bed of real rocks sounds crazy — because it is. But if you consider yourself a foodie, you’ve definitely noticed that bizarre food servings are all the rage now, particularly at luxurious restaurants. This begs the question, however, why is it so annoying when establishments genuinely try to stand out and impress us?
We were curious about this phenomenon and wanted to learn more about the difference between aesthetic dishes and plain eyesores restaurants serve their patrons. So we reached out to an expert in the field, a food lover, writer, and journalist Ellen Manning. Being the author of the acclaimed Eat With Ellen blog, she was more than happy to share her thoughts on the matter.
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Stupid Doesn’t Necessarily Mean I Wouldn’t Eat It
"We've all heard the saying, you eat with your eyes, and the reason why it's so often said is because it's true," Ellen told Bored Panda. "Food is always about more than the taste — it's how it looks and smells too. That means presentation is key." The expert explained that this doesn’t mean that it has to be complicated — the dish simply has to look appealing to the diner and just make you want to eat it at once.
"So whether it's a delicate plate of food that's intricately arranged or a big fat burger that makes your mouth water the minute you see it, presentation matters. We also can't ignore the fact that in the world of Instagram, clever or pretty presentation matters and can act as marketing for your restaurant," Ellen added.
I Don't Think That's What Zero Waste Means
A Blt My Mother Was Served At A Diner In Michigan
Upside-Down Meat Cone
What's more, the food blogger said that overly excessive and weird-looking displays can detract diners from the meal.
"In the same way that flavors need to work together, the presentation needs to work with, rather than against, the dish as a whole. If everything's a bit too fussy, it can be distracting, so it needs to be appealing, well balanced, and look good enough to eat."
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Chicken And Waffles… Pizza
When it comes to the pretentiousness in food, everything lies in the chef, not the actual dish itself. "Food is often art, but when it gets to the point that you're being distracted from the flavor by the way it looks, that could be a problem," Ellen explained.
"You've also got to think about your audience — if the people eating your food want traditional food that's recognizable, then you aren't necessarily going to win them over if it looks weird or too unusual. However, in some restaurants, this is what people come for — so they can really go crazy with the presentation."
If the creators want to find that fine line between a beautiful and over-the-top presentation, Ellen said they must think about balance, know their audience, and ultimately make sure that the presentation adds to the appeal rather than detracting from it. "Creativity is great, but when it starts becoming more important, or detracting or distracting from the flavor of the food itself, that's a problem," she noted.
We Ran Out Of Regular Bowls And Plates, And This Was The Only Way To Set Up The Grilled Cheese. He Reminded Me Of A Hot Tub So I Added Arms
I Think That Punishment Should Be The Bare Minimum
Actual Dish From The Adult Menu In A Lithuanian Restaurant
As you scroll through this list, you inevitably notice that the questionable meals and ridiculous plating some establishments come up with are amusing. But what lies behind their urge to stick out and go out of their way to impress the customer?
"In the world of Instagrammable food, it's understandable why some people are pushing the boundaries further and further when it comes to the way they plate food, the dishes they put together, and the weird and wonderful creations they come up with," Ellen told us. "After all, standing out from the crowd can mean more attention, more publicity and ultimately more customers."
I Feel Like People Are Running Out Of Ideas
Veggie Taco From Taco Festival...da Fuq
This belongs in malicious compliance. “They want a veggie taco? Oh, I’ll give them a veggie taco”
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The food blogger also noted that at the core of any chef's philosophy should lie the fact that their food has to be edible. "Ultimately, if people are looking at your food, they're going to want to eat it, and crazy plating or weird flavor combinations that look good but taste awful could end up being the opposite of what you're after if you want people to come back again and again."
So while professionals think their efforts will be noticed, they often backfire in glorious ways. "Being noticeable is great, but ultimately food has to deliver on flavor as well as looking good," Ellen added.
Deconstructed Spaghetti Bolognese
Easter Lambspic. I’m So Sorry
I'm Also Turning Myself In. Totino's Birthday Pizza Cake (8 Layers)
To chefs and restaurateurs who miss by a long shot with their meals and are tired of confused patrons’ looks, Ellen had a few pieces of advice. "Presentation doesn't have to be crazy or over-the-top. In the same way as putting flavors that complement each other together, it's about making sure the elements on the plate look good together."
"Color is good, as is a bit of tidiness and care when it comes to arranging them. The basic rule of thumb is, does it look like you want to eat it? If so, you've nailed it. If not, you need to think again," Ellen concluded.
Proof Of Man’s Hubris
I Waited A Total 1,5 Hours At A Pretentious Ski-Lounge And Paid €8,90 For This
Deep-Fried Watermelon
I Despise This Trend
This is something I'd do if I had a group of friends over. It's not so bad and looks fun. And you don't have to clean up afterwards.
Edible Rocks Served On A Bed Of... Real Rocks
This Garfield Style Sandwich
Not Totally About The Food, But, Why?
Britain We Need Answers And We Need Them Now
Glazed Donut Grilled Cheese Hanging Over Tomato Soup
Stupid Hamburger Serving At A Supposed Sophisticated Restaurant
Mackerel Pizza
Friend Made A Vegan Cake For Vegan Friend’s Birthday. Both The Hot Dogs And Jelly Are Fully Plant Based Substitutes
A Chicken Sandwich I Ordered That Was Impossible To Eat Normally. Didn’t Expect The Size. (Had More Chips On The Side)
Behold. A Creation So Stupid It May Actually Come Full Circle And Be Smart. (Definitely Gotta Go Easy On The Jelly)
A Cobb Salad, Apparently. We Asked Why It Looked Like This And The Server Looked At Us Like We Had 2 Heads Before Saying, "What, Have You Never Eaten Here Before?"
Absolutely Disgusting
Straight To Jail
Overcooked steak is not "well-done." A real well-done steak involves much more than cooking a medium-rare steak extra, and can be quite tasty. This looks like it's simply overcooked.
no such thing as a good well done steak. you've ruined the meat.
Load More Replies...i need to drink like 2 liters of water after just looking at this picture
overcooked and cut with the grain -- ouch...but, what do you expect from a place called the "trout farm"....
Okay. I prefer my steak to be well done, but that's not a well-done steak. That's a cremation.
I’d eat this. I have to cook meat to death bc I have texture issues and I physically can’t swallow it if it’s a “bad” texture.
too cooked for eating not cooked enough to be burnt offering for the gods
I like my steak rare. Just wipe its old nasty a$$ … run it thru a warm room and call it done. Lol But this??? This should be illegal. I think is illegal in Texas! Lol
In a restaurant I ordered a steak. Received a plate with beef that looked like a sliced dried out pot roast. Pretty much like the picture here. Beef it is steak it is not.
Oh mom. Even though you're gone there are always these haunting images to remind me of you.
I would eat this. Maybe a tiny bit less cooked but not much. My husband cooks at our house. After he grills his steak he cuts mine up into bite size pieces then simmers/sautes them for me. I cannot eat meat on a bone. Bite into too many weird things on the bone through the years so I just don't. I like the steak to taste like steak-outs steak bites.
look, i like well done steaks BUT ONLY because the difference in color on rare and medium steaks scares me. I have no explanation for it, but it just...scares me. Like, i know it's not raw but still? Never in my life would I call a well done steak perfect and never would i serve it to anyone but myself. I don't order steaks in restaurants ever, because i don't wanna put the chef through the pain of making it.
bro. I needed water just looking at this..... That fish is even gasping
This is how my dad liked to cook steak. I was an adult before I realised steak wasn't meant to be grey when cooked.
I dont even like steak (the cut, honestly) but even i know thats just a burnt waste of a steak.
It always makes me sad when soemone kills the animal a second time... This could have been a perfectly rare steak (slightly bleeding, cutting with the side of your fork, with a light hint of rosemary and green pepper...) . instead someone decided to make some burnt cat litter out of it.
A ‘Friend’ Of Mine Cooked Like This
$10 Nachos At A Local Mexican Restaurant. Yes, Those Are American Cheese Slices
Suffered From An Eating Disorder Last Year And My Sick Brain Loved Pickle Pb&js
Lick It Up You Dirty Dirty Diner
“Homemade Ramen”
F**king Deep-Fried Water
Charcoal Cheese
Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t charcoal consumed if you’ve accidently eaten something poisonous or toxic?
I Am Disgusted
Asked My Sister To Boil Chicken And This Is What I Came Home To
Your sister is playing dumb so she's never asked to help again. That's the only explanation for this situation.
Jagersickles To Get The Night Started
This Is A Crime Against Pizza
Bloody Hell What In God‘S Name Is This Abomination
Got High And Made Myself A Brat With A Baked Potato Bun
Deconstructed Gourmet Vegemite Toast. Yay
Someone Actually Ordered A 100x100 Burger From In-N-Out
Asian Cuisine My Butt
The Golden Age Of Consumerism
Saw This At The Supermarket. This Has Gone Too Far
Jokeroni Pizza
What's Wrong, Babe? You've Barely Touched Your Bluenchiladas
Oreo Omelette From My Uni Canteen
The Luther Burger. Between 8-1500 Calories. I Ate Two In One Sitting When I Was Probably Around 15
Who Thinks Of This Stuff?
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Is that boba? As in bobizza, bobadilla, bobonkotsu ramen, and bobacue shrimp?
This “Bump” Of Caviar At Martiny’s, NYC
Burger Pizza, The Amount Of Grease On This Gives Me Indigestion
Manners, tell me that I wouldn't eat that in public. Gluttony, tells me I would absolutely destroy that in the privacy of my own home!
I Don’t Think These Two Should Be Combined
Not hating it. Wouldn't eat it because I intend to outlive the 2020s, but I can imagine it tasting very nice.
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This Monstrosity Of A Sandwich
A Family Members Lunch They Made For Themselves Today…
Someone Asked For A Slice Of American Cheese On Fries At Work Today
If the fries were hot the cheese would melt and this abomination wouldn't exist
Uhm Yea, Let's Wrap That Bueno, That Is Already Wrapped In Plastic, In Plastic. Oh, And Seperate Them
I Ordered Veggie Pizza And Got This
Got A Pizza Hut For Lunch Today
Was Expecting Iced Tea And Got Whatever The Hell This Is
Beef Liver Pizza
Has Anyone Tried The Meat Mountain From Arby's?
Italian Hoagie From Foodporn
Depending on the price, this might be worth it to just buy another sub sized bread and have a buncha meals
A Meat Rose, Cross Posted From Hmmm
This Is Spaghetti And Salad Pizza. It Shouldn’t Exist, But Here We Are
Chocolate Ramen
I See Your Pittsburgh Pizza And Raise You Altoona Pizza. Dear God
Dinner At The Hotel I'm Staying In
Pasta Portion Size At Kourtney Kardashian’s Wedding
Since A Lot Of People Didn't Like My Midnight Snack. Rate My Mid Day Snack. Hot Dog With Ranch, Bacon And Expensive Cheese
I Requested No Cheese On My Burger And This Is What I Got
What Do You Think Of My Ramen Crepe?
I Guess I Didn’t Look Close Enough When Grabbing Snacks. How Could I Have Anticipated This?
Butter And Whatever Meat That Is Idk If It’s Stupid But Here
Looks like prosciutto. Think of it as country ham made into a delicasy (sp?) by Italians
Not sure, but some of the food combinations here may be something worth trying. That being said, some should be made to disappear off the face of the Earth...
I'm fairly sure these threads are self-fulfilling prophecies. People are so desperate for attention they create inedible monstrosities to appear in a thread like this, so the threads appear often because fresh content, so people think they are popular and create monstrosities, 20 goto 10.
What is will all the carbs and deepfrying? Why do we Americans do this?
I would certainly eat some of these odd combos! Heck, I'm already hungry ;-)
This prove that you can put ANYTHING on pizza. Its might be disgusting, but you still can put anything on it.
I made the mistake of reading this before making lunch. Oh, well; I’m thinking of the money I’m saving by skipping lunch. 😕
If almost any of these were served to me in a restaurant, I would walk out without paying.
Not sure, but some of the food combinations here may be something worth trying. That being said, some should be made to disappear off the face of the Earth...
I'm fairly sure these threads are self-fulfilling prophecies. People are so desperate for attention they create inedible monstrosities to appear in a thread like this, so the threads appear often because fresh content, so people think they are popular and create monstrosities, 20 goto 10.
What is will all the carbs and deepfrying? Why do we Americans do this?
I would certainly eat some of these odd combos! Heck, I'm already hungry ;-)
This prove that you can put ANYTHING on pizza. Its might be disgusting, but you still can put anything on it.
I made the mistake of reading this before making lunch. Oh, well; I’m thinking of the money I’m saving by skipping lunch. 😕
If almost any of these were served to me in a restaurant, I would walk out without paying.