With all the competition in the restaurant business, it’s no surprise that some institutions want to stand out from the crowd. A great way to do that is through interesting food presentation and unique dishware. However, some chefs go too far with their creativity and, at times, start to inconvenience their customers, making them exclaim, “We want plates!”

In this article, we collected the best-of-all-time instances where diners were served some of the most bizarre-looking dishes. From magnetic pillows to tires, scroll down to find the weirdest vessels people had to eat food out of.

While you're at it, don't forget to check out a conversation with professional chef and food blogger Alina Eisenhauer, who kindly agreed to give these cooks some pointers on how to achieve a balanced and appetizing food presentation.

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

Caesar Salad Or Charlie Brown Christmas Tree?

Restaurant serving of lettuce on sticks with bread and sauce on a wooden platter.

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    Turns Out The Best Plates Are At Arm's Reach

    Woman served chocolate sauce in hand at restaurant, resulting in messy dining experience.

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    #3

    Saw This On A Friend’s Instagram. The Horror

    Spaghetti with sausages served messily on a table, paired with red wine, showcasing one of the worst ways food can be served.

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    #4

    Please Take A Charcuterie And Have A Seat

    Food served on clipboard with cheese, meat, and bread slices.

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    #5

    This? Oh, It's Just An Orthodontic Mould Of The Restaurant-Owner's Mouth From Barcelona

    Food served in a dental mold with garnish, showcasing a bizarre restaurant presentation.

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    #6

    Multi-Flavor Pizza Served In A Tire

    Pizza served in a car tire, featuring various toppings, at a restaurant.

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    #7

    Gravy In A Urinal

    Serving food with gravy from a plastic jug onto a dinner plate.

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    #8

    “Our Environmentally Friendly Tempura Is Made With Sustainable Seafood And Vegetables, Harvested In Ways That Consider The Long-Term Well-Being Of Our Precious Land And Oceans.”“Wonderful! How’s It Served?”“On A Large Polystyrene Block.”

    Bizarre restaurant food presentation with fried items on sticks in styrofoam.

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    #9

    My Bread Served Inside Roadkill

    Bread served on a furry object in a restaurant, an unusual food presentation.

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    #10

    “Don’t Eat The Rocks” - Waiter Upon Serving

    Food served on pebbles in a pan, featuring fried balls with green sauce, in a creative restaurant presentation.

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    #11

    It’s Getting Out Of Hand

    Cookies served on a VHS tape at a restaurant in Canada, illustrating worst food serving method.

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    #12

    Bread Chips On A Comb

    Food served on a log with dried slices and combs in a restaurant.

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    #13

    Sushi For M’lady?

    Sushi served on a white hat with greenery on restaurant table, showcasing unusual food presentation.

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    #14

    Lamb Chops On A Baroque Framed Mirror. When Is The Cocaine Course Served?

    Lamb chops served on a framed mirror with sauce, showcasing a worst way food was presented in a restaurant.

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    #15

    A Meringue Served On A Magnetically Levitated Pillow

    Food served on a floating pillow and white dish in a restaurant setting.

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    #16

    Most Expensive Restaurant I've Ever Been. Chef Literally Made The Starter In Our Hand

    Food served directly in a person's hand, topped with sauce and garnish, showcasing unique restaurant presentation.

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    #17

    This Restaurant Is Rated 4.7/5 Stars

    Creative food presentation on a yellow LEGO-style block in a restaurant.

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    #18

    So I Went To Alinea This Weekend

    "Unique restaurant food presentation on a table with colorful sauces and scattered ingredients."

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    #19

    With A Side Of Blindness

    Novelty drink served in a red superhero hand cup at a restaurant.

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    #20

    A Friend Of Mine Showed Me This Photo Today, Served In A Restaurant In Las Vegas

    Food served in a shoe, one of the worst ways in restaurants, with a person in a checkered shirt sitting by.

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    #21

    Espresso... To Go

    Espresso served in a toilet bowl-shaped cup, showcasing a worst restaurant serving method.

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    #22

    Carrot Served On A Telephone

    Carrot served on a black phone as a plate in a restaurant, illustrating worst ever food presentation.

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    #23

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

    Doll dressed in layered meat slices at a restaurant, one of the worst ways people had their food served.

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    #24

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

    Food served on a wooden board with pineapple, chicken, black beans, rice, and salad, outside at a restaurant.

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    #25

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

    Restaurant serves food slices inside a book, creating a bizarre dining experience.

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    #26

    Our Corn Chips Came In A Rusty Bucket

    Chips served in a metal pail next to a plate, showcasing one of the worst restaurant serving methods.

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    #27

    Japan

    Food served in an iPhone box on a table, highlighting unusual restaurant presentation.

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    #28

    Onion Ring Tower At Red Robin, Comes With Complimentary Paint Chips

    Onion rings served on an old metal rod at a restaurant table with drinks and condiments.

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    #29

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

    Sliced steak with grilled vegetables on a decorative plate in a restaurant.

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    #30

    Ravioli On A Clothesline, As You Do

    Food served on a line with clips at a restaurant, next to drinks and garnishes.

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    #31

    Chickenfingered

    Roast chicken served on a sculpture, surrounded by grass and mushrooms; an unusual restaurant presentation.

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    #32

    My Friend Was Served A Single Potato On A Tiny Chair

    Potato served on a miniature wooden chair at a restaurant, showcasing a unique food presentation.

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    #33

    Got Sandy Feet As A Dessert

    Food served on a flip-flop with sand and chocolate balls, highlighting unusual restaurant presentations.

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    #34

    Upscale Restaurant - Serves Cocktail In An Old Soup Can. Why?

    Beverage served in a Campbell's soup can with a straw on a table.

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    #35

    Cheese Foam That Is Spooned Onto The Back Of Your Hand By The Waiter And Then You Have To Lick It Off

    Ice cream served on a person's hand next to a watch in a restaurant setting.

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    #36

    Fish Sticks In A Croc

    Unusual restaurant food presentation with chicken fingers in a blue shoe, served on a tray with dipping sauce.

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    #37

    Yes That Is A Bagel Filled With Cheese Mounted Like A Deer Over A Bowel Of Tomato Soup

    Person with a donut served hanging on a stand over tomato soup, depicting a worst-ever food presentation at a restaurant.


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    #38

    Here's My Cocktail. With Ducks. In A Bath

    Food served in a mini bathtub with rubber ducks floating in foam at a restaurant.

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