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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Ordered Chinese Last Night, Went For A New Dish: "Smoky Sweet Chicken Fries"
Got Literal Chicken Churros - That's Sugar, With A Bit Of Garlic, Onion And I Think Cardamom At The Bottom? No Smoke Whatsoever. Most Delicious Nonsense I've Ever Had And I'm Going To Get Them Again, No One Can Stop Me
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”
A Bar In Ohio Serves Giant Bowls Of Cereal That Are Impossible To Finish
First of all is this an absolute waste of food, second of all this sounds like a challenge and I'm down
Right I never back down from a challenge. Hit me Ohio!
Load More Replies...My dad used to eat huge bowls of cereal before his nutritionist told him to pace himself with the carbs and we would tease him for it. I'm sending him this. Wish I lived closer to him. If you see your dad today, hug him for me.
I'll be able to do it. First, don't eat for at least 12 hours beforehand, longer if possible. Then, you show up wearing your stretchiest clothes that you own, if it's ugly, it don't matter you're finishing this b***h. Then you drink as little water as possible before hand, worst case scenario is that you're filled enough with pee that you can't finish it, but not enough to pee. EAT IT SLOW. Unless there is a time limit, don't rush yourself you're just going to run into more problems. Bring music because it's gonna be a bumpy ride. If you need to pee, pee. If you need to c**p, c**p. Keep as much out of your body that isn't ceareal as you can. Follow these, you'll be fine. I'm also a teenager so this might completely backfire especially saying how I've never had one but I really want one.
Since I’m in Ohio, I was curious…. FOSTORIA, Ohio — A cereal bar in northern Ohio is challenging its guests to a serious beat-the-clock competition involving a whole lot of cereal and milk. One Bowl "The Cereal Bar," which is located in Fostoria, Ohio, hosts "The One Bowl Challenge." It costs $25 per participant to enter. Participants are given 25 minutes to finish a ginormous bowl called the hungry bowl. The hungry bowl contains around 20 cups of cereal, which is around 2.5 boxes of cereal, depending on the cereal brand. Here's a catch — you do not get to choose what cereal goes into your hungry bowl. Participants get to spin a cereal wheel five times to decide what cereal goes into your bowl, and yes, you have to mix it. There is, however, an option on the wheel that says "you pick." Participants also get a gallon of milk inside their cereal bowl, but the cereal bar says you do not have to finish the milk in order to win. Milk alternatives are available upon request when yo
Milk alternatives are available upon request when you schedule to come in. This isn't a team effort either. One participant must finish the bowl themselves. You must schedule to enter The One Bowl Challenge 24 hours in advance. If you're able to complete the bowl of cereal in 25 minutes, you'll win a cash prize, a T-shirt, a picture on the wall of fame and bragging rights. The cereal bar says as of Sunday, the cash prize was at $160 but the cash prize goes up by $5 every time someone fails the challenge.
Load More Replies...My stepson could eat this, he has hollow legs, and not an ounce of fat on him either.
Thanks for helping to encourage the image of the disgusting American. And also for such needless food waste.
That is so wasteful! Anything in the milk longer than 5 minutes will become too soggy to ever finish
Put me in front of old school Saturday missing cartoons and I'm gonna finish it
Those are cereals!? …Ok, now I’m upset. There is great injustice afoot. To my Swedish butt that looks like candy. Why are us Swedes stuck with only muesli made from oats and gravel when American citizens can eat candy for breakfast? Unacceptable! I shall write a scathing letter to the UN, demanding sharp measures be taken regarding the cereal inequality which obviously runs rampant in our global civilization.
impossible to finish? give me the house to myself and that baby is gone in less than 10
Clearly, they've never met a teenage boy. I've known some that would not only finish that, but ask for more.
Intentional food waste should be illegal at this point in human history.
what is the point other than to get diabetes, obesity, and waste food when there's like tens of millions of families/ people in the US alone going hungry in poverty. This is f*****g disgusting.
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
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
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.