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.

#1 “Don’t Eat The Rocks” – Waiter Upon Serving

Image credits: swflmeli

#2 “Here’s Your Beef Wellington Starter. Is There Anything Else I Can Get You?”“Tetanus Shot, Please”

Image credits: wewantplatesofficial

#3 Bread Chips On A Comb

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Most seasoned chefs know that eating is more than just the taste. After all, people start judging the flavor of a dish just by looking at it.

In fact, it has already been proven that people do eat with their eyes. 

A team at Oxford University tested this by observing the reactions of diners to food presented in different ways. A chef and one of the authors of the study designed a salad resembling the abstract artwork “Painting Number 201” by Wassily Kandinsky to find out how plating dishes affects the dining experience.

#4 Caesar Salad Or Charlie Brown Christmas Tree?

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#5 My Bread Served Inside Roadkill

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#6 It’s Getting Out Of Hand

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30 men and women were served one of three salads with identical ingredients, resembling the painting, a regular tossed salad, and a geometrical formation. Before the participants tasted the dish, the Kandinsky-inspired plate was rated higher for artistic presentation and general liking.

They were even ready to pay twice as much for the meal as for the other options. After finishing their portion, participants also rated the artwork salad higher for taste.

#7 Multi-Flavor Pizza Served In A Tire

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

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#9 Fish Sticks In A Croc

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The authors believe that this research adds to the evidence that the appearance and presentation of food can affect the dining experience.

Tableo, a restaurant booking system, further explains that a beautifully served dish attracts attention and increases appetite. It also makes the restaurant stand out from the crowd and leaves a lasting impression on customers. The company also mentions the social media potential, as visually appealing dishes are more likely to be shared, giving the restaurant free exposure and advertising.

#10 Whole Ass Meal On A Cup

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#11 A Meringue Served On A Magnetically Levitated Pillow

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#12 The Chips Come In A Rock

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However, the rectangular plates decorated with colorful dots, squiggles, and swooshes and gastronomy dishes embellished with microgreens somehow got transformed into bloody marries topped with giant burgers and pizzas served in tires. Sure, it may be a creative and interesting presentation, but it often becomes too gimmicky for people to eat, and not all restaurants are appreciative of being shared on the “We Want Plates” project.

#13 Japan

Image credits: MakeMeTea

#14 Turns Out The Best Plates Are At Arm’s Reach

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#15 Sushi For M’lady?

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The creator of the project, Ross McGinnes, even started requesting a simple plate when he was given a meal that came straight from National Geographic. After sharing this with his followers, they followed suit, posting photos of before and after photos of their meals and dishware. And just like that, a simple internet joke turned into a real-life protest.

#16 Espresso… To Go

Image credits: Vitou-Galeno-131

#17 Please Take A Charcuterie And Have A Seat

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#18 Yes, I Would Like Your “Mini Corn Dogs On A Ceramic Decorative Pillow” Please

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In order to avoid requests for chinaware, professional cooks should really consider the type of plates they use to display their dishes. One of the top chefs, Jim Solomon, advises, “Choose a dish vessel that makes it easy for your guest to eat.”

#19 Venison Cubes On A Deer Antler (Was Actually Incredible)

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#20 Gravy In A Urinal

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#21 I Have A Sinking Feeling About This Quesadilla

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In addition, he recommends matching the way a restaurant presents food to its theme. Small ethnic restaurants with grandma-style cooking shouldn’t serve plates with architectural compositions. In this type of institution, guests would expect a simple and welcoming presentation served with an unfussy and rustic edge. Meanwhile, in more expensive and hip restaurants, diners would already anticipate a higher degree of artistry.

#22 Why!!??

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

Image credits: wewantplatesofficial

#24 Upscale Restaurant – Serves Cocktail In An Old Soup Can. Why?

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When it comes to garnishes or decorations, anything that is used needs to be edible. Everything on the plate should be placed with the intention of elevating taste first and the way it looks second. The waiter warning guests that rocks or uncooked potatoes on the platter can’t be eaten is not at all adding to an enjoyable experience.

#25 So I Went To Alinea This Weekend

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

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#27 Got Sandy Feet As A Dessert

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Chef Michael Welch recommends, when in doubt, keeping it simple. “Overcrowding the plate with unnecessary oils or spices or microgreens just takes away from the food you worked so hard to make,” he says. “Subtraction is your best ingredient. A properly seared steak with some fresh watercress and perfectly roasted baby potatoes will look better than the fanciest of plates with subpar cookery,” Welch explains.

#28 Blood Pancakes In A Mask

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#29 Guys… Sushi On A Tree

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#30 Friend’s Mother Went To A Restaurant And Got A Glass Of Pasta! Upside Down!

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#31 They Gave Me A Mirror So I Can Look At My Lonely Ass Self Lmao

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#32 Raw King Crab On A Fence

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#33 Saw This On Twitter

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#34 Saw This On A Friend’s Instagram. The Horror

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#35 My Friend Was Served A Single Potato On A Tiny Chair

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#36 Ravioli On A Clothesline, As You Do

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#37 The Jello Tasted Alright, Nothing Special

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#38 Welcome To Hell

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#39 This Restaurant Is Rated 4.7/5 Stars

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#40 Why?????

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#41 Little Bite Size Appetizer Served On A Box Of Uncooked Potatoes

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

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#43 This Was A Tiramisù, The Top Layer Was Crushed Oreos. Delicious, But How Did They Come Up With This?‭

Image credits: WeWantPlates

#44 This Is The Most Awful Thing Ever. Broccoli Impaled On A Metal… Thing?

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#45 From A Friends Ig Story. I Have No Words, Only Questions

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#46 Curry On A Chopping Board

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#47 From A Local Resturaunt. A Massive Breakfast Challenge On A Garbage Can Lid

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

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

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#50 With A Side Of Blindness

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#51 So Close, Yet So Far

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#52 My Boyfriend Was Just Served A Bloody Mary In A Fry Basket

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#53 Pancakes In Michigan. The Syrup Dripped Onto My Pants And Shoes While They Were Carrying It To The Table

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#54 Fried Green Beans Served In A Shoe

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#55 Though This Really Is The Stairway To Heaven

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#56 A Full English Served By A Hipster

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#57 I Guess I’m Not Supposed To Eat My Soup?

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#58 I Think It’s Necessary To Add That The Glasses Are Filled With Hot Pork Broth To Wash Down Those Hog Nipples

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#59 There Was An Attempt To Include A Plate… Sort Of

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#60 Caged Chicken Buns In Hong Kong

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

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#62

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#63 I’m Glad To See They Be Serving Ramen The Traditional Way

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

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#65 Chickenfingered

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#66 Not Shown: The Sauce Proceeding To Spill Onto My Lap

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#67 Our Sharing Starter Came In A Sink

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#68 Quality Postmodernism

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

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#70 Spaghetti Bolognese In A Bread Cone

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

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#72 Here’s My Cocktail. With Ducks. In A Bath

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

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#74 Our Corn Chips Came In A Rusty Bucket

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#75 Carrot Served On A Telephone

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#76 Chocolate “Horse Turd” Truffles On A Manure Fork. Just No

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#77 My Cocktail Came In A Box

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#78 “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.”

Image credits: wewantplatesofficial

#79 Why

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#80 Friend Of A Friend’s “Curry On A Tile”

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#81 The Cream Sauce Is Already Running Off The Sides, Can’t Wait For The Gravy To Go Everywhere As Well!

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Source: boredpanda.com