Restaurants should have a button called “surprise me, chef” for random meals.

Did something like this in New Orleans when I was there for a convention. Spent a long day on the convention floor. Asked the hotel concierge where I could go to get a great dinner, where they wouldn't rush me and everyone would just be nice. He sent me to a little place within walking distance. They were expecting me and sat me right down. I told the waitress I was only in town that night and would be on a plane the next day. Asked her to bring me whatever she thought I would enjoy, and that I would love to have things that are only available there, stuff I wouldn't get in another city. She asked me a few questions about allergies, dislikes, and how spicy I liked things. The meal that followed was one of the best I've ever had, and that was over 20 years ago. There was crawfish pie (heavenly), rabbit in cherry sauce (unique and amazing), seafood bisque (glorious), and more. I had no room for dessert but she insisted I have some of their cinnamon bread pudding with vanilla sauce. Oh. My. God. Left a tip commensurate with the incredible meal she served me. In my memories I can still hear her calling me "sugar".

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TFielding38@reddit

To be fair it was New Orleans, any food you ear there is going to be the best meal you've ever had. God I could never live there or I'd be dead from overeating in a year.

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Ezzezez@reddit

People would push it then complain/ask for a refund because they didn't like the random dish.

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PM_Your_Wiener_Dog@reddit

Not liking a dish you ordered is not a reason for a refund

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DoughyInTheMiddle@reddit

This works out fine until it's expected and popular.

At that point, it becomes a menu item, and then food cost gets tracked so you know where your money is going.

There's a reason restaurant old school "specials" happen and change. It's an overabundance of an item to get rid of, not a regular cost.

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fizzled112@reddit

If I go to a new restaurant I always ask the server what they recommend. They usually tell me the specials. I ask them what they personally eat and I get it exactly the way they do. There's been a couple disappointments but usually pretty happy. I once went to a very upscale restaurant and she said the burger. I looked around at all these fancy meals, and I just said "I trust you.". I don't usual like burgers at places but it was the very best burger I've ever had.

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RewRose@reddit

It will be abused as just a way for the restaurant to dump stuff

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El_Cartografo@reddit

Omakase

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Effective-Square-345@reddit (OP)

I’ve never heard of it , i will try it next time i go to a sushi restaurant

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Apprehensive-Bunch54@reddit

Think of the amount of times you've put a playlist on shuffle, and how many times you've skipped songs.

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Effective-Square-345@reddit (OP)

I never skip

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herlaqueen@reddit

Some places do have a "fantasia dello chef" ("chef's choice", but the literal translation is more like "chef's imagination"), depending on the place it might be a very good or very bad idea. Usually it's small places and/or pretty upscale ones.

I see it mostly in pizzerie and there it makes a bit more sense since the pizzaiolo might have some favourite combos that are not popular enough to be on the menu, so as long as you have no allergies and are not picky it looks like a good way to go outside your comfort zone.

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lazburke@reddit

If it’s a high end smallish restaurant and they’re not busy, like on a quiet weeknight, they would absolutely accommodate you if you just said, surprise me, chef. And they would probably challenge you with something great. But if they’re busy they would just be annoyed. And it helps if you know someone there, and/or are very gracious.

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CatchAllGuy@reddit

Giving some random small portion side dish for free would be a good idea

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legitdickhead1@reddit

As a chef I ran a special called the frankenwich. You were allowed to ask for cheese or no cheese, spicy or mild, and tell me two items to NOT put in it. Other than that it was what we had going on the moment we were building it. Maybe some pulled pork, crispy chicken bites, frizzled onions, a couple of fries, ranch, spicy bbq, and cheddar. Sprinkle some crumbs from the bacon tray.

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Effective-Square-345@reddit (OP)

I’ve experienced a similar concept in a cocktail bar, the bar man asks you what flavors you would like in your cocktail and they make you an special drink, and they would change it if you didn’t like it , it was an amazing experience.

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wootiown@reddit

I do this all the time when I go to nicer bars. I don't like whiskey but I like nearly everything else so I just ask the bartender for whatever their specialty drink is. My favorite bartender tries out different drinks on me every time and it's always a blast.

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BrainlessDipsticks@reddit

The "which"makes me think this is some sort of sandwich deal and there are way too many vomit inducing sauces/condiments for 2 items to fix this.

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wivsta@reddit

I used to work in a bar that did something similar. Our “special cocktail of the night” was a concoction made of all the left over dregs of bottles of spirits, and other drinks that were about to expire.

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Effective-Square-345@reddit (OP)

I think it depends on the place,the bar I’m talking about is famous for what they do and you need to book in advance because each table gets their own bar man who comes and talks to you about the flavors you prefer and there is no menu

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wivsta@reddit

Oh for sure, not saying all places would do that.

The club I worked in wasn’t a dodgy bar (it was renamed from The Embassy in Double Bay) but it fell in hard times and had a dodgy crook as a manager. Fun times.

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viziroth@reddit

cheese, spicy, no broccoli, no asparagus, all day every day

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WatermelonMachete43@reddit

I woud order that every time because never boring.l

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Uranium-Sandwich657@reddit

I would try that.

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imnotpoopingyouare@reddit

That sounds scarily close to what I had for lunch, pulled chicken, bacon strips, lays original chips, hot bbq, ranch and cheese. If I had frizzled onions they definitely would have been on it as well.

Okay only sorta close but still slightly weird. It was delicious lol

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Mammoth-Watch4019@reddit

I want to add that they have a button to push when you and your spouse says "What do you want for dinner". The chef decides-no marriage fights.

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Bulocoo@reddit

I did that on a firat date and thought I was being fancy. "Whatever the chef recommends."

I got a whole beef tongue with blood gravy. Worst meal I never tried to finish.

No more surprises for me.

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Effective-Square-345@reddit (OP)

Hahahaha , i love beef tongue though

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LordDickSauce@reddit

I don't want the meal to taste me back :(

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NikJunior@reddit

My favorite sandwich shop in my neighborhood has a sandwich called dealers choice where they make whatever they want. I always get it and it always delivers. Plus it’s fun and adventurous

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XIX9508@reddit

If they did that were I worked they'd get a grilled cheese every time.

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Effective-Square-345@reddit (OP)

Lol!!

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Ephemeral-Daydream@reddit

A higher-end restaurant near me has "Trust Me" on the menu and it's all I ever order there. The menu states that it can't be modified for intolerances/allergies/preferences and you get what you get, and the server will describe it to you when it arrives at the table. The price is static and about the same as their regular menu entrees.

My favorite meal I've gotten was duck breast and monkfish, plated together but prepared completely differently. Each protein came with an accompanying vegetable side dish. I wouldn't usually order duck or monkfish, so it was a great way to broaden my horizons and try two less-familar things in one meal.

I've never been disappointed with it, and I'm pretty sure it's how they use up extra ingredients from their specials to reduce food waste.

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Cmone126@reddit

There have been times when I've gone out to eat and couldn't decide between 2 or 3 items and would tell the wait staff to pick one and surprise me.😁

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seanmillsartist@reddit

Omakase

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viziroth@reddit

it would need a "absolutely no refunds or returns" clause

otherwise, yes, I need this

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mattynapps@reddit

From a 20 year kitchen veteran NO

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Effective-Square-345@reddit (OP)

Lol

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tracesthings@reddit

No but seriously

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Rough-Instruction-29@reddit

Imagine how many people would try to return their meal. “Well I didn’t know you were going to give me THAT”

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Physical_Floor_8006@reddit

Damn. I was on board because I like surprises, but you're right. This is why we can't have nice things.

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zaahc@reddit

I love the idea, but I see the pitfall. Solution: pressing the button requires prepayment for the entire bill.

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MediumAcceptable129@reddit

They regularly send back customized meals

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trustedbyamillion@reddit

The Mahoney at Floyd's diner in Victoria

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WirrkopfP@reddit

Why would you need a button for this?

You can just tell the waiter: "Please surprise me with a random meal."

They will get you a random meal from the menu.

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jmnugent@reddit

All the times I've tried this,. they always push back and say "We can't decide for you". (because they don't want the liability). You could be allergic to certain things. You could hate pickles or onions or whatever. You could not like fish or have religious reasons for not eating certain things. There's all sorts of potential minefields there.

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Ron1212@reddit

Why not just say “Suggest something for me.” and whatever they come up with, approve or deny according to your allergies/preferences? Then go onto the next suggestion? Or better yet, “Suggest me something without X or Y” I’ve seen customers do this all the time

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jmnugent@reddit

Sure. Saying "What do you recommend?".. is maybe a better way to approach it. I've certainly been in those situations before (especially if I've never been to a particular restaurant-chain before).

Although often times a Waiter or Server will approach the table and introduce themselves and as part of their spiel will say something like (paraphrasing).. "We have a lot of great steaks, and tonights special is Surf and Turf" (or whatever).

Or they'll start off by saying something like "Have you already decided on what you like,. or can I tell you about our specialties,.. ?"

I mean,. maybe I'm biased (having worked in a kitchen before) and being older now.. but generally if I'm going somewhere, I probably already know exactly what I want. There are occasions I'll just randomly and blindly go into some place I only discovered seconds ago,. but it's rarer and rarer now.

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Kevinator201@reddit

Couldn’t they just ask if you have any allergens in general or even what’s related to the dish they choose?

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jmnugent@reddit

If you have to go through all those random questions,. isn't it just easier for you to pick your meal yourself ? (after all, you know yourself best).

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smoothiefruit@reddit

I used to live near a woodfire pizza place that would offer a "trust fall"

pizza salad bottle of wine

for like $50 or someth

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SirTwitchALot@reddit

Go to any sushi restaurant and ask for omakase

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nlamber5@reddit

That is the opposite of anything I would want

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hasanicecrunch@reddit

Chefs don’t want that. They’re busy af. They want to look at the ticket and make it, not sit around hmm 🤔 what shall I make, oh already wasted 30 secs and got off track. If diners want that, there are those prefixe meals you can go to where you don’t know what’s coming out next. But the chef does! He/she does not want a ticket that says surprise me trust me.

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philopsilopher@reddit

It's called the special and you're better off if people order it on purpose.

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TheGrumpyre@reddit

Tell your chef that I want whatever he dares to serve me. Tell him to hit me with his best shot.

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HitPointGamer@reddit

If you want something like this, ask the waiter for suggestions and see which one sounds good that way. It offers a more random choice than you trying to pic something, but also gets rid of the problem of them sending you a dish you won’t actually like. Rely on the waiter for the semi-randomness, not the poor harried chef.

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deltaz0912@reddit

In sushi restaurants that’s a thing, if you’re a regular.

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wivsta@reddit

You’re ending up with whatever is about to go bad.

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174wrestler@reddit

This is called the drive-thru window.

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sir_duckingtale@reddit

It would be great for the waiter to look at you, ask you some questions and bring you what they think fits you in that moment

So not random

But deciding on their impression of you what you would want right then

So the same goes for drinks

And when you get it or before getting it they explain their reasoning to you and you can give them a thumbs ups or down and pointers

So you don’t have to decide but the waiters of chefs decide for you or with you and you pay extra for the experience and time they need to find the fitting food for you

Like;

“You seem down today, Sir

We think a nice Steak medium rare to rare with some bacon beans and mashed truffle potatoes and a good fine red wine might lift your spirits

Lay your feets up high, lean back a little and we’ll get you some freshly pressed lemonade soda to start the course

Just tell us the price range and we’ll take care for you from there

Just one fine relaxing evening where you don’t have to decide and we’ll take it from here

One cigar to start?

We have you covered Sir

Just

Relax

And let us do the rest”

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the third person gets soup.

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ContributionEasy6513@reddit

alongside a "I'm not hungry" for the misses which is a steak and chips.

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Chaotic_shrooms@reddit

Everyone would just get a burger when they used the button lol

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Effective-Square-345@reddit (OP)

Hahaha