A woman decided to go on a solo date to an upscale restaurant and scanned the menu. Her server brought her a small plate with two tiny bites of food, leading her to question what the items are and what she’s supposed to do with them.
In a video with over 249,000 views, TikToker Diana (@dianasblogsvlogs) sits in the busy restaurant and takes a quick video of the mysterious dish.
“I don’t know how to eat it or what it is,” she says. “I told my siblings if this is how rich people eat, I don’t want to be rich.”
A small, orange jelly sits on the edge of the plate. Another green vegetable bite rests on the opposite side.
“That looks like an alligator and a freaking gummy,” she jokes. “But he said it was carrot, and I don’t know what that is.”
The caption reads, “I guess this is how the fancy dine.”
Do Viewers Recognize The Mysterious Bites?
Commenters who frequent fancy restaurants immediately recognized the bizarre, less-than-bite-sized appetizers.
“Ah yes, the amuse-bouche: a tiny snack to prepare you emotionally for the bill,” one joked.
A second wrote, “That’s a palette cleanser to prepare your tastebuds for your meal.”
Others recommended how to sneakily ask the server what the items are without giving it away that you don’t frequently dine at upscale restaurants.
“I see a lot of comments about the amuse bouche but also if you’re ever unsure how to eat something at a nice place you can ask the waiter how the chef recommends you eat this. They usually tell you!” a viewer suggested.
“As a server, its our job to answer questions and make you comfortable,” another said. “I promise we dont judge, and we’d rather have a full convo with you then have the feeling you’re not happy.”
“Don’t shy away from it. Educate yourself. Research the restaurant, watch YouTube videos on proper etiquette, and the meals they’re serving. Don’t short yourself,” a third wrote.
Why Do Restaurants Give Out Amuse-Bouche?
The name of the small bites, amuse-bouche, literally means “entertain the mouth” in French. And that’s exactly why some fancy restaurants hand them out.
The complimentary, off-menu bites let the chef showcase their style before the patrons order, according to Tasting Table. Amuse-bouche is offered as a nice gesture, since upscale restaurants expect customers to drop hundreds of dollars on the bill.
Restaurant workers on r/KitchenConfidential discuss how they decide who gets the bites, as they typically aren’t advertised on the menu. Diners can’t order an amuse-bouche like an appetizer.
“If you do it, everyone should get one. Almost always in the very beginning, right after they’re seated,” a server wrote. “And if you’re busy or short-staffed, plan on some people telling you they’re vegan, lactose-intolerant or pescatarian usually at the most inopportune time.”
“When I worked at a restaurants that did amuse bouche, we would send them to every table. Just a standard part of service,” a second said. “If we wanted to send a gift to a particular table, we would do it later in the meal.”
@dianasblogsvlogs I guess this is how the fancy dine 💰💀😭 #fancy #restaurant #solodate #imjustagirl
BroBible reached out to Diana via TikTok and Instagram direct message. We will update the story when she replies.