When you order scallops and crab from a restaurant, you are probably expecting a gourmet experience—even if the scallops in question cost $7. But when TikToker Tori (@prncesstori_) came across something unusual, she took action.
It’s become alarmingly common for grocery stores to peddle fake meat. Now, it looks like it’s happening in restaurants, too. In a viral video that has amassed 235,100 views, Tori picked up a so-called “scallop” off her plate. She lifted it by the pale white strip that was visible on either side of the scallop. She continued to hold it up vertically, so the full strip was exposed.
Tori then picked up the restaurant’s happy hour menu, which, along with drinks, offered “fried scallops” as an appetizer for $7.
Accompanying the video was on-screen text that read: “Restaurants PLEASE disclose if your scallops or crab will be ‘artificial.’ What is this?”
She added in the video description that they “want to be strict about a refund.”
In a comment, she added that the restaurant later admitted that it was “imitation scallops.” While stringy meat isn’t always an indication that the meat is fake, it looks like on this occasion, strip-style meat is a surefire way of telling whether scallops are real or not.
BroBible reached out to Tori via Instagram direct message.
‘Biggest Red Flag’
Some commenters claimed that Tori should have known what she got herself into with $7 scallops.
“7 dollars for scallops,” one wrote. “That should’ve been the biggest red flag.”
“If you are getting fried scallops for $7 at happy hour you absolutely 100% should assume that it’s just frozen surimi cakes and not real scallops lol,” a second said.
While a third asked, “How much did it cost? You paid $7 and thought it was real crab?”
Other commenters saw things from her perspective.
“No actually people shouldn’t have to assume something is fake,” a fourth added. “A lot of imitation crab has wheat in it and I’m allergic. If something doesn’t say imitation crab and I assume it’s real, it’s an issue.”
And a fifth said, “All the people telling you you’re wrong have no idea how restaurants work. Advertising an item as ‘fried scallop’ that is anything other than fried scallop is false advertisement and they would be getting a charge back if they decided to not refund me. Terrible practice by a shady business. Who knows what else they are lying about?”
@prncesstori_ Then want to be strict about a refund …. #foodreview #sushi #scallops #restaurant #refund
How Can You Tell If Your Scallops Are Fake?
According to Mashed, imitation scallops are usually made by mixing together white fish like pollock and whiting. Once you have minced these fish together, you’re left with a thick white paste that can be effectively moulded into whatever shape you want. So, in the case of imitation scallops, the paste is moulded into a cylinder. From that cylinder, scallops are cut into rounded little circles. The outlet adds that if your scallops are looking a little too perfectly rounded, it’s possible that you’ve been given imitation scallops. Real scallops just aren’t that round.
There are several other warning signs your scallops could be imitation as well. These include a rubbery texture, a fishy or bland taste, being too white in color, and having a stringy or layered texture. They’re also notably cheaper than real scallops. So, if the price of a scallop dish feels too good to be true, it probably is.