Fun with Food

30 Ridiculous Things Restaurants Use Instead of Plates

Posted by Brent Furdyk on June 17, 2015

Most of us have had food served to us at a restaurant on a slab of wood or stone, but apparently that's only the tip of the iceberg. Thanks to the "We Want Plates" Twitter account, diners throughout the world can share their often bizarre experiences after being presented with dishes on everything BUT a plate. From hubcaps to hats, here's a sampling of the weirdest ways restaurants have served their food.

We Want Plates/Twitter

1 of 30

A Slab of Slate

<p>Thanks to the <a href="https://twitter.com/wewantplates" target="_blank">"We Want Plates" Twitter account</a>, being served Alphagetti on a slab of stone yields a not-so-hidden message.</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

2 of 30

Bookshelf

<p>Just think how much smarter you'll feel if you chose to read that sandwich instead of eat it.</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

3 of 30

Is That a Bedpan?

<p>Not exactly sure why this is served this way, or what exactly it is, although it looks suspiciously like a plastic bedpan...</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

4 of 30

Briefcase

<p>Who knows what went into the decision to substitute a leather briefcase for a plate. Maybe there was a really great sale at Staples.</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

5 of 30

Cat Scratching Post

<p>It's weird enough that food is served on varying levels, but doesn't this look like one of those cat scratching posts with the shag carpeting stripped off?</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

6 of 30

Chip Bag

<p>You could say it's clever to serve an order of nachos inside a chip bag. Or, more likely, you could say, "What the heck is this mess?"</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

7 of 30

Garden Trowel

<p>Perfect for the diner on the go — simply insert in mouth, open wide and pour it all in. Cheque, please!</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

8 of 30

Hat

<p>"No bread for me, I just started watching my carbs — about two seconds after I saw that bread served in someone's grungy old hat!"</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

9 of 30

Hubcap

<p>Even worse than having your burger served atop a hubcap, the milkshakes are served in empty antifreeze bottles.</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

10 of 30

Kitchen Sink

<p>We've all heard the phrase, "everything but the kitchen sink." Apparently the folks who run this ice cream shop haven't, and served this sundae in a real kitchen sink.</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

11 of 30

Wooden Log

<p>It's never a good thing when your appetizer gives you a splinter.</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

12 of 30

Meat Cleaver

<p>Maybe you're supposed to use the cleaver to cut the meat? Or maybe it's for when you rush into the kitchen and attack the chef.</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

13 of 30

Metal Scoop

<p>Um...because they ran out of dustpans?</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

14 of 30

Mini Clothesline

<p>Just a theory, but perhaps the chef needs a vacation. A very long vacation.</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

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Mirror

<p>The best part of the meal will be when you finish eating and wind up staring at yourself, wondering why you just ate off a mirror.</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

16 of 30

Tiny Picnic Table

<p>"But now GI Joe and Barbie have nowhere to sit!"</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

17 of 30

Ping Pong Paddle

<p>Imagine the fun you and your fellow diners will have debating whether you're eating cheese off a ping-pong paddle or a table-tennis racket.</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

18 of 30

Metal Tray

<p>Who doesn't want to experience what it's like to eat a meal in prison?</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

19 of 30

Rat Trap

<p>"Darn it, the restaurant supply place brought us too many rat traps but not enough plates. Wait, here's a crazy idea..."</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

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Rock

<p>The best part: after you finish eating off your rock, you can throw it at whoever served it to you.</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

21 of 30

Scale

<p>Just in case you don't already feel guilty enough about eating a 4,000-calorie meal.</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

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Shoe

<p>There once was an old woman who lived in a shoe... And even she knew enough not to eat out of one.</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

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Shovel

<p>Never before has the phrase "shovel it in" been taken so literally.</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

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Skateboards

<p>If there's one thing skateboarders are known for, it's hygiene!</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

25 of 30

Slipper

<p>"See, I told you it was a bad idea to let Grandpa make dinner."</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

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Tiny Donkey Cart

<p>The real question is, what do they serve the margaritas in?</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

27 of 30

Trash Can Lid

<p>This meal clearly comes from a chef with low self-esteem.</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

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Warped Vinyl Record

<p>On the plus side, eating a meal off of <em>Barry Manilow's Greatest Hits</em> is far less appetite-killing than actually listening to it.</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

29 of 30

Wicker Basket

<p>That basket's gone through the dishwasher, right? RIGHT?</p>
We Want Plates/Twitter

30 of 30

Wooden Clock

<p>What time is it? Time for this restaurant to start serving its food on plates!</p> <p><em>Brent Furdyk is a freelance writer in Vancouver</em>.</p>
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