Why does every new restaurant feel the need to have a 'deconstructed' version of classic dishes?

It often feels more like a presentation gimmick than an actual improvement on flavor or experience!

5 comments

5 Comments

Oh, I was totally on board with deconstructed food at first, thought it showed creativity! But my mind changed after ordering a deconstructed Caesar salad that was just whole romaine leaves with anchovy paste dotted on the plate, like, I had to assemble it myself which felt silly. Another time, a deconstructed tiramisu arrived as separate bowls of mascarpone, coffee-soaked biscuits, and cocoa powder, losing all the layered magic. It hit me that unless the flavors are genuinely enhanced, it's just plating theatrics. So now I'm skeptical unless the dish truly offers a new taste experience.

the_troy8h ago

But calling it 'plating theatrics' misses how deconstruction lets you appreciate each component's unique flavor!

the_tara11h ago

Flip the script and view bad deconstruction as a failure of narrative, not cuisine. A great deconstructed dish tells a story where each element builds anticipation for the combined flavor. Your salad and tiramisu examples just presented chapters without a plot, missing the point entirely.

ninayoung10h ago

Seriously, are we going to pretend that deconstructed food is some culinary crisis? It's just a trend, and like all trends, it'll fade when something new comes along! If a dish looks silly, don't order it, but getting outraged over plating seems excessive. Most of the time, it's harmless experimentation, and honestly, who cares if a tiramisu comes in separate bowls? It still tastes the same if you mix it together yourself!

riverb889h ago

Defended deconstructed food for years, believing it was innovative. I thought chefs were just pushing boundaries and it added to the dining experience. Then I had a deconstructed burger that was just ingredients arranged separately on a slab of slate, and it felt pointless. @ninayoung has a point about trends fading, but for me, the issue is when deconstruction removes the essence of the dish. It made me realize that without intentional storytelling behind the separation, it's just a lazy gimmick. Now I skip these menu items unless there's a clear reason for the deconstruction.