How often do you make substitutions?

[jdisnut]

I read plenty of dining reviews on these boards and noticed how often posters seem to make substitutions and special requests for their meals. I am not referring to people with allergies or other specific dietary restrictions, but to the seemingly large group that makes changes to dishes simply for taste or personal preference.

How common is this practice among everybody here? I ask because I rarely, if ever, make any substitution to a meal. I have always believed that a chef crafts a dish a certain way for a reason, and that's how it should be eaten. If there's an ingredient in the meal I can't or won't eat, I choose something else off the menu. This practice has never caused a problem for me, and I enjoy eating meals in the manner they were designed to be prepared.

I acknowledge I am a somewhat adventurous eater, and my views would certainly be different if I wasn't, but I am curious to see if anybody else is like me.

 

[vicki_c]

Never.

 

[tndisneyfan]

I'll say rarely to almost never. I can't remember a single time on our last few trips that I've made a special request but I"m sure I have at some point. I'm not a very picky eater so usually I can find something on the menu that I like.

 

[Rohais]

The only alteration I've ever asked is to not have cheese in the dish...but only if its easy enough to do. Otherwise, I just change my selection

 

[janloz]

During our WDW trip in Dec 08, our DS (who was 10 at the time) would ask at almost every meal to substitute the potato and/or sauce that came with his meal. He is a very adventurous eater but does not like many of the starches that came with the meats such as risotto. He would simply ask for mashed, baked or french fries plus sauce on the side. This enabled him to try the sauce but control the amount he used if he liked it. I would rather have it that way then he gets it and then not eat it.

 

[FlyingComet]

I often ask if I can have desserts such as fudge cake without the cream or ice cream or sometimes I might ask to swap beans for peas but I don't make up a completely new dish!

 

[CathieArms]

I read plenty of dining reviews on these boards and noticed how often posters seem to make substitutions and special requests for their meals. I am not referring to people with allergies or other specific dietary restrictions, but to the seemingly large group that makes changes to dishes simply for taste or personal preference.

How common is this practice among everybody here?

In the everyday world? FREQUENTLY. If I didn't make substitutions and special requests when eating out in every day life, I'd pack on about 400 pounds.
- No butter or butter on the side.
- No mushrooms (I hate them)
- baked potato instead of mashed
- salad or fruit instead of fries
- sauces on the side


At WDW? Never. The whole point for me of dining at WDW is to try foods I don't normally eat in every day life. It would make no sense for me to go to, say, Ragland Road or Les Chefs de France and tamper with the menu because then I'm not getting the true experience of the culture associated with the food.

So, in everyday life - almost always. At WDW, never.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I don't substitute for anything except asparagus
Actually though if another vegetable or starch is listed on the menu someplace else, most restaunts don't mind a bit substituting one thing for another. Or leaving off some sort of sauce etc from the listed entree. Most times I'll eat what is offered "as is" and if I do substitue for anything, it's generally under those conditions.
Just last night we went to the Glen Rock Mill Inn--they had a "special" Ribeye that came with "house made steak sauce". Not a big fan of Ribeye, I ordered the Filet--which came with a Red Wine Reduction. I just asked if I could substitute the steak sauce for the wine reduction on my filet and it was absolutely no problem.The server didn't even blink an eye.
And it was good!!!

 

[Sweet Melissa]

Never. I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiments.

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

I never ask for substitutions, unless you count asking for salad dressing to be on the side. And I only do that at restaurants where I know they drown the poor greens. Higher end restaurants tend to comprehend letting the dressing highlight the flavors of the salad. Chain restaurants, in particular, tend to pour on the dressing.

Other than that, I assume the chef knows their business. In fact, I try to order dishes I wouldn't be able to make for myself at home - the less likely an ingredient is to be in my pantry, the more likely you'll find it on my restaurant plate.

 

[scdak]

I often ask for something to be left off, I don't do sauces/gravies/dressings etc but otherwise I find something on the menu that has food that I like, I just prefer to eat it plain so I can enjoy the taste, I don't need it covered up with "stuff".

 

[RMulieri]

Never

 

[FireDancer]

I will often ask to substitute sides, get my meal without heavy sauces, get vegetables without butter, and other small alteration requests like that. I've never asked for anything that isn't on the menu.

Disney is really good about making substitutions. It isn't about allergies for me or lack of adventure, it is about healthy eating.

 

[sydneysmom]

I rarely make substitutions....but I will ask for something without sour cream or cheese.

But, my one exception is at LeCellier..... I always get the prime rib but ask if I can substitute the roasted potatoes w/ the cream cheese mashed potatoes. Because those mashed potatoes are heaven on a plate!!!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I rarely make substitutions at a table service restaurant, especially at WDW! I have no allergies though and there isn't too much that I don't like. I MAY ask for veggies instead of a starch but like another poster, this is done so I remain healthy

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Never. Not at Disney. Outside of Disney, I think I've done it a few times, but usually only for the type of cheese on my burger, or something like that.

 

[jdisnut]

Thank you to everybody who has responded for the thoughtful discourse. This is the first thread I have started on these boards, and I appreciate reading the different opinions.

I particularly understand the health concern. American restaurants, especially chains, load their food with salt and drench everything in butter, making nearly everything a nutritional nightmare. I do not profess to be a bodybuilder or an athlete, but I care about my health and strive to remain at an appropriate weight. I am careful with what I order, even during my everyday life. Most chain restaurants post nutritional content on their websites. In the county in New York I lived most of my life, chains are required to list the calorie count of every dish on the menu. By being careful and choosy about my restaurant orders, I have managed to keep my "no substitution" policy most of the time.

That said, I absolutely understand the sentiment and agree there is generally more reason to make changes in the real world than at Disney, where calories and fat does not exist.

 

[hoverpumpkin]

I never ask to substitute sauces or things that comprise integral parts of a dish I am ordering, but I occasionally will request to substitute out my rice or risotto for ANYTHING else. Usually, I will try not to order a dish with rice in it to avoid having to ask for an alteration, but occasionally I can't resist and I simply don't care for rice!

That said, I don't think there's a problem with people asking for reasonable substitutions. I'd rather people receive a dish they know they'll enjoy, especially when being an adventurous eater at a place like Disney.

 

[Buckeye Princess]

In the everyday world? FREQUENTLY. If I didn't make substitutions and special requests when eating out in every day life, I'd pack on about 400 pounds.
- No butter or butter on the side.
- No mushrooms (I hate them)
- baked potato instead of mashed
- salad or fruit instead of fries
- sauces on the side


At WDW? Never. The whole point for me of dining at WDW is to try foods I don't normally eat in every day life. It would make no sense for me to go to, say, Ragland Road or Les Chefs de France and tamper with the menu because then I'm not getting the true experience of the culture associated with the food.

So, in everyday life - almost always. At WDW, never.

Same here. In everyday life I'm a very healthy eater and when I eat out (unless it is a special occasion or restaurant) I adjust my meal to make it suit my eating habits. But at WDW all bets are off!!!!

 

[jdisnut]

That said, I don't think there's a problem with people asking for reasonable substitutions. I'd rather people receive a dish they know they'll enjoy, especially when being an adventurous eater at a place like Disney.

Another interesting point. My girlfriend took a culinary class during our final semester of college this winter, and the chef-professor often said that he likes when patrons make reasonable substitutions. He would rather serve food his guests enjoy than force them to have a bad meal.

I think that, mostly, the notion that substituting offends the chef is a myth. I just think most dishes taste better using all the ingredients!