Bringing Spices or Sauces to a Restaurant

Do You Bring Spices or Sauces to a Restaurant?

September 2, 2010

I have a friend who likes everything extra spicy to burn-your-mouth-off spicy. So when we went out to eat recently, I was only mildly surprised to see her pull out a baggie of red pepper flakes that she poured on top of her meal. I, however, would feel a little uncomfortable bringing my own spices to a restaurant (it's not the same as BYO wine, after all). But I guess if it's not an upscale eatery, what's the harm? What do you think?

Source: Flickr User Mykl Roventine

20 Comments

RoaringSilence 2 years 36 weeks

Isn't the restaurant going to have pretty much everything anyway? I think it is a little weird. People are way too much into customizing every single thing when they go out to eat, and I find that pretty annoying. If you need to make 20 changes to a dish, just make it yourself.

ticamorena 2 years 37 weeks

no - not because i find it weird, but because like AmberHoney, i wouldn't hand over cash for food in a place where the don't provide the flavour/spices I like. but if it's for a medical/dietary reason, then ofcourse no problem

SeptemberLights 2 years 37 weeks

I would say it depends on the type of restaurant and the atmosphere.....at an upscale classy place am I going to whip out my bottle of Tabasco sauce? NO. At our homey local breakfast joint.....I have no problems with it. Then again, if you just ask for Tabasco they will bring it to you!

amber512 2 years 37 weeks

I have food intolerances, so yes, I have brought my own sauces before. It does feel super weird whipping it out at the table. But I'd like to be able to eat something and not just sip water while everyone else gets to enjoy food!

Ladyseven 2 years 37 weeks

My BF is gluten intolerant, so when we go out, he takes a little bottle of wheat-free soy sauce in case my proclivity towards sushi or other Asian food strikes.

AmberHoney 2 years 37 weeks

I don't think it's weird, but for me if I gotta spice up the food I'll eat somewhere else or cook at home. If it's not what you like why are paying for it? Now that's weird to me.

dclsweetspot 2 years 37 weeks

We've brought packets of low calorie salad dressings to restaurants that only have high fat dressings when I am going there for lunch and know I want a salad. I really don't think anyone would care. I would never do it at a high end restaurant but at a diner, chain or lunch spot no one cares other than possibly the nosy person paying too much attention to everything you do at the table next to you.

fuzzles 2 years 37 weeks

I have a bit of a thing for Wendy's (the big burger chain) chili. While I usually get it at the drive-thru to go, I always need to add a ton of my favorite hot sauce. (They only have an "off" brand option that I do not love.) On the rare occasion that I sit down inside, I have no qualms about saucing up at the table. :D

lilkimbo 2 years 37 weeks

Skigurl, I agree.

Gdeeaz 2 years 37 weeks

I don't, but if someone I am having a meal with brings something, I wouldn't find it weird.

stellaRuby 2 years 37 weeks

I do not see the big deal. My husband and I love barbecue sauce on our pizza, so sometimes I bring it with me when we eat @ pizza joints that do not have it. People put salt and pepper on food all time @ restaurants- what is the difference?

pink pirate 2 years 37 weeks

I think it's a bit odd. I keep tons of soy sauce, sweet chili and other condiments in my desk to add to take out lunches I get at work, but I would never walk into a restaurant carrying my own bottle of something. If it was really that big a deal then I'd just do take out from the restaurant and add what I wanted at home, rather than do it there.

Crystalinsf 2 years 37 weeks

Wow- I didn’t know we were calling people out, ha! Please let me explain, I normally don’t do this, but this small neighborly café has amazing curry that needs a little kick to it… they don’t offer anything spicy in the entire restaurant… so I just thought I would sprinkle some chili flakes (no biggie). P.S. how is this different from all those people who bring splenda or stevia sweeteners…just saying ?

ngocnguyen 2 years 37 weeks

I have a mini bottle of Sriracha in the car lol.

depeche3 2 years 37 weeks

I would bring Tapatio to a Mexican restaurant or Chilis... And, I brought packs of soy sauce to breakfast places because I like it on my eggs.

courtneyd 2 years 37 weeks

I had a bottle of Caribbean hotsauce that I loved to put on catfish sandwiches. Back in the day I wasn't a fan of deep-frying stuff myself, though, so I would head up the street to a Cajun restaurant and get their catfish sandwich, and slather my hotsauce on it. No one ever seemed to think it was odd.

skigurl 2 years 37 weeks

it's weird/rude and i would never do it

lemuse20 2 years 37 weeks

I have a friend who keeps a mini bottle of hot pepper sauce in her purse... mostly because she's allergic to tomatoes, but also because she likes some kick in her food too.

2 years 37 weeks

I very briefly dated a guy that brought his own sauce to places...his own sweet & sour sauce for chinese, his own bbq sauce for Barbeque joints. It was embarrasing and needless to say, part of the reason we only briefly dated.