10 Restaurant Dishes Gordon Ramsay Says to Avoid Ordering

Gordon Ramsay has spent decades inside the restaurant world, so when he tells people to avoid certain dishes, it’s worth listening. He isn’t trying to ruin anyone’s night out; he’s pointing out the food that often hides poor quality, lack of freshness, or shortcuts behind the scenes. The truth is, some menu items are there for looks more than flavor. If you want the best value and the safest bet, here are the restaurant dishes Ramsay himself says to skip.

1. Daily Soup Specials

Ramsay has warned diners to be cautious of the daily soup special because it often isn’t special at all. Restaurants sometimes use leftover ingredients to make soup, which means you could be eating vegetables or meats that are past their prime. Soups can sit reheated for hours, losing freshness and taste. Ramsay has even pointed out that a soup special might just be yesterday’s menu items recycled into today’s pot. If you’re craving soup, stick with a place that’s known for it rather than trusting a random special.

2. Truffle Oil Dishes

Ramsay has been outspoken about truffle oil, calling it one of the most overused and misleading ingredients. Real truffles are rare and expensive, but truffle oil is often synthetic, made with chemicals that mimic the aroma without any true depth of flavor. Many restaurants drizzle it over pasta, pizza, or fries to make dishes seem more luxurious. Ramsay says this is a trick rather than good cooking, since truffle oil overwhelms rather than enhances food. If you want real truffle flavor, avoid the oil and look for dishes made with fresh truffles.

3. Wagyu Burgers

Wagyu beef is prized for its marbling and delicate texture, but Ramsay argues that putting it into a burger wastes its potential. Once ground, the qualities that make Wagyu special are lost. Restaurants charge high prices for Wagyu burgers, yet most diners wouldn’t notice a huge difference compared to a regular high-quality beef burger. Ramsay has said it’s more about the marketing than the taste. If you want to enjoy Wagyu, order a steak instead of a patty sandwiched in bread.

4. Airline Chicken Breast

This oddly named dish is a boneless chicken breast served with the wing bone attached. Ramsay dislikes it because it’s bland, overpriced, and usually dry by the time it hits your plate. Chefs often keep it on menus because it looks fancy but requires little effort. For diners, it often means paying more for a cut of chicken that could have been juicier and tastier if prepared differently. Ramsay encourages people to explore other proteins or at least try chicken cooked with more creativity.

5. Lobster Mac and Cheese

Ramsay has said that lobster mac and cheese sounds indulgent but often ends up disappointing. Many restaurants skimp on the lobster, adding only a few small pieces to justify a steep price. The pasta and cheese overpower the seafood, leaving you with an expensive bowl of regular mac and cheese. It’s a prime example of a dish that looks luxurious on paper but isn’t worth the cost. Ramsay suggests ordering lobster on its own if you truly want to enjoy it.

6. Frozen Margaritas

Cocktails made from fresh juice can be incredible, but Ramsay warns against frozen margaritas. These drinks are usually packed with sugary premixes instead of real lime, making them taste more like slush than a cocktail. On top of that, the sweetness can mask cheap alcohol. He argues that if you’re going to order a margarita, you should taste the tequila and the fresh citrus not artificial syrup. Stick with a classic margarita on the rocks and you’ll actually get what you pay for.

7. Restaurant Veggie Burgers

Ramsay has admitted he isn’t a fan of generic veggie burgers, especially in restaurants that don’t specialize in vegetarian cooking. Many of these patties are processed, flavorless, or pulled straight from the freezer. Restaurants often keep them on the menu to tick a box rather than offering something genuinely tasty. Ramsay points out that vegetables can be cooked beautifully without being formed into a bland patty. If you want a plant-based option, choose grilled vegetables or creative vegetarian dishes instead.

8. Eggs Benedict at Buffets

Buffet-style Eggs Benedict is a dish Ramsay singles out as one to avoid. The issue is timing: poached eggs and hollandaise sauce don’t hold up well under heat lamps. By the time you scoop it onto your plate, the eggs are usually rubbery, and the sauce has either split or turned thick. Hollandaise in particular should be made fresh, not sit around. Ramsay recommends avoiding eggs Benedict unless you’re at a place that prepares it to order.

9. Mussels on Mondays

Ramsay has explained why ordering mussels on a Monday can be risky. Seafood deliveries usually come in during the week, so mussels served on a Monday may have been sitting around since the weekend. That increases the chance they won’t be at their freshest, and with shellfish, freshness is critical for both taste and safety. Mussels can be excellent when handled properly, but Ramsay advises waiting until later in the week to order them at a restaurant.

10. Caesar Salad

This may surprise some diners, but Ramsay isn’t impressed with Caesar salads at restaurants. He considers them a lazy menu item that often comes at an inflated price. Many kitchens rely on bottled dressing instead of making it fresh, which strips the salad of its punch. On top of that, it’s not exactly a challenging dish, yet it often costs as much as more interesting starters. Ramsay believes if you’re dining out, you should spend money on something unique, not a basic Caesar.