# Restaurants draw the line on substitutions as diners push menu limits

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/restaurants-draw-the-line-on-substitutions-as-diners-push-menu-limits/
- Published: 2026-10-27T12:02:58+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-27T12:38:51+00:00
- Original publisher: Fox News (publisher lean: Far right)
- Original article: https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/restaurants-draw-line-substitutions-diners-push-menu-limits
- Topics: Business, Culture, Fitness, Food, Health, Markets, World

## Key points

- Lom Wong is resisting substitutions that alter its Thai dishes.
- Experts say extensive changes can affect flavour and service.
- Allergy and dietary needs remain important considerations.

## Summary

Lom Wong, a Thai restaurant in Phoenix, has asked diners not to expect substitutions that make its dishes more familiar, saying its recipes reflect family and community traditions. The debate highlights a tension between accommodating customers and preserving a restaurant’s intended food and service, particularly as modification requests have risen since Lom Wong was recognised in the 2026 Michelin Guide Southwest.

Restaurant industry veteran Robert Mahon said extensive changes can alter a dish’s intended flavours and slow service when kitchens are busy, while etiquette expert Diane Gottsman described minor requests, such as removing a topping, as reasonable. Both said allergies and dietary restrictions should be taken seriously, but Gottsman argued that completely changing an order can come across as entitled. Lom Wong’s post drew mostly supportive comments, though some diners objected to its approach to ordering and serving dishes.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.