"The Takeout spoke with Rocco Carulli, the executive chef and owner of R House, who said, "When someone starts with 'Can I just...' it usually means we're about to go on a little culinary detour," a detour that could pose a big headache for the people working in the kitchen. "It's rarely the request itself - it's how it's delivered," he said. By inserting "just" into your order, you're essentially minimizing the extra work the kitchen might need to do to accommodate you."
""When modifications start to stack up like a game of Jenga," he said, "it can get tricky for consistency, timing, and flavor." After all, you're not the only patron dining at the establishment; other people are waiting for timely and quality service, too. "When a dish turns into a choose-your-own-adventure with seven tweaks, it can throw the kitchen off rhythm," he warned."
Starting an order with 'Can I just...' often signals a larger customization that can create extra work for kitchen staff. Inserting the word 'just' can minimize perceived effort but can still mask significant changes. Menus are built intentionally and usually contain suitable options; small tweaks are generally acceptable. Multiple or large modifications can stack like a game of Jenga, disrupting consistency, timing, and flavor and throwing kitchen rhythm off. Chefs cook for many patrons, so big off-menu changes can slow service for others. Dietary restrictions can be accommodated, and a respectful attitude helps realize adjustments smoothly.
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