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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Grim food combo or aibu?

37 replies

Gigwidow · 04/08/2026 20:40

Just went for pub meal, quite a nice pub with higher end prices. I had lamb steak with Greek salad (£30 but hey- we’re on holiday).
It arrived in a bowl with Greek salad (feta, olives, tomato, cucumber) on bottom with lamb steak on top, and here’s the kicker… covered in beef gravy!
wtf? We enquired to the staff whether this was the norm and they insisted it was perfectly normal.
I'm baffled and a little grossed out but interested to hear other people’s take. AIBU?

OP posts:
ThePeppyOpalScroller · 04/08/2026 21:06

I'd be sick. I couldn't eat that.

fruitypancake · 04/08/2026 21:11

Gross

TY78910 · 04/08/2026 21:11

As far as the combo it sounds awful.

BUT was this not written out on the menu as you ordered it?

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 04/08/2026 21:12

Yuk. Even if people occasionally wanted it, I’d expect it to come in a gravy boat so you could decide.

Blarn · 04/08/2026 21:15

Thinking about salad and gravy actually makes me feel a bit weird.

Seeline · 04/08/2026 21:18

I love gravy. But definitely not on a Greek salad 😲🤢

Gigwidow · 04/08/2026 21:21

TY78910 · 04/08/2026 21:11

As far as the combo it sounds awful.

BUT was this not written out on the menu as you ordered it?

Nope. Was written on menu as balsamic dressing. This was bisto!

OP posts:
GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 04/08/2026 21:22

Wtf?! No, that's not normal, it sounds absolutely grim.

If it was seperate / side by side it would be better, but still odd tbh.

Did you ask for it to be redone without the gravy?

AllTheChicken · 04/08/2026 21:22

Wtf this sounds awful

cardibach · 04/08/2026 21:24

Bisto is grim whatevere it’s with. I feel sick for hours if I accidentally eat Bisto

7238SM · 04/08/2026 21:30

I will try almost any food combo, but that is bizarre.

I've never heard of a salad with gravy! Lamb generally comes with mint sauce and if they were going for a Greek themed lamb salad, then the would normally have lemon/olive oil/herbs etc.

What did they say when you pointed out that is was supposed to come with balsamic dressing? If they wouldn't replace it, I would have taken pics and written a factual email to management. Depending on the reply, I'd then write a review on tripadvisor.

Minasama · 04/08/2026 21:31

That sounds revolting. Was this pub in the UK?

Mingou · 04/08/2026 21:34

I hope you didn't pay for that

JustSawJohnny · 04/08/2026 21:34

Is it possible they mixed up the balsamic dressing and the gravy?

Did you try it to make sure it wasn't a thick balsamic based sauce?

likelysuspect · 04/08/2026 21:39

I dont really accept food rules as such but I do have preferences about what sort of flavours go together so I suppose I do have some rigidity

I would like this but only because I suspect that the heaviness of that gravy will not complement the salad and also override the flavours

My OH mixes different cultural flavours, so would so a chinese based stir fry but then put olives or salami in it. Wrong flavours, those flavours dont go together

He wouldnt understand the difference between a Chinese style flavoured curry, Thai curry and south Indian flavours, he would mix them together, doesnt understand

So would mix Mediterranean flavours with Chinese or Indian type flavours

Im a big fan of mixing things together but he goes too far.

Bananacrepewithnuts · 07/08/2026 17:28

I am really not a fussy eater but that doesn't sound good.

X

Error404FucksNotFound · 07/08/2026 17:30

My sister has beef gravy on all meats. I think it's revolting. She says beef gravy is the only one that tastes nice.
She's a weirdo in other ways too. 😁

WoollyandSarah · 07/08/2026 17:31

It sounds like one person designed the menu and then someone less knowledgeable has attempted to make it.

If it didn't say gravy, then I think it's reasonable to send it back.

Bjorkdidit · 07/08/2026 17:32

I like gravy as much as the next Northerner and I'm not snobby about Bisto either, but that sounds appalling.

Do you think someone got mixed up between the gravy and balsamic dressing and then refused to admit it?

Bjorkdidit · 07/08/2026 17:36

Blarn · 04/08/2026 21:15

Thinking about salad and gravy actually makes me feel a bit weird.

Edited

Yes, I think that's the issue here.

I like lasagne on salad.
I like chips and gravy.
I like gravy on a roast including on the veg and potatoes.

However, gravy on salad does not go. I'm not sure about the lamb either tbh, especially in this context where it sounds more like a Greek style dish, so the sauce you'd want would be Tzatziki not gravy, balsamic or anything else, except possibly hummus.

You don't mention any chips or bread. I'd also want some fries and/or a nice pitta. Or was there a couple of sliced of buttered Warburtons for dipping?

canklesmctacotits · 07/08/2026 17:39

Oh, you were had OP 😂 Balsamic is what they meant. Someone cocked up in the kitchen!

Did you eat it??

LoafofSellotape · 07/08/2026 17:41

Very odd in the UK but wouldn't bat an eyelid in Greece. I'd eat that with no problem,yum.

Thepeopleversuswork · 07/08/2026 17:42

Yeah no. I am relaxed about unorthodox food combinations but that’s revolting.

TheChosenTwo · 07/08/2026 17:44

That sounds gross, mainly for the fact that gravy has no place dumped on top of a Greek salad but also because it’s fucking bisto 🤮 have you seen the ingredients list in bisto? Not something I’d be eating full stop, even on roast beef!

Mumsntfan1 · 07/08/2026 17:49

Yuck, I hate gravey anyway but on a salad!