When Spaghetti Regretti Strikes: How One Restaurant Used Pancetta for the Pettiest Revenge
If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant, you know every eatery has “that” customer. The one who acts like the menu is their personal playground, expects last-minute miracles, and treats the staff like their own waitstaff army. But sometimes, the universe serves up a hot plate of karma—with an extra helping of pancetta.
Today’s tale, straight from the annals of r/PettyRevenge, is a saucy mix of menu misadventures, entitled diners, and a chef’s kiss of petty payback. This is the story of “spaghetti regretti”—where one man’s allergy and arrogance met their match in a humble Italian joint.
The Pasta Prima Donna
Let’s set the scene: Our narrator, u/Alone-Tart4762, worked at a small Italian restaurant that served up classic pasta and salads. Enter the regular—a man who ordered mountains of food, ate it all in-house, and, for kicks, would call a few hours before demanding the place cater his events. The manager, perhaps lacking a backbone but not a heart, always caved, turning the kitchen into the man’s personal catering service.
But beneath the marinara-scented air, resentment simmered.
The Porky Plot Twist
One fateful day, the regular called in a ginormous order, including a new menu item: spaghetti made with pancetta (for the uninitiated, that’s delicious, Italian-style cured pork belly). The menu listed the ingredients, but as fate—or perhaps the Law of Petty Revenge—would have it, the regular didn’t know what pancetta was. He was, in fact, massively allergic to pork.
He ate enough to get seriously sick.
Now, you might think this is where things get ugly. And you’d be right—but also gloriously entertaining. The regular, furious and queasy, returned demanding a refund, freebies, and an apology. This time, the owner was present and absolutely “blasted” the guy, refusing to cave to his demands but stopping short of banning him.
Revenge, Italian-Style
Here’s where the subtle art of petty revenge shines. The manager, perhaps inspired by the regular’s meltdown, decided the spaghetti bolognese (a pork-free favorite) was out. In its place? The pancetta spaghetti—the very dish that triggered the allergy debacle.
The message was clear: don’t mess with the menu—or the people behind it.
The change stuck around for about a week. Unsurprisingly, the regular never returned. As for the pancetta spaghetti? It’s now a rare “special” that pops up once or twice a year, almost as a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the incident, and maybe as a warning to any future menu manipulators.
Our narrator, no longer on staff, still gets the weekly specials in their inbox—and makes a point to visit for the pancetta spaghetti, savoring every bite with the satisfaction only a true petty revenge story can bring.
Lessons in Petty Pasta
What can we learn from this delicious drama?
- Menus are not mere suggestions. If it says “pancetta,” believe it. Google is your friend, especially if you have allergies.
- Be kind to your servers. They are the gatekeepers between you and your food… and sometimes, your dignity.
- Petty revenge isn’t always big, but it sure is satisfying. Sometimes all it takes is swapping out a dish to send a message that echoes through the ages—or at least the Yelp reviews.
Final Thoughts: Share Your Own Spaghetti Regretti
There’s something universal about food service tales, especially ones spiced with a little well-deserved payback. Have you ever witnessed (or served up) a moment of petty revenge in a restaurant? Maybe a customer got their just desserts—or pasta? Drop your stories in the comments below!
And if you ever spot “spaghetti with pancetta” as a special at your local Italian joint, you’ll know there might just be a legendary backstory simmering behind the scenes.
Buon appetito—and remember: always read the menu!
What’s your best petty revenge story from the workplace? Let’s keep the sauce simmering—share below!
Original Reddit Post: Spaghetti regretti