A second date is often about seeing whether two people actually fit, not about feeling judged over a plate of food. An offhand comment at dinner turned into a string of remarks that shifted the mood, leaving one woman wondering whether leaving the table was too much or simply a matter of setting a boundary.
The story
In a recent Reddit post, it was asked, "Am I in the wrong for walking out mid-dinner after my date called my food 'disgusting'?" She went on to say she was on her second date with a guy at a cozy little fusion restaurant. She ordered her favorite dish (beef empanadas with kimchi), and he started commenting on the smell. She told him he was being rude, and he smirked and said he was being honest.
He kept making little comments like, “The smell is intense,” and “I’d never date someone who eats weird stuff like that regularly.”
She asked the waiter to box her food, then paid for her dinner and left. He texted her saying that she was being too sensitive. She's now asking if she overreacted in her decision.
The internet chimed in with a few thousand comments and thoughts.
The reactions
Most people agreed with her actions and told her they were happy she stood her ground.
One person said, "As a parent, I would be proud if my daughter did the exact same thing."
This was a nice comment. If the poster was still feeling she hadn't made the right choice, hopefully it helped to know this person agreed with her.
Another person said, "I hate kimchi. I lived with an asian girl for 6 years. I can’t stand the way kimchi smells. Do you know how many comments I made about it in 6 years? Zero."
This is a good response. Just because someone doesn't care for how something smells or looks, that doesn't make comments about it okay.
This piece of advice got several likes. "The next move is to forget about that guy and never look back."
Hopefully, she understood she wasn't in the wrong and didn't need to give him the time of day again. If he were that open with giving his opinion over and over again, he could say those words to someone else.
A good point was stated here. "He might not even have actually disliked it, just needed to see if you'd cave to his whims. If yes, the demands would just get worse over time."
Could it have been a test? Hopefully not, but if this wasn't the first time he'd done it, it likely wouldn't have been the last.
Some comments were humorous. "He cried about cabbage and then called you sensitive."
Another person commented, “You’re too sensitive” is always a request to eliminate your boundaries. I have never heard this from a person with good intentions."
Telling someone that they're sensitive is just a way to break down their emotions. Just because something may not feel wrong to one person, doesn't mean that it isn't for someone else.
Understand boundaries and early signals
Early dates are often treated as low stakes, but they reveal patterns that matter. Small moments can expose how people handle disagreements, respect, and discomfort.
One lesson here is the difference between honesty and unnecessary commentary. Saying exactly what comes to mind is not the same as being truthful in a helpful or respectful way. People can dislike a dish, a smell, or a choice without turning that dislike into repeated remarks. When comments continue after being asked to stop, the issue is no longer about food. It becomes a question of whether one person respects another person’s comfort.
Walking away is often framed as dramatic or impulsive, but staying in an uncomfortable situation out of politeness can send the wrong message. It can suggest that repeated disrespect will be tolerated. Leaving communicates that certain lines matter even over something as ordinary as dinner. Anyone can say something awkward once. What raises concern is persistence. Continuing after being told a comment is hurtful suggests a lack of care about the impact of words.
Moments like this are about paying attention. Early interactions offer a preview of how respect and accountability might look down the road. Noticing those signals and acting on them can prevent much bigger issues later.
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