Man Refuses To Eat On His Birthday After Girlfriend Picks A Restaurant Without Pizza—Because That’s All He Eats

Imagine planning a birthday dinner for your partner of three years, only for them to sip cocktails in silence while avoiding every item on the menu. That’s the exact awkward energy one woman brought to Reddit’s “Am I the A**hole” subreddit when she threw her boyfriend a sushi-themed birthday dinner—without a single slice of pizza in sight.

Her boyfriend, a highly successful professional, seems to have everything together… except when it comes to food. For years, he’s eaten practically nothing but pizza—sometimes even chopping it into salad for variety. But when his girlfriend reached her breaking point and arranged a meal without his beloved pie, the emotional toppings really hit the fan.

Want the full dish on what went down? Check out the original Reddit story below.

One woman’s frustration with her boyfriend’s pizza-only diet led her to plan a birthday dinner at a Japanese restaurant, sparking tension when he refused to eat

Eating habits can be quirky, comforting, and, sometimes, a recipe for conflict—especially when they become a third party in a romantic relationship. In this case, one woman was simply fed up with navigating her boyfriend’s unwavering devotion to pizza.

At first glance, it’s easy to label her the villain. It was his birthday, after all. Shouldn’t it be about what he wants? But things aren’t always so black and white (or marinara and mozzarella). Relationships thrive on compromise—and when only one side is adjusting, the cracks start to show.

Some Reddit commenters suggested her boyfriend’s eating might fall under Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), a recognized condition where individuals severely limit the variety of foods they consume. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, ARFID often stems from fear, sensory issues, or past negative experiences, and it can persist into adulthood.

Picky eating isn’t just about taste. Psychologist Dr. Jennifer Wild from Oxford University explains, “Avoidance behaviors can often mask deeper anxieties—especially when food is tied to a sense of control.”

It’s commendable that the poster eventually apologized and that her boyfriend acknowledged her frustration. Their willingness to talk it through might signal emotional maturity on both sides—something many couples lack when preferences turn into pressure.

Still, it’s worth asking: should one person’s restrictive diet define every shared meal? A birthday dinner may seem like a symbolic battleground, but it also highlights a bigger question: when is personal preference just a quirk, and when does it become an obstacle to shared life experiences?

For couples in similar positions, small steps help. Exploring adjacent dishes (hello, cheesy pasta!) or even involving a therapist if food rigidity stems from trauma can open up the palate—and the relationship.

Reddit’s foodies dished out spicy takes, mostly calling the Redditor out for sidelining her boyfriend’s pizza love on his big day

These users criticized the birthday choice, called it mean to choose a restaurant she knew he wouldn’t enjoy for his birthday

Some questioned the boyfriend’s diet and suggested the boyfriend’s pizza-only diet might be a restrictive eating disorder

Some commenters implied OP should’ve honored his preference

So who’s really at fault here? The woman who tried to break the pizza cycle on a symbolic day? Or the man whose palate hasn’t evolved past a pizzeria? Most Redditors leaned toward calling her out, but others hinted at deeper psychological roots that deserve empathy—not exasperation.

Do you think she crossed the line by hijacking his birthday dinner plans, or was it fair to finally mix things up after three years of melted cheese monotony? Would you stick around for a partner who refuses to eat anything but pizza? Sound off in the comments—we’re ready for your hot takes.