EXCLUSIVE: The Old Spaghetti House owns up to AI food poster fiasco

Co-founder apologizes, says unapproved materials were quickly taken down.

The Old Spaghetti House (TOSH) took responsibility for a poster featuring food photos generated with artificial intelligence, confirming to radar Business that the materials were unapproved following social media backlash.

A poster was spotted at TOSH’s Robinsons Place Antipolo branch featuring AI-generated photos of five menu items. Threads users called the images “unappetizing,” criticizing the uncanny and unrealistic appearance of the dishes.

The branch was owned by a franchisee. TOSH owner and co-founder Lizzie Guerrero apologized for the mishap.

She said the collaterals were not approved by management and were taken down as soon as concerns were raised.

“It was a mistake and a hard lesson to learn from. Moving forward we plan to have better communication with our franchisees and better audits,” Guerrero told radar Business.

Amid the backlash, some figures in the food industry urged netizens to choose their words carefully, warning that harsh comments could affect staff morale.

Restaurant Owners of the Philippines president David Sison also asked netizens to extend compassion, pointing to the difficult economic conditions facing business owners.

“Real people cook and serve there (…) and like most of us, it’s fighting to stay open,” Sison commented.

TOSH was established in 2003 by Guerrero and her late husband Chito, serving spaghetti meal combos and comfort food favorites. The chain currently has two other branches along Sumulong Highway and in Makati City.

The incident also puts the spotlight on the people behind the dishes, from kitchen staff who prepare the meals to the teams who serve customers. While AI can generate food images in seconds, the restaurant’s actual offerings and the people responsible for them remain central to the dining experience.

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