In a restaurant setting, SOS most commonly means Sauce on the Side.
This abbreviation is a request from a customer to have their sauce served separately from the main dish, giving them control over the amount of sauce they use.
Why Request SOS?
There are several reasons why a customer might ask for sauce on the side:
- Dietary Restrictions: They might want to control the amount of sauce due to its caloric content, sugar level, or other ingredients they are trying to limit.
- Allergies/Sensitivities: They may be unsure of the ingredients in the sauce and want to avoid potential allergic reactions.
- Personal Preference: They simply might not like too much sauce on their food or prefer to dip rather than have it poured over their meal.
- Preventing Soggy Food: For dishes that can become soggy, like fried items, having the sauce on the side keeps the food crisp until the customer is ready to eat it.
Example
If a customer orders linguini and says, "I'd like that SOS," it means they want the linguini served with the sauce in a separate container.
