Spice is nice but not ALL the time
I totally get it that exposure to other cultures is happening more and more thanks to social media and the internet in general. I like Mexican food, Szechuan food, curries, and bulgogi and kimchi sometimes.
But WHY do American restaurants serving AMERICAN dishes decide they need to add super-hot spices or sauces to their meals? Buffalo wings, sure, but not basics like grilled cheese?
Why do steamed mussels need sambal? Shrimp cocktail is fine without sriracha (or you can add it at the table)! Brisket with sambal AND poblanos? And I don't need chili oil in my plain ol' fish sandwich.
Sad to say one of my go-to local places I used to always take guests is off the 'menu' so to speak, since innocent-sounding typical American foods have turned out to be beyond spicy too many times. It's so incorporated into the preparation it's not like you can just say "no hots, please" like you can at a sandwich shop.
Other restaurants seem to be following this trend too. Frustrating!