One restaurateur has said the idea of serving food on plates is a relatively new concept.

Galway chef JP McMahon was speaking after 'disgruntled' Irish diners took to Reddit to complain about the ways their dinners have been presented: from slates and stones to wooden boards.

Some diners said their food was served on "anything but a plate."

Mr McMahon told Newstalk Breakfast we need to broaden our horizons.

"I think life is too short to only serve food on plates," he said.

"I think a lot of times it's artistic, or I suppose you get used to serving things on a white plate.

"You have to remember: the plate is quite new in history, we have been serving not on plates longer.

"For thousands of years we probably served it on whatever you could get.

"For me it's wanting to try and respond to the food... particularly on wood, I think wood is a beautiful thing to serve on.

"Slate sometimes I don't agree with so much because, particularly when you have sauces on slates, they seem to go everywhere.

"Certainly cheese on slate and that - I think it's certainly an aesthetic choice."

Fast food is served on a board. Picture by: EyeEm / Alamy Stock Photo

However, he said he understands certain opposition to the idea.

"Sometimes if food is served on anything except a plate [and] on something that's not adequate," he said.

"Sometimes it'll be served steak on a glass plate, and you have to cut it, it's not a nice experience.

"I think sometimes it's not thought through - or chips are served in little shopping trolleys.

"We ran a pub and I served them in that, and there was people who loved them.

"It also helps portion control: you put them in and that's your portion, other than you dump them on a plate and then they just go everywhere."

He added: "50% of me would say we have to broaden our horizons and move beyond the plate sometimes."

Main image: A high angle view of food served on a slate. Picture by: Cavan Images / Alamy Stock Photo