The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders (and the Beauty of Dementia)

What if a wrong food order wasn’t a mistake—but part of the experience?

Welcome to The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders, a Tokyo-based pop-up where all the servers are living with dementia. The meals might be surprising. Your coffee may arrive iced instead of hot. But what you get in return is something deeper: a powerful reminder of our shared humanity.

The creators of this restaurant didn’t set out to start a gimmick. They wanted to make the world a little more open-minded and relaxed when it comes to dementia. And what they created was nothing short of brilliant. Guests are invited to enter into the moment with the staff, to be surprised, to laugh, to slow down. They leave not just with full bellies but with fuller hearts.

Because here’s the truth: People with dementia may lose their skills and abilities, but they will never lose their humanity.

One of my patient’s daughters recently shared something that touched me deeply. Her father lives in a dementia memory care facility. Visiting him there, she told me, is lovely. "Everyone is so in the moment and authentic," she said. One resident always grabs her hand when she walks by, commenting on how cold it is, and gently warms it between his own. Sometimes, he tells her he loves her. She always replies, "I love you too."

She knows his name, but he doesn't know hers. It doesn’t matter.

That’s the magic of the dementia journey when it's approached with dignity and understanding. We often talk about what’s been lost—but look closer, and you’ll find what remains: connection, compassion, joy.

The brain is wildly complex. It can lose the ability to manage daily tasks and still find creative ways to express affection. People with dementia might forget birthdays, names, even entire relationships—yet still tap their feet to music, smile at a familiar smell, or respond with tenderness to a warm touch.

Dementia doesn't have to be all doom and gloom. When caregivers learn the keys to supporting a loved one with compassion and skill, it becomes possible to experience moments of lightness, laughter, and deep, abiding love.

So the next time you hear the word "dementia," I hope you also hear this:

Human connection.

Even when the orders are mistaken, the love is real.