One funny memory I have from an Indian restaurant (with an Indian owner) is how in the neighbouring table a middle-aged couple was complaining to a waitress that they couldn't eat their food because it's too hot. The waitress tried to explain to them that they had already ordered the mildest level of spiciness and it would be impossible to make it any milder. I always picked the medium level, which was exactly as hot as I could eat. Above that were still hot and extra hot. If someone picked extra hot, the staff would double check to verify the customer knows what they are doing. That being said, apparently above the extra hot was still the "commonplace genuine Indian" level, which wasn't served to my countrymen at all, unless it was a loyal customer the staff could already personally recognise.
