I've had some similar experience, although the one I'm most reminded of didn't involved spiciness at all. It was a basic American steakhouse whose waiter, manager, et al, stoutly insisted that our steaks were not nauseatingly oversalted, although all three of us who were actually eating the things found that they were. We'd eaten there often before with no problems, but never went back again. This was years ago; strangely, unlike other, better restaurants, it's still there.