Fresh cracked makes all the difference. Excellent finish to most dishes. The crap sitting ground up in a container for years? Yeah, that is bland as shit and shouldn’t be a staple everywhere. I bring my own mini pepper mill most places. Pretentious? Maybe, but I don’t really care. I just enjoy the enhanced flavor.
Do you actually care about a food being seasoned with black pepper?
it’s everywhere but like who gives a shit