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Going out to eat and you're not paying...
Posted on 6/14/11 at 2:43 pm
Posted on 6/14/11 at 2:43 pm
A hypothetical:
Let's say that the in-laws are taking you and your wife out to dinner. They don't eat out at upper-end restaurants often and it's a big deal for them to do so.
So, do you:
1. Order the same way you always do no matter who is paying. For example, I order an appetizer 90% of the time I am at a restaurant, so do you wait to see if they order an app or do you just place an order for one.... or maybe even two
?
2. Do you try to stick to the less expensive entrees on the menu, and do you stick to the house wines?
3. Or do you just order whatever you want because you aren't paying?
As I've gotten older I've tended to care less about who is paying and order the way I want to, because if I was paying that's what I would do and would expect you to do the same.
But I can just see the father in law getting in his truck and grumbling to his wife. That son of a bitch ordered the $42 ribeye
Just curious how the great minds of the F&D board handle this.
Let's say that the in-laws are taking you and your wife out to dinner. They don't eat out at upper-end restaurants often and it's a big deal for them to do so.
So, do you:
1. Order the same way you always do no matter who is paying. For example, I order an appetizer 90% of the time I am at a restaurant, so do you wait to see if they order an app or do you just place an order for one.... or maybe even two
2. Do you try to stick to the less expensive entrees on the menu, and do you stick to the house wines?
3. Or do you just order whatever you want because you aren't paying?
As I've gotten older I've tended to care less about who is paying and order the way I want to, because if I was paying that's what I would do and would expect you to do the same.
But I can just see the father in law getting in his truck and grumbling to his wife. That son of a bitch ordered the $42 ribeye
Just curious how the great minds of the F&D board handle this.
This post was edited on 6/14/11 at 2:44 pm
Posted on 6/14/11 at 2:45 pm to LSUAfro
i let the people paying order first and order accordingly within the same price range
Posted on 6/14/11 at 2:46 pm to LSUAfro
I try to be mindful
Depends on how wealthy the people are, what the occasion is, I'd probably just follow your wife's lead if possible.
Depends on how wealthy the people are, what the occasion is, I'd probably just follow your wife's lead if possible.
Posted on 6/14/11 at 2:46 pm to LSUAfro
I would let them order the appetizer, order house wine, and be conservative with my menu choice. Unless you see them going big.
Posted on 6/14/11 at 2:47 pm to LSUAfro
If I'm not paying I won't say anything about an appy unless they (the people who are paying) suggest it or ask if we want one. Other than that I tend to try and follow the price range of those I'm with. I don't want to order a $40 meal when they are ordering a $15 one. It's just not that big of a deal for me to order something else.
Posted on 6/14/11 at 2:48 pm to Lloyd Christmas
quote:
I would let them order the appetizer, order house wine, and be conservative with my menu choice.
This.
Posted on 6/14/11 at 2:51 pm to Powerman
quote:
I try to be mindful
Depends on how wealthy the people are, what the occasion is, I'd probably just follow your wife's lead if possible.
Agree. My friend's dad was plannin on paying for all of our dinners last weekend and didn't tell us. He purposely didn't tell us so we wouldn't hold back. I felt bad because I ordered expensive martinis and stuff, thinking I'd be paying. But he can afford it and it was fine :)
Another girl got screwed because she is low on money and only ordered side items. When she found out he paid, she was like "shite"
Posted on 6/14/11 at 2:53 pm to LSUAfro
Never let them know you are paying till its time to pick up the check. If you play your hand too early, they know you're gonna be buying and will throw caution to the wind when ordering. Thats when the caviar and whale meat appetizers for $34.95 come into play.
Posted on 6/14/11 at 2:55 pm to Lloyd Christmas
quote:
I would let them order the appetizer, order house wine, and be conservative with my menu choice.
this. i'm not one to take advantage of the generosity of others.
Posted on 6/14/11 at 2:55 pm to Powerman
Yeah, I let the people paying set the parameters and even then, if it's a situation where they don't usually do this type of thing, I don't go crazy. It's not my money and I don't like being over the top when it's not mine.
Posted on 6/14/11 at 2:56 pm to lsutigergirl88
quote:same
If I'm not paying I won't say anything about an appy unless they (the people who are paying) suggest it or ask if we want one
and if they insist i order first i take a low-middle range priced meal, unless i know that price isnt an issue for them- even then i wouldnt pick the highest priced items
Posted on 6/14/11 at 2:56 pm to Lloyd Christmas
quote:
I would let them order the appetizer, order house wine, and be conservative with my menu choice. Unless you see them going big.
That has generally been the direction I follow, but some times you get thrown for a loop. This is what had me thinking about it.
I went to Gino's the other night and my SO's dad ordered a $80 bottle of wine because he said that's what his dad always ordered, but then he goes for the $15 lasagna when it's time to order food. I'm thinking to myself hmmm... I always order the lamb chops at Gino's, but I don't want to look like "that guy" now. I did it anyways
Posted on 6/14/11 at 2:58 pm to LSUAfro
Just last week my uncle was in town and took about 8 of us out to eat. I avoided getting appetizers as did everyone else then my dad pays for the meal. I thought damn I could have had some onion rings. I will order accordingly if someone else says they are paying. Generally drink sweet tea in lieu of drinks.
Posted on 6/14/11 at 2:58 pm to LSUAfro
quote:
That has generally been the direction I follow, but some times you get thrown for a loop. This is what had me thinking about it.
I went to Gino's the other night and my SO's dad ordered a $80 bottle of wine because he said that's what his dad always ordered, but then he goes for the $15 lasagna when it's time to order food. I'm thinking to myself hmmm... I always order the lamb chops at Gino's, but I don't want to look like "that guy" now. I did it anyways
I don't think that's a big deal. Now, if you had compounded it by ordering apps and stuff that others didn't, you would have been that guy.
Posted on 6/14/11 at 2:58 pm to LSUAfro
I start off by ordering a magnum of champagne and pour half of it out. Then i order two apps, the surf and turf, and a creme brulee. I eat one of the apps, box the other one up with my surf and turf, and then send the brulee back.
Do as I do and you'll be fine.
Do as I do and you'll be fine.
This post was edited on 6/14/11 at 3:05 pm
Posted on 6/14/11 at 2:59 pm to LSUAfro
quote:
he goes for the $15 lasagna when it's time to order food. I'm thinking to myself hmmm... I always order the lamb chops at Gino's, but I don't want to look like "that guy" now. I did it anyways
Meh, there are a lot of factors too. I order the lasagna at any Italian place. Little Village, Gino's, Enoteca Marcello.. all places I order lasagna, which is much cheaper than the rest of the menu. But I don't order it to be cheap.
I order it because I like lasagna more than any other item on the menu.
This situation usually isn't an issue for me because I'm not a big meat eater, which are usually the most expensive menu items anyway.
Posted on 6/14/11 at 2:59 pm to Topwater Trout
quote:
Just last week my uncle was in town and took about 8 of us out to eat. I avoided getting appetizers as did everyone else then my dad pays for the meal.
Haha you're dad probably realized how cheap it would be because of that
Posted on 6/14/11 at 3:00 pm to TexasTiger05
quote:How's Liberia treating you?
TexasTiger05
Posted on 6/14/11 at 3:04 pm to LouisianaLady
quote:
I order it because I like lasagna more than any other item on the menu.
I'm thinking this was the case. I just believe that you don't treat people to a particular restaurant if you aren't willing to pony up the cash for any items on the menu, then you shouldn't offer to pay.
Just got me thinking about it in general. Like Choc said, most of the time I'm getting the meal or somebody I'm with is getting the meal they don't let it be known until they snatch the bill at the end. Then everybody orders how they please.
This post was edited on 6/14/11 at 3:05 pm
Posted on 6/14/11 at 3:07 pm to lsutigergirl88
quote:
Haha you're dad probably realized how cheap it would be because of that
Maybe lol
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