Bottle of wine or some flowers.
I think it is rude to show up empty handed, especially if this is a dinner party where some real effort has gone into the preparation.
BTW, I always hope the wine will not be opened and saved for host/hostess after everyone else has left and they can relax and bask in the glow of a fine party.
Always bring a bottle of wine, or a box of chocolates.
Usually a bottle of wine, sometimes flowers if my hosts aren’t drinkers.
Tony Soprano, if invited into someone’s home, never went empty handed, and neither does Happy Lendervedder.
Baked goods, wine, cheese, candy…something, like others said, to express a thank you to the host.
I married a Ukrainian gal and she insists upon bringing a gift to any event. In her culture you never enter another person’s home without bringing a gift, typically food for a dinner, even if you are invited to dinner. Also, if you host someone in your home, they have to leave stuffed full and carrying all the “doggie bags” of food they can hold. Very much a cultural thing.
for formal gatherings I send flowers a day ahead…the host can place them w/out being under the stress of arriving guests.
I bring something most times when meeting up w/ someone…origami plane when dropping a friend at the airport, fold dollar bills into animal shapes for the pack of relatives’ children when we go to the zoo (to use for snacks), every simple event has an origami possibility.
Going out of town I bring a basket of great stuff from our area…South Louisiana makes this easy.
going to the hospital for the hours-long wait while an in-law was in surgery–> plate of cupcakes from our garden (choc chip zucchini cake, carrot cake, small lemon lime tarts.) everyone was stressed and the late night hospital cafeteria sucked.
We seemt o be answering two different questions. I woudl never bring food emant for consumption unless the invitation specified it was potluck.
But I also would never show up without a hostess gift. Usually I like to bring fresh croissants and maybe some nice teas or coffee. Most of my friend do their own cooking and clean-up, so the idea is to give them an easy breakfast for next morning, or a midnight snack after the cleanup.
A bottle of wine is more usual, nearly standard, but I don’t drink it so I don’t know what to buy. Second most common would be to bring fresh flowers.