Why do you spell “honor” and “check” like an American but “behaviour” like a Brit and “appetiser” how a pretentious-but-not-well-traveled American thinks a Brit would spell it (the British actually call the course of small savory items served before the main course “starters”)?
Oh, not ALWAYS.
Here is my normal brother in laws birthday. He invites 40 people to a restaurant. We must go because this is my husband’s brother who he loves dearly. 30 people show up. Order appetizers “to share,” have a few drinks, entrees. The all agree that since it is his birthday, the host shouldn’t pay. As they leave for the night they throw a few bucks on the table. At the end of the evening, we make up the difference in what people contributed and what the bill was to the tune of a few hundred dollars.
Am I the only one who read this whole experience as Classless Trash Should Stick to Outback? The OP makes it clear that neither he nor anyone he knows knows “fine dining” from a good tube feeding, and the fantasy expectations he and his friends bring to a “whitetablecloth” restaurant (what, you’re used to spread out newspapers?)–which was apparently, though well above their experience, a step or two above Denny’s–seems to have caused most of the problems.
Dude, St. Anger, stick to Arby’s, you and your waitstaff will be happier.
…
By the way I’m not going to an expensive restaurant birthday party tonight, even though I was invited. I wish the persons going could have taken my pumpkin pound cake I made for the birthday person though.
When I was little, good table etiquette was the norm. Later, it was more casual. Guests would try to wait until everyone was served, but dad would say ‘Good manners make for bad food. Dig in!’
I wouldn’t call it very good. I’ve eaten at Disneyland, and at their Rainforest restaurant, and the food was adequately good.
Part of the mainstreaming of “fine dining” through celebrity chefs and the Food Channel is that “fine dining” really isn’t - not at these kinds of places. I’m picturing Vegas as the casino town - there are certainly a LOT of celebrity chef restaurants there - and a lot of people who wouldn’t normally frequent a fine dining place.
(Disney has the same issues - they do have some restaurants that have good food and have been fine dining experiences (they’ve gone downhill foodwise)…the clientele can be “not up on their fine dining manners.”)
This isn’t all bad - its really cool that more people are finding this type of food accessible. But if you are looking for fine dining, it might be best to avoid restuarants in hotels or casinos - or anywhere where the chef has a TV show (there are exceptions).
Regardless, however - of if this was Outback or The French Laundry - a sit down meal together involves everyone getting their food at the same time. This isn’t chicken wings and artichoke dip at Fridays…
Rainforest isn’t owned or operated by Disney.
Good on your dad.
Had a conversation about this with a friend lately, in regards to waiting for people to show up to a game night. He believed in waiting for everyone. I believe in getting started close to the established start time and allowing the latecomers to either miss the game or (depending on the game) join in when they are ready.
By waiting for the perpetual late comers, you are rewarding their bad behavior and allowing them to dictate the start time, regardless of your wishes or the wishes of everyone else who showed up on time. Allowing the rudeness of others to constantly inconvenience you is not “good manners”, it’s being a patsy.
My sister worked in the kitchen of one. I really liked their bread pudding. She later went on to be head chef of a 5-star restaurant at a Ritz Carlton. After going to culinary school. End of anecdote.
Meh. I haven’t thrown myself a birthday anything in many years, but I love it when my friends celebrate their birthdays. It’s an excuse to get together, be festive, and have fun. If you need a reason for a party, a birthday is as good a reason as any.
Wait…you (generic “you”) invite people to a party for your own birthday bash and they’re supposed to pay near the tune of $155 dollars? And THEY are the rude ones for coming late?
Uh huh. (Sorry, I missed the part about the guests paying for their own dinners)
The OP was one of the guests - complaining about the behavior of the other guests.
And this has . . . what . . .to do with the topic at hand? And why do you care?
Thanks for the advice there, Chef Ramsey. I’m not exactly what so-called “fantasies” I may or may not have to do with basic common horse sense and manners, but the next time I am evacuating that Arby’s roast beef into the toilet bowl, I will be thinking about you.
I still get presents for my parents, grandfather, and surviving great aunt. That’s it. I’d never dream of throwing myself a party of any kind (certainly not expecting the guests to pay for it). My last birthday party was my 12th, and I never liked them anyway (I was a strange child).
Only this: you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.
It’s clear that English isn’t your first language, so this isn’t really a judgment on your experience or ignorance; only on your presumption that you DO know what you’re talking about, when in fact you do not.
Sure it is, allow me to demonstrate just TWO of the many words I know:
“Fuck”
“You”
Think that over as you take a break from sitting in your Mommy’s basement jerking off to Internet porn and go upstairs to have your warm milk and cookies before going to beddie-bye.
This is not true. I’ve been to many fine dining rest., some owned by TV personalities. Some of those were very good to exceptional. In LV alone, Nobu (Morimoto) and Mesa (Flay) were great.
Psst. Dude. You’d’ve saved yourself some embarrassment if you’d gone along with the ESL thing, cuz, dayum.