# When a houseguest wants to take you out for dinner **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 1, 2013, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-houseguest-wants-to-take-you-out-for-dinner/659878 "2013-06-01T17:32:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-houseguest-wants-to-take-you-out-for-dinner/659878/21 "2013-06-02T01:02:02Z")
Seems kinda obvious that the right approach is to describe a number of interesting local places (with remarks on style, your rating and cost), and watch how the guests react. If five local favorites get no positive reaction, maybe it’s time to start naming some chain choices. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-houseguest-wants-to-take-you-out-for-dinner/659878/22 "2013-06-02T04:00:12Z")
It depends. If, for some reason, the out of towners were millionaires, then I’d recommend the local fancy pants place. If they were normal folk, there’s only one choice - there’s a [BBQ joint](http://www.saltlickbbq.com/) at the end of the road. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-houseguest-wants-to-take-you-out-for-dinner/659878/23 "2013-06-03T19:56:18Z")
Pick wherever you want. They are treating YOU for hosting them, right? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-houseguest-wants-to-take-you-out-for-dinner/659878/24 "2013-06-03T20:07:25Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > Pick wherever you want. They are treating YOU for hosting them, right? 😃 This. If I am a houseguest and wanting to repay their hospitality, I want them to pick where they want to go. ---
**Author:** ![RickG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rickg/32/5174_2.png) [@RickG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickG)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-houseguest-wants-to-take-you-out-for-dinner/659878/25 "2013-06-03T20:29:31Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > A mix of one and four. I’d start by suggesting my favourite place, then offer a bunch of ‘or we could go to xxx which is cheap and cheerful, or yyy if we felt like something a bit classier’ type suggestions. This. Always local. If they’re visiting, what’s the point of taking them to a chain they can go to anywhere? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-houseguest-wants-to-take-you-out-for-dinner/659878/26 "2013-06-03T20:48:13Z")
I live in a restaurant centric town, so a local place is where it’s at. I’d probably offer options, not based on price range, but on cuisine. I’d be more like “we can do Thai, Szechuan, Indian, Ethiopian, Sushi, Lebanese, Greek, Italian, etc.” and see what they like. It’s easy for me because I can select all the local places I already like as the options, and show off my town. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-houseguest-wants-to-take-you-out-for-dinner/659878.md?page=1)