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AIBU?

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AIBU to go to a restaurant just for dessert?

62 replies

justwantedchocolatecake · 11/08/2026 23:15

I’m on holiday in Spain with two other adults. This evening we had dinner in an Asian restaurant. We wanted dessert, but they didn’t serve it. So we decided to go to another restaurant following our main course for dessert.
We got a table in another restaurant, but when we asked the waitress for the chocolate cake, she asked “but are you going to order dinner?” We said no, we just wanted dessert and coffees/drinks as we’d already had our dinner. She immediately said “no no no”, looked very disapproving and actually tutted at us! She took away our menus and pointed for us to leave.
We were genuinely gobsmacked at being turfed out for only wanting dessert. I understand that they probably wanted people who would have a bigger bill, but we would have spent €30 on what we wanted. We were tired too so weren’t going to hog the table for hours, it was literally a case of eating the dessert and going back to our hotel. they could have had our €30 on top of whatever the next diners would spend!
We have never come across this before. We’ve all gone for just dessert to restaurants in the UK with no issues, and we’ve even done it once before in Spain on this holiday. I actually lived in a different part of Spain for a year while I was at uni and I’ve never heard of this as a blanket rule. The way the waitress reacted (and not explaining why) made it seem like we had transgressed some widely known rule.
We ended up going to a different restaurant for dessert and it wasn’t a problem. AIBU to be taken aback?

OP posts:
IonianNerveGrip · 12/08/2026 07:35

It's fine but was also fine for them not to want your business.

Whyherewego · 12/08/2026 07:33

As PP said I would have said when asking for a table that it was for dessert only, allowing the restaurant to refuse a table if they wanted. They may not have known that you intended to eat and leave quickly, it wouldn't be unusual for people to linger over dessert and coffee and of course if it was peak dining time they're missing out on someone who would be buying main course plus dessert.

PurpleThistle7 · 12/08/2026 07:33

I think it would likely have been prime dinner time for them and they couldn’t prioritise a table just ordering dessert and coffee. It’s not surprising to me that they didn’t want it but I would love to have that option! I grew up in the states and it’s much more common to have desert focussed places - I miss that as I’m not much of a drinker and would rather meet my friends for yummy cake.

Scrubwren · 12/08/2026 07:30

I don’t get why you’re so taken aback. It’s not a dessert-only restaurant. If you want to do this in future, check first before you’re seated, depending on time, business, and how far from the end of service they are, some will be fine with it, others not.

Moonnstarz · 12/08/2026 07:29

I don't think it's an issue unless it was right on peak meal time where they might be hoping to attract people ordering meals. I do think it is kind of foolish to turn down a group in the hope that a better table come along though, unless like I say it was still early and they were likely to pick up more customers.

MoistVonL · 12/08/2026 07:29

Unless you have asked them before being seated, of course you can't do this!

A restaurant can't make a profit on people coming in just for dessert and lingering over coffee. Especially during peak tourism season; every table must make a decent profit to sustain them through off season.

There are dessert-only places, ice cream bars, etc if you want sweets only. You definitely can't expect a full restaurant to give you a table for dessert only.

Lentilcakes · 12/08/2026 07:27

in Spain we used to go to ice cream parlours for dessert and/or coffee. Do they not have that option where you are?

IbnBattutu · 12/08/2026 07:25

I love a Korean dessert cafe for this very purpose. If it's a normal restaurant, I'd ask first before settling in.

Mulledjuice · 12/08/2026 07:21

Yes you should have checked before sitting.

What time was it?

Amandatelly · 12/08/2026 07:19

No, but I’d have told them before they took us to a table that we just wanted dessert. The same as I do if I only one drinks.

Passaggressfedup · 12/08/2026 07:12

You say you'd have been quick, but they were not to know that. You could very well have ordered one dessert for everyone, and stayed there for the rest of the evening.

Ultimately, they have the right to decide who they serve in their establishment, as much as you have the right to go to different ones until you find one that is fine with it.

limetrees32 · 12/08/2026 07:06

My mind is blown - not only do people go to restaurants JUST for dessert but that it's quite common.
Given half the chance this would be me all the time.

FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren · 12/08/2026 07:01

It's ok to do this as long as you check first, you should have made clear you only wanted dessert when you asked for the table.

user1471457354 · 12/08/2026 06:57

I worked in a restaurant (not in spain but the UK) and it was a very busy and popular tourist area so every restaurant was very busy and had queues. We had a table of 6 come in and initially order 6 glasses of tap water (free) then when I went to take their food order they asked for 1 dessert (£6) to share between 6 people. They were told to order a plate each or leave. They left.

However I think its fine to order dessert only as along as its one each and paying for drinks.

KLD89 · 12/08/2026 00:08

Gabitule · 12/08/2026 00:00

I’m so confused! Is everyone seeing what I’m seeing?

Right?!! I saw the sweetcorn one, now the crusty knickers. So gross, what is happening right now 🫣

Oftenaddled · 12/08/2026 00:05

Gabitule · 12/08/2026 00:00

I’m so confused! Is everyone seeing what I’m seeing?

It's just a troll spamming the board. Report the posts and they will be hidden, then deleted

TidyPearlBee · 12/08/2026 00:04

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Gabitule · 12/08/2026 00:00

I’m so confused! Is everyone seeing what I’m seeing?

latetothefishing · 11/08/2026 23:59

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

HereIfYouNeedMe · 11/08/2026 23:56

cymruyespls · 11/08/2026 23:54

WTF is happening on here? Am I having a stroke 😂

Thought it was just me 😂 I think it’s bedtime!!

latetothefisting · 11/08/2026 23:54

HereIfYouNeedMe · 11/08/2026 23:47

Get a life @latetothefishing@latetothefisting@TidyPearlBee@OneAmpleSloth

um...I made a perfectly normal post, I can't help that subsequently there was some sort of either glitch or spam! maybe report it to MN (I've also done this) rather than slating people?

FluffyFluffy · 11/08/2026 23:54

It’s code?

cymruyespls · 11/08/2026 23:54

WTF is happening on here? Am I having a stroke 😂

TidyPearlBee · 11/08/2026 23:49

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

HereIfYouNeedMe · 11/08/2026 23:47

Get a life @latetothefishing@latetothefisting@TidyPearlBee@OneAmpleSloth

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