Taking someone for a birthday surprise and I don’t want then to see prices - what do I do?

[may2724]

Not sure where to put this thread so hopefully I will get responses from here

I’m taking my friend for lunch at a restaurant to eat a unusual and special 3 course with drink pairings so we don’t need really the menu on the table as I will be the one choosing (they never ate that kind of food before and wouldn’t know what / how to order - foreign restaurant) so even if the menu comes to the table I will order everything because I know the best combinations.
Mostly important I don’t want them to see the price and I don’t want the bill to come to the table as it is a gift.

How do I communicate this to the restaurant without my friend knowing as we will arrive together?

Is there something that I should arrange before arriving?
My idea is go to the ladies and then speak to someone / leave the payiment card behind by the till?

Any ideas please?

You are massively overcomplicating this.

He's already seen the prices, he already knows it's your treat, paying at the end of a meal is standard even in 'upscale restaurants'.

Go, look at menus, order food, eat food, pay, leave. No additional convoluted conspiracy with the waiting staff required.

Wrt paying, just nip to the loo and pay on your way back to the table and it's done and dusted.

Don't faff around with priceless menus etc.

I do think you're being a bit silly. If he's looked at the menu before he knows how much it costs. If he's uncomfortable with you treating then he's uncomfortable and will be whether you discuss it before, claim the bill at the table as standard or try to do something complicated and get the staff involved.

Chat before and say you're insisting it's your treat before you go if you really want to. Or if the pleasure for him is going with you and having you order for him so he gets the best experience then let it be about that and let him split the bill if that's easier.

Don't make the money the bigger part of it than the experience.

It is an upscale restaurant and he has seen the prices but I just don't want to the bill coming to the able and the awkwardness of me pulling my card out

You have looked at the menu together and discussed the options at length.

You have said that you will be treating him (or have you?)

Why is it awkward? The meal has to be paid for. That is usually done by the staff bringing a bill and someone paying it. How else would it happen?

Your update is full of I refused... I want to be the one... I can choose... I don't want...

Is there some significant piece of info missing? Not sure why this is so complicated.

You sound like you're making this weirdly complicated. Just go out for dinner and say you're paying. End of.

You are all correct

He knows I planned a surprise for his birthday
I will make sure to make it clear it is my treat

We will arrive, have a lovely meal and he can look at the menu and order whatever he wants or ask for me to do it

Looking forward!

Have a lovely time.

What sort of food is it?

Yes, OP, I have no doubt he will take your advice, and ask you about the specifics of dishes, and take your lead on what to order, but it sounds as if he is keen on this restaurant and so will be interested and attentive, and personally I would want to study the whole menu. How else would I become familiar with, and appreciate the cuisine?

Lots and lots of prime meat cooked to perfection plus an array of regional fresh salads and side dishes and signature cocktails to match

Oh god @may2724 that sounds bloody lovely! I went to a Brazilian that sounded very like that in York. It was amazing.

Oh, I was expecting something more complicated. That really doesn't sound like the sort of 'foreign food' that would cause difficulty ordering, apart from maybe a steer on portion size/number of dishes

Meat, salad and cocktails isn't a particularly "unusual" menu though?

Do you mean a Brazilian meat restaurant - like the one (of several) in York that @OrlandointheWilderness mentions?

OH and I went to one just before Christmas. It was lovely, but I absolutely wouldn't have wanted my OH to choose for me (and we've been married for almost 40 years).

definitely have the pineapple though

we are going to this place
all of the similar stake houses I’ve been to in the UK are very disappointing but this ones seems good

Pint of London Pride here, thanks, and if you're buying crisps, plain or s&v.

This is much better , I am sure you will both have a great night .

@MrsDanversGlidesAgain
One pint ( followed by more ) of London Pride and a packet of plain crisps coming up .
I have got some warm nuts get your minds out of the gutter please would you like some ?

Have a great time at Fazenda ❤️

This sounds lovely, good on you for being open to suggestions and advice and hope you have a great time!

Yes of course suggest the nicest pairings - it sounds like you know what you're talking about. But good for you that you want him to experience the joy of a new restaurant, and for him to experience new delicious dishes that he might want to select himself as well.

Hey, it's really easy nowadays because most restaurants have amazing means of communication called email and the telephone

You should try it, its amazing