Two courses in a restaurant. Are you ordering....?

[noblegiraffe]

....a starter and a main, or a main and dessert?

When I go to a restaurant, I'm scanning the main courses and then looking at the dessert menu before I've even ordered. I don't even look at the starter menu, as far as I'm concerned those items would delay your dinner and probably ruin your appetite so that you had no room for pudding.

When I've been out, and someone asks the question 'is anyone having a starter?' generally there's a shake of heads and we get on with looking at the good stuff.

In my mind, the starters have always been there for people who feel like they could tackle the whole menu and are headed for 3 courses. Someone who has a starter and a main but no pudding has simply failed to complete their meal.

But I've heard tell of people who would deliberately choose to have a starter and a main, knowing that this would leave no room for dessert. They prefer it that way. Savoury over sweet.

These people must be ultra-rare, right? Who in their right mind chooses garlic mushrooms over chocolate brownie? (I struggled to even think of an example of a starter, so rarely do I look at that bit). Or are there lots of people out there who are regularly crushed when no one else wants a starter, the same as I am when people say they couldn't possibly have dessert?

Please vote! (Note: People who would only have one course and declare themselves full to the brim don't get a vote).

Oh.... agreed!

Prefer a cake with coffee as elevenses or maybe around 4pm
As afternoon snack. I never enjoy it as much after a main meal.

I very very rarely have a pudding and my preference would generally be starter, main, coffee/more wine. Occasionally I will share a pudding with my husband, but that generally means I have one spoonful and he eats the rest! There are however one or two puddings which when I see them on the menu and assuming none of the starters appeal to me, might tempt me to order my own pudding!

Definitely starter and main unless a cheeseboard is available! I don't really have a sweet tooth and restaurant desserts always seem to be all the same these days. Endless cheesecake/ death by chocolate/ profiteroles etc etc. Usually bought in and not made on the premises. But if there's an affogato or café reale available then I might consider it. Just as an aside I often order 2 starters instead if a starter and a main as I often find the starters more interesting.

Starter definitely. I don't like that many puddings so I usually end up picking one of a bad bunch whereas there are usually multiple starters that sound lovely.

Yes, what losers!

I am genuinely shocked by the way the poll is going. How can so many people not like dessert?

I'm also surprised by the responses of 'I can have that sort of dessert at home'. I don't ever eat dessert at home, so going out for a meal is like time to treat myself.

Starter and main. I don't have a sweet tooth.

If everyone else wants main and pudding then I'd just order a cocktail or something instead of a dessert.

Starter and main for me, I'm really fussy about desserts. A lot of dessert textures make me feel ill, like any kind of jelly or yoghurt. I dislike a lot of fruit. I hate coffee and that seems to be in a lot of things. I'm fussy about chocolate too, don't love white, can't stand dark or plain, and not all milk is made equal. Don't really like nuts.

But, if there's a creme brulee on the menu I will almost always order that, regardless of starter and main situation.

It's not that people don't like dessert it's more that many restaurants buy it in and it's not enjoyable.

100% starter and main. I much prefer savoury to sweet food. Give me crisps or cheese over cake and biscuits any day of the week.

Plus restaurant desserts are usually disappointing. I do like things like sticky toffee pudding for example but the custard is never hot enough. I think restaurant style desserts are way easier (and nicer) to do at home than lots of starter options.

I would much prefer to have a starter and a main and then some chocolate with a cup of tea at home if I wanted something sweet.

Does a trip to the salad cart at a Harvesters count as a starter?

People saying 'I don't have a sweet tooth'

Like, what? How does that work? Do you never snack on chocolate or sweets?

I'm similar and tend to have an Irish coffee if other people want dessert.

No - I’m not fond of either.

If I’m eating anything sweeter than fruit, I have to have something savoury afterwards.

Starter and main

They’d rather snack on something like savoury like pretzels or crisps than sweet stuff like chocolate or sweets.

This is Mumsnet. The place where carrots have too much sugar.

I always fancy doing this in an Indian restaurant.

Starter and main - can't remember the last time I had pudding in a restaurant.

Starter and main for me. I generally find the desserts to be disappointing

I do sometimes have chocolate or sweets.... it's just that I'd much prefer to have crisps or cheese and crackers. For me salty, crunchy food is way nicer than sweet food.

My DH is the opposite and has a real sweet tooth and doesn't like cheese. I'm amazed I married him tbh 🤣🤣

I generally have two starters because I can't usually eat a starter and a main at the type of place that does big portions.

Have you been to Bundobust? Indian casual restaurant/bar that does tapas sized portions of excellent vegetarian food - it's amazing.

I will have 3 courses if I really like the pudding but I prefer savoury over sweet, so unless it is a favourite pudding I’d prefer the starter usually.

I’d bite your arm off for a good garlic mushroom.

I snack on salty things by choice. Crisps, nuts, crackers and cheese.

Starter and main always!

I love sugar but there’s not much on a restaurant dessert menu that I’d be overly taken with (puddings, cakes etc.). I’d rather have my starter then go home and get a Twix out of the fridge.