WWYD? Early or later meal booking for a 21st Birthday

[ErlingHaalandsManBun]

What time would you book the table for?

Party of 8 of us, all likely to go on someplace afterwards for further drinks.

Options are 6pm or 8pm.

My thinking was, if we book the early, would DD (whose birthday it is) get hammered at the meal and not be capable of making it past about 9pm 😂

DH says that, if we book the 8pm, its likely she could suggest meeting for pre-drinks anyway so my point is invalid and she will still get drunk. However we could still go on for further drinks afterwards as we are in a City.

WWYD - 6pm or 8pm!!

It is honestly a dilemma and DH has just left the decision to me.

I can't ask DD as its a surprise meal.😬

8pm

Have a fun evening getting ready nice bottle of champagne (but drunk slowly)
easy no rush travel to restaurant

then daughter has the optimal chance of not getting too hammered and remembers the evening

I think you need to go out early and have a few drinks to just console yourself about ErlingHasalands new almost skinhead haircut. Then really go for it.

Maybe you could put in an offer for the bun. If some fan hasn't already done so

Or add RIP to your name.😭

I would go for 8. I think the atmosphere in the restaurant will be more lively at that time. I did recently go for a 60th meal at 6:30, and the restaurant was full of families with small children and older people (I am an older person!). When we left, it was filling up with a younger crowd.

My dd had her 21st this year and wanted early so she could go get her hair and make up done and she didn't feel she was hanging about ages before going out. We went for food and out for drinks after. Eight pm is too late if you want to go celebrate and go for drinks and make the most of the whole evening/night.

I would choose the 6pm time. Reason being, she'll have the morning, afternoon to get ready, yous won't really be heading out for an afternoon session, get food at the restaurant and have some drinks there, you have a private dining room so the atmosphere will be the same at 6pm and 8pm. The food will definitely help when drinking, you can all then head off to whatever bars after and enjoy the night. It'll be a decent hour going on to the next place. everyone's bellies will be full so shouldn't be issues drinking.

With the 8pm time, you all will most definitely have early drinks, everyone will be excited and probably drink more, you'll be watching the time making sure you don't miss your booking for the restaurant, if people have a few drinks inside of them they will just eat the food without actually enjoying it, more drink will be had, it will then be finish the food quickly so as to get to a late bar.

I prefer eating early so would go 6.30 pm. Hate eating as late as 8pm.

Yep we are going to go out early. I have consulted everyone else going and they all agree.

I did consider changing my username but i can't bring myself to. The man bun will live on forever 😂I will keep it alive! 😝

You make very good points.

I have consulted everyone else going and we are all in agreement that the 6pm booking suits us best and means we can head off after, with full bellies, and visit some bars and even have a dance😃

The family coming to the meal are all great fun so we will have a blast together and I love that DD isn't embarrassed to go dancing with her folks once in a while 🙃

Thanks all.

After much deliberation and taking your points on board, and consulting the rest of the party (other than DD who doesn't know its happening) we have decided on 6pm.

All booked! 😎

I would go for 8pm for a 21st as it feels more grown up. Most youngsters don't go out until after 10 anyway so are used to going out later. If you finish your meal by 8pm she's going to think it very early to go on somewhere.

If she's out out with uni mates on Thursday then I think you may be vastly underestimating her ability to handle a few drinks, regardless of meal time!

6pm makes more sense for enjoying more of the evening, especially on a Saturday. It's one thing if the meal IS the evening, but I always find it a bit faffy doing pre drinks, then meal then bar again.

6pm is more sensible because drinking before an 8pm meal the alcoholic buzz will be there so the meal will be an 'interruption' and sober you up.

I think 6pm is ridiculously early for a restaurant booking. I don’t think I’ve ever booked a table at a restaurant as early as 8, but that would be the very earliest I would ever consider going out for a meal.

When do you prefer eating as a family usually? We tend to be on the earlier side, so I would stick with that. It may have missed it earlier in the thread, but could you meet in the middle at 7pm? Whatever, I hope you all have a fabulous time celebrating!