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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think it's a bit odd to bring your own food into a restaurant?

35 replies

CartwrightMiss · 26/05/2013 18:57

Friend had a birthday weekend away and there was 5 of us in the group.

One of the women who I don't know that well each time we would go out for breakfast she would go to Sainsbury's before and buy food and then eat it in the restaurant whilst the rest of ate the food we'd ordered.

She doesn't have a food allergy either. Is it me or aibu to think that it's a little bit odd?

OP posts:
LRDtheFeministDragon · 26/05/2013 18:57

Yes, very odd, and most restaurants won't let you do that, will they?

treaclesoda · 26/05/2013 18:58

Not just odd but rude. I'd be mightily pissed off if I was the restaurant owner.

Juniperdewdropofbrandy · 26/05/2013 18:59

I didn't think restaurants would allow that?

Tooearlyintheday · 26/05/2013 18:59

It's very odd and I can't believe the restaurants would've allowed it had the realised what she was doing but I'd assume she was completely skint and probably very embarrassed about it.

scarletforya · 26/05/2013 19:00

What was she scoffing?

ZZZenagain · 26/05/2013 19:00

why was she doing that? Was it to save money?

MagicHouse · 26/05/2013 19:00

a bit odd - maybe she couldn't afford the restaurant prices?? But even so - if she didn't want to eat there, it would probably be better to meet you later than take food into a restaurant.

Original poster
CartwrightMiss · 26/05/2013 19:02

why was she doing that? Was it to save money?

I did think that but she must have been spending the same amount as we did, maybe a little less but not by a huge difference.

OP posts:
Leeds2 · 26/05/2013 19:03

If you have serious allergy/allergies fair enough, but if you don't, I think that is a bit off. I have a friend who follows a dairy and gluten free menu, and she can always find something to eat in mainstream restaurants.

The lady may have no money, in which case I admire her for turning up, but I am surprised the restaurants allow it.

Original poster
CartwrightMiss · 26/05/2013 19:03

I didn't think restaurants would allow that?

No I doubt any restaurant would but she only ate the food after ours had been served so I doubt it was ever noticed - as something would have been said.

OP posts:
complexnumber · 26/05/2013 19:04

Did she use the restaurant's stuff as all (knives, forks, plates etc) she sounds very ooo.

Original poster
CartwrightMiss · 26/05/2013 19:05

The lady may have no money

Not a money issue either, as she went shopping whist we were there and the price she was paying for food would have been near to what we were paying anyway.

OP posts:
Tooearlyintheday · 26/05/2013 19:05

Odder still then Cartwright if it wasn't a financial issue. Perhaps she has a phobia about eating food she hasn't prepared? I have a friend who is recovering from an eating disorder who is still incredibly particular about having to prepare her own food.

Original poster
CartwrightMiss · 26/05/2013 19:06

Did she use the restaurant's stuff

I don't think so, she used a spoon but I think she already had that in her bag.

OP posts:
CaptainSweatPants · 26/05/2013 19:06

sounds like an eating disorder
having to control exactly what she was eating

ZZZenagain · 26/05/2013 19:07

unless she is on some sort of a rigid diet or is one of those people who only like to eat what they are used to, it is odd.

I can't see this going down well with restaurant management.

Original poster
CartwrightMiss · 26/05/2013 19:08

Perhaps she has a phobia about eating food she hasn't prepared?

She would order food in the evening though. I did hear her mentioned SW once so I guess she was on a diet - which is the only explanation I can think of.

But the food she would order for dinner wasn't overly healthy.

OP posts:
yaimee · 26/05/2013 19:08

What did she have nosy

Tooearlyintheday · 26/05/2013 19:10

Ah it could be the curse of SW then! Did muller lights and mug shots feature heavily? Smile

edlyu · 26/05/2013 19:12

Does she eat in restaurants etc at other times?

Perhaps she has a variety of the food phobia where she cant eat food prepared in certain kitchens?

WeAreEternal · 26/05/2013 19:14

In my studen years I had a friend who used do that every time we went out. We all just thought she was weird.

We later realised she had a serious eating disorder and was so obsessive about her food she would only eat certain things by certain brands as she knew exacty what was in them, which is why she couldn't allow herself to order food in restaurants.

Original poster
CartwrightMiss · 26/05/2013 19:15

But she did order food in restaurants WeAreEternal it was only breakfast she would eat her own food.

OP posts:
GoodbyePorkPie · 26/05/2013 19:16

I think she was tipped off by a health inspector friend that the restaurant has been flagged up in the past for cockroach infestations.

blondefriend · 26/05/2013 19:18

Sounds like an eating disorder to me too. I also have a friend/colleague who does a similar thing. She eats the same for breakfast/lunch/dinner so will either bring the appropriate food item or not eat at all (just drink mineral water).

Original poster
CartwrightMiss · 26/05/2013 19:18

What at 3 different restaurants Goodbye?

And one which we went back to and she ordered lunch?

Unlikely.

OP posts: