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AIBU?

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Original poster

To say no to pizza pasta again?

445 replies

karmakameleon · 12/12/2015 11:57

So I'm trying to arrange dinner with a friend and her family and she's suggested a pizza pasta place. Fairly standard kid food but my problem is that DS (3yrs old) doesn't like it. DS will happily eat Indian, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Mexican amongst other things, so I don't think he can be described as fussy, but just not pizza and pasta.

As you imagine this comes up regularly when we eat out with friends and in the past I've taken the view that DS can have some bread and fill up on ice cream after. But this time I've had enough and put my foot down as I just feel it's not fair on DS to always be the one that can't eat and ends up going home hungry. Also I know that DS really doesn't like pizza pasta as I've offered it to him a hundred times but I'm guessing that my friend's child hasn't tried half the options I've suggested. (The specific places I've mentioned to her all do some mild options in smaller sized portions although not specifically a children's menu.) And if the worst came to the worst, surely her DS could pick at his main and then have lots of ice cream for pudding like mine has had to in the past?

Anyway, the whole thing is proving quite traumatic, she's not taking up any of my suggestions and sticking fairly rigidly to her original choice and I'm getting the feeling that the whole thing is off unless I do as I'm told compromise. So now I'm starting to feel guilty and think maybe I'm being a bit unreasonable as it is a fairly standard choice. But then it's not DS's fault he doesn't like it...

OP posts:
squoosh · 12/12/2015 23:27

I mean it's not exactly Le Gavroche is it?

TwoSmellyDogs · 12/12/2015 23:51

Oh don't mention Le Gavroche! It got *terrible" reviews in last week's Toddlers Times! Grin

WorraLiberty · 12/12/2015 23:54

Smelly!!! Xmas Grin

wiltingfast · 13/12/2015 00:02

Look OP

I think you need to ask yourself what this is about. Meeting friends? Or the food?

Personally I wouldn't be putting what my ds liked to eat at such a premium, that I wouldn't meet my pal. Surely whatever chain it is, has something he will eat? Have you offered him the spicy pizzas?

DropYourSword · 13/12/2015 00:03

I'm not the first to suggest this, but why limit his choice to the child menu, which is generally pretty dull. Why not go to the Italian place and order a large main to share between you, or a starter as a main for him.

KoalaDownUnder · 13/12/2015 00:23

So, firstly - there is no such thing as 'pizza pasta' restaurants. They are Italian restaurants, which means they also serve other things besides pizza and pasta.

Secondly, saying that your 3-year-old gets 'bored' of chicken and potato type dishes is unbelievably pathetic. You're not eating there 5 times a week. And he's fucking THREE. He doesn't have to be thrilled and enthralled by his every meal.

I think you tell your child where you're all going for lunch, and that's it.

Or if it's you that doesn't like going to 'pizza pasta' restaurants, and would rather have a petty squabble over it, by all means go ahead. But own it.

FFS. This thread has annoyed me beyond belief! Hmm

squoosh · 13/12/2015 00:25

TwoSmellyDogs I read that review and it's true the two year old reviewer gave a very scathing review of their samphire foam.

Le Gavroche have vowed to pull their socks up.

OneMoreCasualty · 13/12/2015 07:25

Strata has a children's menu that includes steak and chicken. And possibly risotto, I forget.

TendonQueen · 13/12/2015 07:32

The outcome I'm hoping for here is that friend was just sulking for a bit, or even busy (!) and now texts to say 'Sure, let's do Nandos' Grin

RaskolnikovsGarret · 13/12/2015 07:35

I agree with you OP. Posters are being remarkably blinkered. You are simply saying your child doesn't like pizza/pasta and so your friend should try somewhere else with you. The gang mentality of the pizza/pasta lovers on here is very odd. Why are you all mocking the OP's child's tastes? A bit mean I think.

ihateminecraft · 13/12/2015 07:49

Could it be a cost issue? I can't imagine Japanese and the like would be particularly cheap and would be unlikely to have a kids menu which are usually reasonably priced. Can't say I'd be thrilled to take mine to an exotic restaurant where they'd just pick at a bit of rice (like most kids tbh) and I'd be left with a big bill! What about a buffet restaurant where they get to try all different types of food and your son gets his spicy fix. Do you have an international buffet restaurant nearby? There's a chain called Jimmy 's that I believe does a good variety and isn't too pricey.

BarbaraofSeville · 13/12/2015 08:03

I don't think it's necessarily cost issue. Most chains are expensive for mediocre food. The OP says they always go to a chain Italian so I'm thinking pizza express, ask or zizzi. Even pizza hut can be expensive because drinks are pricy.

We don't know what the Japanese is but unless you have having the sashimi banquet, the prices will be similar.

I really don't get all the mocking either. Japanese isn't unusual. It's just noodles, rice, meat, fish vegetables etc. You know 'food'. They even have breaded chicken dishes for the child friendly = beige crowd Hmm.

Hulababy · 13/12/2015 08:06

Why can't your ds have a regular menu starter portion?
Or just ask for a smaller portion of a main meal - many places, even chains, will accommodate f asked politely.

Hulababy · 13/12/2015 08:07

The Japanese restaurants round here tend to work out much dearer than your standard chain place in my experience.

BoGrainger · 13/12/2015 08:53

Op says Italian chain, which has to mean Bella Italia, Strata etc. no one would call Pizza Express or Pizza Hut an Italian chain unless they don't get out much.
So based on that, the menus always include burgers, fish and chips, starters etc not just pizza and pasta so I imagine EVERYONE can find something palatable. If nothing on the kids' menu is to ds's liking then ask for a spare plate and divvy up food from the parents' plates.
It's much more stressful to please a picky eater than one who would just prefer somewhere different. Also, isn't the main part of the day just getting together and having fun?

BarbaraofSeville · 13/12/2015 09:03

Why should the picky family always be the one to choose? And why do they always have to go to the same crap if it's Bella Italia place.

All the OP wants is to choose the restaurant for once. Surely nobody could argue that she is being unreasonable?

Niceteeth · 13/12/2015 09:59

I hate mumsnet now

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 13/12/2015 10:08

I didn't think she was unreasonable in wanting to have a choice of where they eat, why should pasta pizza woman dictate the venue?

Her subsequent posts are coming across as a bit stealth boasty, he likes Jamie's Italian🍝🍕, ha!

LuluJakey1 · 13/12/2015 10:12

I sympathise OP. My 11 month old does not have a single pizza- pasta place on his top 10 list of preferred eating establishments. They are all Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, South Sea Island or North Sentinelese.

Toffeelatteplease · 13/12/2015 10:13

Sounds like the OP has grown apart from friends.

There are lots of reasons why as a group Italian is chosen over other options. Often cost. For example Four children happy with the kids menu (including ice cream) and one ordering child portion with ice cream separate, much cheaper than four ordering separate mains and dessert.

That's putting aside the cost of adults mains. now an Italian will often have a range of adults main from £7 to £15+ which can mean a big difference.

Having said that I quite like the look of menu at giraffe but I've never been keen on the environment. If you are unfortunate enough to have 3 or 4 other people who feel the same it will be the Italian everytime.

I kinda saw the OPs point until I read he was happy with Jamie's Italian.... oh dear.... good case of the cost of everything and value of nothing

OneMoreCasualty · 13/12/2015 10:16

Children's portions in Jamie's are tiny. Ok for a 3 year old but...

Toffeelatteplease · 13/12/2015 10:36

Might not be fair but sometimes you need to accept things for the way they are. If this group always go to the Italian I very much doubt you will change that.

If you only every went out to eat with this group it would totally be fair to put your foot down. But clearly you can go out to eat outside this group...

So it come down to this. It may not be fair on your food snob son (Jamie's Italian is fine but no other Hmm ), but are you prepared to go out on a limb and point out how unfair they are being on your son at the risk they turn round and say "look are far happier here catch you next time"

And perhaps more importantly are you prepared to say they same if they stick

EponasWildDaughter · 13/12/2015 10:46

Yay! It's still going on Grin

StealthPolarBear · 13/12/2015 10:50

Cn someone please explain chains to me
so pizza express isn't an Italian chain?
Is jamies good or bad (I like it)
What the hell do they sell at a giraffe

Rachel0Greep · 13/12/2015 10:58

I know its not the point of the thread, but this constant use of the made-up phrase "pizza pasta" is driving me INSANE.

Phew. I thought it was a 'thing', and that I, in all my years on this planet, had somehow never happened upon a 'pizza pasta' restaurant Grin.