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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To hate having to choose food before the event?

46 replies

AtHomeDadGlos · 05/10/2017 12:43

Event coming up - not massive (about 16 of us) and there will be other various diners at the restaurant ordering their own food.

It’s been suggested we all choose our food before the day - bare in mind orders will be decided this week and the event isn’t until the end of August!

I can’t stand ordering food this far in advance. I have no idea what I’d like for dinner tomorrow let alone in over a month’s time.

AIBU?

OP posts:

CoyoteCafe · 05/10/2017 13:52

Doesn't bother me at all. I just pick something I like. If you give me a list of options for food I would eat a month from now, I could tell you which is my favorite without any problem.

(Plus I waited tables for awhile, so I get the "large party" thing).

Oncewaswho · 05/10/2017 13:53

I think it's a great idea, you know everything will be efficient, everyone will get what they ordered etc. Most importantly the entire time at the restaurant can be spent chatting with friends. not with everyone poring over menus and trying to decide what they want for half an hour, while other smaller tables are all getting their orders in ahead of you. I never have any difficulty choosing in advance, my tastes don't change over a few weeks. We're pre-ordering for our works Christmas meal this week.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 05/10/2017 13:58

Doesn't bother me. I'm very predictable food wise. The things I like are the things I like. Dh can generally order mine without having to ask me,

Insomnibrat · 05/10/2017 14:01

I do understand it takes a bit of the theatre away from going out to dinner and the excitement of choosing etc, but having worked in restaurants also understand the logistics of the whole thing.

What does really bug me is hotels requiring you to make your breakfast order almost as soon as you've checked in. Some mornings I can only just about face a coffee, other mornings I could eat a buffalo. I DONT KNOW! Christ, the eggs and bacon are going to be on anyway.

KurriKurri · 05/10/2017 14:02

I much prefer to order in advance (I just choose something I know I will like - and chances are I'm still going to like it in a months time) I hate going out with a big group and sitting feeling hungry while people faff around going 'I don't know whether to have the grilled fish or the griddled fish and shall I have french fries or chunky chips - ummm ummm umm. Or I might have cauliflower Surprise instead faff faff faff x 16'

While I eat my napkin and any bread rolls I can lay my hands on.

Pre ordering all the way.

smallmercys · 05/10/2017 14:03

Certain people I know do this too, and it bores the pants off me. As if I could care about deadly dull menu choices

I would rather choose from a normal menu but the host are saving omen so I have to suffer in this [lighthearted] horrible way.

Once I ordered a kosher meal just to be contrary and on that occasion it was horrible. Bit me in the bum that because I like jewish food normally.

smallmercys · 05/10/2017 14:04

'Saving omen', that's creepy. Saving money I boringly meant.

RavenLG · 05/10/2017 14:04

On the night when the food was brought to the table someone had obviously forgotten what he'd ordered and took my dh's meal rather than whatever he was having

Bloody HATE this! DP's a morris dancer and May Day is the standard day of dancing around the pubs in the area. We all pre-ordered food at a pub for lunch, and it was chaos because of this reason. I felt so bloody embarrassed that a group of adults couldn't organise themselves. I had to keep apologising to the stressed staff.

MsPassepartout · 05/10/2017 14:06

The only thing that bothers me about ordering in advance is when people forget what they've ordered and take plates meant for others.

Apart from that, im totally fine with ordering food in advance for big group meals.

M4Dad · 05/10/2017 14:12

If you want to appear dynamic, confident and witty at the event why don't you change your mind 30 minutes before the food is served.

I mean, it's not your job to make things easier for everyone is it? don't they know who you are?

Slimthistime · 05/10/2017 14:13

YABU

TobleroneBoo · 05/10/2017 14:40

I pre ordered pate for an event, and found out I was pregnant in between, so I just had to smush it and hide it under my salad!!

Pate is my favorite

SomewhatIdiosyncratic · 05/10/2017 14:55

I hate it when I get the text in July about what I want for the Christmas party. It's 30ºC and I'm not ready to think about roast turkey yet, let alone know if I'll be well up for it or have had sprouts coming out of my ears by that stage of the festive season.

I find it hard enough trying to work out what to feed the family with for a week

Original poster

AtHomeDadGlos · 05/10/2017 17:01

Kind of a mixed bag. I know that IABU, it’s mainly in jest. I also appreciate that it makes it easier for the kitchen staff.

Hope they don’t do a specials board...

OP posts:

SharkiraSharkira · 05/10/2017 18:11

Cough I totally agree, it's unfair that meat eaters get 2 or 3 choices when veggies only get one.

Which is why, when I wrote my restaurant's Christmas menu recently I gave a choice of 3 veggie starters and 2 veggie mains (4/3 if you happen to be pescatarian) so pretty much the same as the meat eaters for once!

SharkiraSharkira · 05/10/2017 18:13

Oh and Op you're not BU but it is an organisational necessity for larger parties.

SilverySurfer · 05/10/2017 19:18

I wouldn't like it but understand that 16 is a fairly large number. Also it's not unreasonable at peak times like Christmas, Easter etc.

Apart from the fact that I would have no idea what I fancy to eat come the end of November, I can't help feeling that a lot of the food will be pre-prepped and not freshly cooked to order.

Someone was asking a similar question on another thread only it was a table for 6. With the above proviso I wouldn't book with them.

MerchantofVenice · 05/10/2017 19:19

When I'm planning our regular meals/shopping, I sometimes (foolishly) ask my husband what he fancies for tea tomorrow. He doesn't know what he'd fancy, because he's not currently hungry. He literally can't imagine what he'd like because it's not happening right now. Sorry, OP - I feel that your situation is a bit like that...

insancerre · 06/10/2017 19:04

I've just been asked at work to choose what I want for thecwirks Christmas dinner
Ffs it's October!

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 06/10/2017 19:07

Just choose something you like?

I can’t see that it’s really a problem.

milliemolliemou · 06/10/2017 19:21

Have organised endless sport team dinners in restaurants (and occasionally catered them myself with help).

So - when I cater myself for 20-50, it's hors d'oeuvres, one main (and a few for veggies/vegans) and several puddings. I've had numpties saying they won't come once they've heard about the main, but tough luck numpties and how very rude - what do they do when they go to supper/tea/dinner?

For most restaurants it's a nightmare if they have to provide a menu of choice on the night for10-50 people expecting to eat at the same time. By the time everyone's decided it's 2030. And the people who are vegetarian/genuinely allergic suddenly find there's nothing on there. So you finally eat at 2200 and everyone's fractious.

So forget about being precious, think what you might like and go for it. It means the kitchen can get all the meals out in good time and prep the vegetables for a big party. And most restaurants will also be
catering for other tables.

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