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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Going out to eat and ordering...

54 replies

ThisLittleKitty · 30/01/2018 23:30

Just a dessert? I have been invited to a friends birthday meal and I have just looked at the menu and there really isn't anything I could eat without buying a 3 course meal, which no one ever does whenever we go out (everyone just gets a main.) It really isn't my kind of food and it's to late to cancel as it's been booked. Aibu? Would it look rude?

OP posts:
Pearlsaringer · 30/01/2018 23:58

Could you contact the venue in advance and see if there is anything they can prepare for you that you would eat?

AdaColeman · 30/01/2018 23:58

Is it the sort of place that would keep its table in sync? So you would just sit there while the others ate their main course then when that was cleared your pudding would be served?

Contact them and ask if they would do you an omelette?

Though the table has been booked it's still possible to alter the number of diners, would the others rather not go without you?

Original poster
ThisLittleKitty · 30/01/2018 23:58

So there is an al la carte menu, it only has steak, lamb, seafood. The starters are various meats or octopus. The "set menu" has different option that includes chicken however this is not on the al la carte menu.

OP posts:
Leeds2 · 30/01/2018 23:59

Sorry, think I have mis understood too! If you like the mains on the three course menu, just ask them to do one of those without the other two courses. I have seen lots of people so that, and it has never been a problem.

GoingforitNowIthink · 30/01/2018 23:59

Get just a dessert if you want it but in your position I'd get the set meal. Anyway, I'm sure the restaurant would cater for you if you only want a main from the set meal and nothing else. You should give them a call before you go and ask.

AlexaAmbidextra · 30/01/2018 23:59

Pretty sure they'll let you order the chicken from the set menu. I've mixed and matched from table d'hote and a la carte many times.

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 30/01/2018 23:59

You’re being very vague here OP and despite people saying they don’t understand you’re not offering any clarification.

What’s the reason there is nothing on the regular menu that you can eat? You eat chicken so you’re not vegetarian. Is it because you’re allergic? Or is it just because you don’t like anything?

WonderLime · 30/01/2018 23:59

I don’t know if a single restaurant that wouldn’t offer a veggie option if you asked. Seriously, just ask.

Or like I suggested, ask for the meat to be changed.

Or ask for something from the set menu as your main.

HermionesRightHook · 31/01/2018 00:01

I would phone in advance and say you can only eat the chicken, would that be ok? They'll probably say it's fine - and if they know in advance they can plan for that.

If they won't, eat beforehand, order the cheapest thing and pick the bits off it that you can have.

WonderLime · 31/01/2018 00:02

Or is this actually because you are on a diet and really, really want a dessert - so you are looking for an excuse to cut out the main? Wink

DreamyMcDreamy · 31/01/2018 00:02

Sorry, but I don't get it either.
Why can't you order anything if it's not from a set menu?
Surely there's some other type of menu? Something, somewhere, you can order from? What is it you have the problem with?

Loonoonow · 31/01/2018 00:02

Chicken is much cheaper than steak, lamb or seafood. I am sure the restaurant would be happy for you to substitute a cheaper chicken set menu choice for an al a carte option.

Sevendown · 31/01/2018 00:03

Just ask to have the dish off the set menu on its own.

BakedBeans47 · 31/01/2018 00:05

They’ll let you have the chicken off the set menu. They make money by selling food, they’ll give you what you want!

Sparklesocks · 31/01/2018 00:06

Is there not a veggie option/salad? It seems odd to purely do meat unless it’s a steakhouse?

Rawhh · 31/01/2018 00:13

Jesus - just ring the restaurant explain that you don't eat meat and ask for the set meal main as a standard main and agree to pay a standard main price.

Why are you making such a deal about it.

OOOOOOOOOOO · 31/01/2018 00:14

How about phoning the restaurant and asking?

OOOOOOOOOOO · 31/01/2018 00:14

Sorry xpost!

mirialis · 31/01/2018 00:16

Can see it's been said but just to reiterate as can't believe this thread got past a few posts... PHONE THE BLOODY RESTAURANT.

GetUpAndGoGone · 31/01/2018 00:26

Just ask 😎🙄

Italiangreyhound · 31/01/2018 00:40

Just have a dessert. Say it is what you fancy eating. Honestly life is too short for this shit.

Are these people friends or a work meeting?

If it was a work thing I'd just choose the thing I most liked the look of and eat the bits I liked. Assuming that work are paying for it.

If you are paying for it, you choose what you want and eat it when everyone else had their main.

Please don;t feel the need to lie and say it is a special diet or something, just say it's all I fancy at the moment.

Or call ahead and ask if you can just have the main of the set but as a main only.

I can always eat like 90% of any menu, hence needing to lose weight!

gluteustothemaximus · 31/01/2018 00:45

I have the opposite problem.

I would want to eat everything on the menu Grin

Crispbutty · 31/01/2018 00:46

I cannot believe there is no chicken or veg option in an Italian restaurant. There will surely be a specials board too.

twotired · 31/01/2018 00:47

I'm sure if you ask them they would be willing to give you a main from the set menu for a similar price to the a la carte.

I work in a restaurant and I get this quite a lot. Really not a big deal Confused

HoppingPavlova · 31/01/2018 00:49

I’m sure the restaurant would be fine with you ordering a main from the set menu and they will just charge you a commensurate mains price. Easy done. No drama.