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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Choice of restaurant - AIBU?

220 replies

Virgo28 · 14/03/2019 17:53

Went out for friends partners birthday meal yesterday night at an Indian restaurant. She has 2 kids (8 & 12) neither kid likes curry so one sat eating nam bread and pompodoms and the other picked through a curry his mum ordered for him to try even though he said numerous times he didn't like it. I actually felt really sorry for them both and wondered why would you deliberately choose to go for a meal that you know your own kids don't like? She has joint custody with the kids dad so would have loads of opportunities to go for an Indian without the kids if they really wanted. I just don't get why you would do that. AIBU?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 14/03/2019 18:34

At a push they could've had Pakora/Samosas/Tandoori chicken.

Or even a stuffed naan bread.

I think the OP's judgey pants are cutting her oxygen supply and affecting her thinking.

Unbelievable18 · 14/03/2019 18:35

I would be fine about it, YABU. Life doesn't always revolve around the children and it is a good way for them to see and taste other cuisines. Thankfully mine love an Indian, as do we all!

SrSteveOskowski · 14/03/2019 18:36

NAMaste OP. Don't sweat it!

HotpotLawyer · 14/03/2019 18:39

I certainly wouldn’t invite adult friends out for a meal and let picky kids set the agenda!

Two thirds of the people present were adults.

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 14/03/2019 18:40

I still get flashbacks about nam bread.

pompodom-tish!

GrinGrinGrin

jadeyfly · 14/03/2019 18:41

Why should parents pander to children who are picky?! That's where bratty teenagers who want everything come from.

CallMeCarolDanvers · 14/03/2019 18:41

My 4yo is the fussiest fucker in the world. Like hell am I only ever eating in McDonald's. The odd meal of rice, bread (and icecream), or plain pasta (and icecream), or plain noodles (and icecream) does no harm whatsoever and means Other People get to eat something they enjoy.

Come on OP, what's the real issue here? Surely you can't be that upset about an 8 and a 12 year old eating bread and rice for one meal while the grownups got to eat something they enjoyed? Did you at least pretend to like this woman?

Aragog · 14/03/2019 18:41

Maybe they were just being fussy and she'd decided not to pander to them in this occasion.

I don't like spicy food so an Indian meal isn't my first choice. I still go on occasion as other people I know, inc dd and dh, like them. I eat a small korma and chapati.

Could the children not have had some plain rice, various breads, poppadom and chutneys, maybe a starter - many of them are not spicy. Maybe some lassi or ice cream after.

I'm surprised at an Indian restaurant not serving chips - been to many and everyone has done. And most serve some form of salad too.

At the end of the day however, it is one meal out of three for the day, and one of many overall. They may well have eaten before or afterwards too, so just snacks whilst there.

Al2O3 · 14/03/2019 18:43

I still get flashbacks about nam bread.

Nothing wrong with a bit of 'Nam bread. If you can get it. Most of the Indian restaurants in the town are fully-booked up this week, what with the races and all that.

ScreamingValenta · 14/03/2019 18:43

Myimaginarycathasfleas Grin

Littlepond · 14/03/2019 18:44

MY kids love going to our local Indian restaurant and none of them like curry! They love the poppadums, nan bread, we order chips and tandoori chicken. And DH and I enjoy a proper nice curry and everyone is happy. Can’t spend my life going to McDonalds!!!

AgathaF · 14/03/2019 18:45

The kids were lucky to be asked out to a grown-up birthday meal. They could have been left home with a babysitter. They didn't go hungry did they? They had naan breads and poppadoms to eat.

I think you're making a complete song and dance about absolutely nothing.

Shockers · 14/03/2019 18:45

I used to have egg and chips when my family went for Indian meals when I was a kid. I now know how delicious Indian food is and can’t believe they didn’t encourage me to try anything else!

I used to think the restaurants were so exotic though (this was the 1970s); I think it’s a shame when children are never taken out of their comfort zones.

adulthumanwolf · 14/03/2019 18:47

Nah, they'll be sent to stay with their naan

🤣🤣🤣

WorraLiberty · 14/03/2019 18:49

Sometimes kids need to tikka chance and try new foods.

Helpel · 14/03/2019 18:49

I'm in my late 30s and when I was between ages of about 5 and 12 I wouldn't touch anything in a curry house. My parents on the other hand loved trying all sorts of curries. Over those years me and my sister would go to Indian restaurants with them a fee times a year. My sister tried everything. I had a chapatti with tomato ketchup. I loved it! Then in my teenage years when they had a takeaway at home I would have a drive through McDonald's. Again, loved it. By about 18 I was eating curry with the rest of them and now eat just about anything.
Your friends is good to go in my opinion!

LaBelleSauvage · 14/03/2019 18:50

I can't be arsed with people pandering to fussy eater children. They need to learn that the world does not revolve around them, especially on someone else's birthday.

I also comment the parent for picking a mild curry for them to try.

Fr3d · 14/03/2019 18:50

We sometimes go to a fabulous Thai restaurant and the only thing one dc will eat is plain noodles...they are happy with that. The rest of us love trying different foods, it's really good

tabulahrasa · 14/03/2019 18:52

“It wouldn't even enter my head to choose somewhere my kids or any member of my family didn't like.“

So if you all didn’t like different things, you’d just never go anywhere?

hiphopapotamuses · 14/03/2019 18:53

@FourEyesGood GrinGrinGrinGrin

RickyGold · 14/03/2019 18:55

Another one who doesn't think they did anything wrong, it would be different it was one of the kids' birthdays but it wasn't. My ds would be quite happy with poppadums, naan and some fizzy juice.

mumwon · 14/03/2019 18:55

my dc started on chicken tikka (not in sauce that really isn't proper!!!) with chapati & salad & yogurt & some nice kulfi (ice cream) for afters - its a good way to extend diet - nb leave on your plate & tell dc they wont like it - no better way for the to want it & try it!

Dippypippy1980 · 14/03/2019 18:57

KIds claim not to like a certain type of odd then alll of a sudden decide they like it.

I would have no problem taking my daughter to a restaurant that serves food she claims not to like. I would order her something and ask her to try it, and food I have ordered (if it’s not too spicy). 5at is how we discovered she loves sushi.

She never starves, always have snacks on hand. But new experiences are important.

Purpleartichoke · 14/03/2019 18:57

My kid only eats a handful of things (yes, we have sought medical intervention for this). Every once in a while we want to go somewhere that she won’t want anything to eat. Like if it’s my birthday and I really want a particular meal because I’ve spent the rest of the year catering to her needs. We feed her in advance and order her a drink and something off the menu if at all possible, often a dessert. Then we tip as if we had ordered her a full meal.

grumiosmum · 14/03/2019 19:00

Al2O3 if you're where i think you are, DH & DS will be searching in vain for somewhere to have a curry right now this minute then.

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