Would you eat at a restaurant that didn't serve alcohol?

[Yearn]

If a restaurant served only soft drinks and alcohol-free beers/wines/cocktails would you eat there on an evening? Even on a Friday/Saturday night. No BYOB either.

YABU - Yes, I would eat there even on a weekend night.
YANBU - No, I wouldn't eat there on an evening.

Outside of Covid government restrictions last year, I can’t think of a restaurant that doesn’t allow byob if unlicensed.

Even the Muslim owned ones near us get around it by charging ‘for the glasses’, not the BYO wine, thereby not profiting from alcohol.

Yes, of course.

Oh I voted NU. I wouldn’t like to pay for a nice dinner without a glass of wine.

Lunch and breakfast totally different.

Yes, no alcohol wouldn't put me off at all. I rarely drink alcohol with a meal anyway and if I do it would be a glass of wine at most but I'd forgo that for a nice meal.

I would eat there at lunchtime and after work during the week, but my weekly treat is dinner out on Fri and Sat with wine.

Of course. If it’s an issue to have a meal without alcohol, you might have a problem.

No. It's part of the enjoyment of going out to eat for for me. Similar would be would you eat at a restaurant that doesn't serve dessert? Many people live for the dessert!

My favourite restaurant doesn’t do dessert.

I’m generally too full to care.

However someone will be along shortly to say if you can't get through a meal without alcohol then you are clearly an alcoholic.

Yes I would if the food was good enough.
My favorite Indian restaurant in the UK was alcohol free, it was always packed.

@GodIsAVegan

Of course. If it’s an issue to have a meal without alcohol, you might have a problem.

Bingo!

I wouldn't

Yes, it wouldn't be an issue for me at all. If they didn't serve a cheese board however that's a whole different story.

I like a glass of wine with a meal ( esp. weekend dinner ) - I do not have an alcohol problem despite MN views - but if it were with friends who chose it I could happily have a meal with no alcohol . Would I choose it myself e.g. at the weekend probably not - I would to be honest prefer to have a glass of wine at the weekend - but as I say - if friends etc chose it I would happily go with no alcohol at all.

But @StarryNightSparkles - no decent cheese - now that I agree would be more of a problem - or rubbish coffee.

@BasiliskStare

But *@StarryNightSparkles* - no decent cheese - now that I agree would be more of a problem - or rubbish coffee.

Oh yeah definitely no rubbish coffee. I like the full coffee after dinner with the rich intense taste. The not sleeping all night after it, whilst worrying intensely about world issues not so much.

If the food is good then yes.

Depends on the restaurant.

If it was a cuisine that isn’t usually paired with alcohol and if an alcohol-free culture (Lebanese for example) fine, I would drink mint tea or whatever).

If it was French Fine Dining: no. Good wine complements the food and is part of the experience.

I didn't vote, but it wouldn't bother me because I don't drink alcohol. However, I also haven't been to an actual restaurant for years, for various reasons (health, diet restrictions, lack of interest).

Yes, I rarely drink alcohol and never when I go out for a meal. I'm far more interested in the food

Bingo

I didn’t say the person must be an alcoholic, I said they ‘might’ have a problem. And I posted that before you commented. I’ve eaten in restaurants that don’t serve alcohol as one of the party requested it for a valid reason.

Well I don’t drink so I doubt I’d ever even notice. I think it would out a lot of people off though as lots of people like to drink alcohol if they’re having an evening out.

In my family and groups of friends, I agree with others, it would be more of an issue if there wasn’t good desserts, cheese board and coffee.

I wouldn't ever choose this for an evening meal, week or weekend. Going out for a meal is a treat for me and that includes a couple of glasses of wine. If a friend chose it I might go, but it would depend on the reason for specifically choosing somewhere without the option of alcohol given that I live somewhere with a huge choice of places to go, and how much I wanted to see the friend. Anyone who is so judgemental as to think I have an alcohol problem wouldn't be someone I'd want as a friend (for the judgment not for being teetotal) - thankfully I've only ever encountered this ridiculous sanctimonious view here and not in real life.

I wouldn't like it.

I don't think wanting nice wine with a nice meal means someone has a problem.

As a PP said, wine compliments and is part of the experience.

I only usually have one or two with a meal anyway, it isn't as if I'd get smashed but if I go out I want to have lots of things I like including wine, as well as good food, good service and good company.