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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

488 replies

Yearn · 22/11/2021 02:40

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.

OP posts:
lottiegarbanzo · 22/11/2021 08:13

Have done. Though BYOB is more common in that scenario.

The key thing is knowing in advance.

toolazytothinkofausername · 22/11/2021 08:14

YABU - Yes, I would eat there even on a weekend night.

ThinWomansBrain · 22/11/2021 08:17

Where is this restaurant with no alcohol licence and no byob?

@knittingaddict probably not the one that the OP was referring to, but such places do exist - and make no alcohol a focus point in adverising
www.thegreatchase.co.uk

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 22/11/2021 08:22

Would depend on the quality of the food, but yes, I probably would.
Not by preference - but if someone else arranged it I would go.

JustDanceAddict · 22/11/2021 08:22

Yes, but I’m not fussed about drinking.

furbabymama87 · 22/11/2021 08:24

I wouldn't like it as I like a drink if I go out of a night. I don't often go to restaurants for lunch. Of the restaurants I've been to that are unlicensed you could take your own wine.

listsandbudgets · 22/11/2021 08:24

Yes but I don't drink.

DP drinks but it's not a deal breaker as a few of our favourite local restaurants fit your description. There are plenty of others that don't serve alcohol but allow BYO.

Most of them serve wonderful iced juice drinks and mocktails so DP is happy enough.

knittingaddict · 22/11/2021 08:26

@ThinWomansBrain

Where is this restaurant with no alcohol licence and no byob?

@knittingaddict probably not the one that the OP was referring to, but such places do exist - and make no alcohol a focus point in adverising
www.thegreatchase.co.uk

To be fair their drinks menu sounds inventive and appealing. I would be tempted to try it. My previous experience of mocktail type drinks is that they are overly sweet and lack imagination, but that one sounds better than most.
godmum56 · 22/11/2021 08:28

yes if the food was really lovely

TuftyMarmoset · 22/11/2021 08:28

YABU of course that wouldn’t put me off. I don’t need alcohol to enjoy a meal.

Exhausteddog · 22/11/2021 08:29

I think it would depend on the occassion, type of restaurant (and if I was driving!)

User00000000 · 22/11/2021 08:29

I've been to restaurants owned by Muslims which didn't have alcohol and that was fine. I don't drink much anyway so I'm happy to have a soft drink if the food is nice.

However the restaurants in my area where they have tried BYOB never seem to do so well. I think alcohol is a big part of the enjoyment of going out generally and I do like the option of a nice glass of wine or a cocktail.

knittingaddict · 22/11/2021 08:31

@claymodels

I know from a couple of good friends who own restaurants that they only make money on selling drinks, not on the food.

You have either picked them up incorrectly and they actually meant they make the biggest profit on drinks, not food, or they are really bad business people. That's not normal.

The original post sounds about right to me. It is incredibly difficult for any restaurant to make money. I think for many pubs the food is a bit of a loss leader and it is the drinks they make money on. Wouldn't surprise me at all that the overheads of cooking and serving food outweigh any profits.
MrsColon · 22/11/2021 08:32

It would be super! I don't drink any more but am sometimes tempted to (I still don't, but it's hard) - it'd be nice to go out for a meal somewhere dry.

claymodels · 22/11/2021 08:33

The original post sounds about right to me. It is incredibly difficult for any restaurant to make money. I think for many pubs the food is a bit of a loss leader and it is the drinks they make money on. Wouldn't surprise me at all that the overheads of cooking and serving food outweigh any profits.

If you are talking Wetherspoons maybe, not it would be unusual for a regular restaurant (as in not selling cheap 2 for 1 etc) not to make anything on food at all.

knittingaddict · 22/11/2021 08:35

@claymodels

The original post sounds about right to me. It is incredibly difficult for any restaurant to make money. I think for many pubs the food is a bit of a loss leader and it is the drinks they make money on. Wouldn't surprise me at all that the overheads of cooking and serving food outweigh any profits.

If you are talking Wetherspoons maybe, not it would be unusual for a regular restaurant (as in not selling cheap 2 for 1 etc) not to make anything on food at all.

Are you in the restaurant business?
ChardonnaysPetDragon · 22/11/2021 08:36

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

It's not just "a meal" though, it's a restaurant meal.

CatNoBag · 22/11/2021 08:36

Wouldn't bother me as I don't really drink much and my DH doesn't drink at all, but if we were with others who would prefer to drink with their meal then I wouldn't mind going elsewhere and would probably join them in a glass or two.

TheSoapyFrog · 22/11/2021 08:37

I wouldn't eat there at all. Sharing a great bottle of wine is part of the dining out experience for me. And I like an after dinner liqueur rather than a dessert. Unless there's a cheese board and then I'd like a port with that.
I'd probably make an exception if it somewhere the kids really wanted to go to.

Tombero · 22/11/2021 08:38

I would occasionally, but I’d probably go more often if they were licensed.

Lokdok · 22/11/2021 08:39

You’ll miss out on some amazing food with this attitude, so YABU. Although I also would definitely prefer a restaurant with wine!!

dottiedodah · 22/11/2021 08:39

If the food is good then yes I would go .In fact Cardiff Prison has a Restaurant attached to it .It is staffed by prisoners who work in the catering dept .Apparently the food is very good ,but no alcohol is allowed .

Ducksurprise · 22/11/2021 08:42

Honestly, it's fine, you'll survive, the food is still delicious. Really not sure why it'd be a deal-breaker.

But when I pay I don't want to survive, I want to pay for something that brings me pleasure, I don't like to pay to eat things I can cook better at home or pay for soft drinks that I do not like. I drink water at home, if paying out I like a glass of wine.

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 22/11/2021 08:42

@GodIsAVegan

Of course. If it’s an issue to have a meal without alcohol, you might have a problem.
It’s not about not being able to go a night without a drink, it’s about choosing to go to a restaurant over all the others in your areas when what is on offer is limited. I very rarely drink. I never drink at home. If I’m going out for a meal, I’d like there to be an option of an alcoholic drink if I fancied having one.
Meruem · 22/11/2021 08:43

One year it was decided our works Christmas do was going to be at an Indian restaurant that didn’t serve/allow alcohol. I’m not a fan of Indian food anyway and that paired with no alcohol meant it was a no from me. I wasn’t going to spend my own money on just having my colleagues company for an evening, with nothing else to enjoy!

Restaurants are about the food but many times I’ve gone somewhere I wouldn’t have chosen myself because it’s either been a friends or partners choice. That’s only fair. It would be selfish if I always got to choose. But if I am going to spend money on going somewhere which isn’t necessarily to my liking food wise, I want the option of having a drink.