Family dinner misery

[DuchyCazalet]

Went out for a family dinner last night. From the moment we entered the restaurant to the moment we left, all my parents did was gripe. Granted the service wasn't great but they seemed to prefer to be annoyed, rather than ask for missing drinks, cutlery etc. I'm not sure why they bother going out for dinner as they seem to delight in the misery of bad food/bad service. They always been like this but last night was another level. In one way it was good as I am now determined to tell them that I won't ever be dining out with them again.
Not even sure what my AIBU is but is there anyone else who experiences this misery?

I'd tell them you you are sorry they did not enjoy the meal (again) and you will not expect them to suffer eating out again as they clearly don't enjoy it. Leave it at that. Ball in their court.

My in-laws were like this. In the end DH and I stopped taking them to any restaurants we liked as it would be forever afterwards ruined by the memory of them could complaining throughout.

Last time we took ours out for dcs birthday, MiL was heard to mutter that she would never go there again. It's dcs favourite place and they get to choose so we won't bother inviting the PILs again!!

(There was other muttering too, so not asking them is fine by me)

Why are you gearing up for Mother's Day when you said in your OP you were determined to tell them never again?

My FIL once sent his meal back in Nandos because it was served alongside his side order when he had wanted the side as a 'starter'. We don't eat out with him anymore.

I work in hospitality and 95% of people are lovely, but you always get the 5% like this and we just roll our eyes as we turn to the kitchen

Best retort ive ever heard was a manager asking the guest how much they'd like from the till for visiting...

for some people nothing will please them and its best to cut them dead - give a refund and ask them to dine elsewhere in future

Don't go out for Mother's Day with them. Meet them in their house. Give your mother a big bunch of flowers (even better if you can have them delivered) and make your own plans for Mother's Day.
If you are asked, just say that you found the other evening very stressful and you don't want a reoccurrence of the event so you'll bow out of this one.
If you don't feel up to saying that, just say that you're not feeling well and you have developed a migraine or headache or something that cannot be traced back to 'food' or whatever because they are coming across as the type of people who would go out, eat their food and suddenly develop something similar to your ailments to complain about.

Also tell them why you won't go with them. Don't just be 'busy'.
"You are so joyless and miserable when going out, it's like you are always looking for something to be upset about or complain about. It makes me dread going places with you."

One of my relatives is like this. I now won't take her to my favourite places when she visits as I don't want her to be shitty about them!

YANBU but I would address it rather than refuse to go again.

What’s wrong with saying “OK, that’s your complaint allowance used up, let’s chill now before the mood comes down “ or “You seem to be dwelling on the negatives, we can ask for more cutlery without complaining. It would make things more enjoyable “.