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To think It's not THAT odd to order a baked potato instead of chips, with a burger?

303 replies

Marygoround22 · 02/07/2024 12:55

Went for a pub lunch with my friend on Sunday.
Ordered a burger and asked for baked potato instead of chips.
I just don't favour the chips in this particular pub, and it saves fat/calories.

When my lunch arrived my friend was aghast (not exaggerating) kept repeatedly telling me how odd it was, that 'burgers go with chips that's that!' and 'You can order a baked potato on the menu anyway, so that's like you've got TWO meals!'
I see the point there but, a baked potato has fewer calories than a portion of chips, so doesn't that sort of negate that point at least?

I had the same comment a few years ago on a work do too-although they just made one comment rather than repeated ones.

There's a pub near me that offers any side with a burger, including baked potatoes, whereas most places I have to ask for a swap.

I kind of proved my friends' point in this pub on Sunday though, because the burger came with guacamole and roast veg on it, and I couldn't fit it into my mouth so I used them as a topping for the potato so I suppose that DID make it into two meals in the end!

OP posts:
DappledThings · 02/07/2024 12:57

Nah, that's weird! But in the UK a jacket potato is considered a meal by itself. In the US it's a side dish. So less weird there.

RainbowZebraWarrior · 02/07/2024 12:58

I can honestly say that in all my 53 years, I've never seen burger and jacket potato on the same plate anywhere.

RedRobyn2021 · 02/07/2024 12:59

Not something I've done before but I can see the logic

Funderthighs · 02/07/2024 12:59

It’s an odd choice but it doesn’t offend me.

summeroccupation · 02/07/2024 13:00

You're the one eating it so the only opinion that matters is yours.

Epicaricacy · 02/07/2024 13:00

I think it's very weird, but I wouldn't care enough to comment.

Your friend is the weird one to be "aghast".

keylimedog · 02/07/2024 13:00

It's a slightly odd choice (I don't think they'd pair well for me personally!) but I can see the logic - both potato, you like one and not the other etc.

I just can't compute taking a bite of burger then a bite of jacket potato 😂

Putting · 02/07/2024 13:01

I wouldn’t want a baked potato with a burger - I don’t really see it as a side dish.

I’d swap for a salad if I didn’t want the chips.

YellowHairband · 02/07/2024 13:01

I wouldn't repeatedly talk about my shock if a friend ordered it.

But I would think it was unusual.

What did you have on it? I like cheese and beans on a jacket potato, and wouldn't have a burger as well.

Breathmiller · 02/07/2024 13:03

This reminds me of my mum amd step dad who used to have a baked potato as a side dish to a pizza !!

To be honest, neither her pizza or your burger should be odd, its just potato after all. But its not for me. But enjoy

PrimalLass · 02/07/2024 13:03

DappledThings · 02/07/2024 12:57

Nah, that's weird! But in the UK a jacket potato is considered a meal by itself. In the US it's a side dish. So less weird there.

It's not weird. It's absolutely fine. A baked potato is definitely a side.

purplecorkheart · 02/07/2024 13:03

I don't think it is weird but then I was brought up in a household where baked potatoes were served as a side dish rather than a main meal.

StripedTomatoes · 02/07/2024 13:04

It's weird but I wouldn't comment if a friend ordered it.

AngelDelightButNotStrawberry · 02/07/2024 13:05

I used to have some friends who had baked potato as a side to lasagne. Which I thought was weird.

AInamechange · 02/07/2024 13:06

I've done it before

2 points on the thing about a Jacket being it's own meal:

1 They generally do smaller ones for sides rather than it's own thing (obvs don't know if that's the case in this particular pub
2 As a side you just have it with butter, as a meal you'd have it loaded with something else!

FadedRed · 02/07/2024 13:06

Rude of your friend to keep commenting on your food choice, it’s not as if it affects anyone but you, is it? It’s meat and potato, cooked in a manner that you chose, no big deal.

Asking4her · 02/07/2024 13:06

I guess it's unusual because the common/well known meal is burger and chips.

Have what you want on your plate. Your eating it not them. I may do simlar if I didn't want chips . It's no big deal

Ereyraa · 02/07/2024 13:07

You can order what you want!

But it’s weird.

harriettenightingale · 02/07/2024 13:07

I don't think it is weird but then I was brought up in a household where baked potatoes were served as a side dish rather than a main meal.

Same. I often have a baked potato side. Sausage, buttery baked potato and baked beans. Yum.

To answer pp I don't put a load of toppings on, just butter.

amusedbush · 02/07/2024 13:08

Yeah, I think that's really weird but I wouldn't comment on it.

To be fair, it's not as weird as my mum, who eats egg mayonnaise on a baked potato. I nearly phoned the police when I discovered that 😂

Marygoround22 · 02/07/2024 13:09

I didn't have anything on it! I wouldn't order a baked potato with topping AND a burger. It was just a side baked potato. Some pubs/restaurants offer a choice of chips/baked potato/mash do they not? And they're on a lot of menu's side orders.

If I am weird I am weird. I don't usually mind eating junk food or calorific foods if I am out for a meal but the difference with chips and jacket potatoes is a LOT so if I don't particularly fancy chips I do this. I don't really like fried food generally speaking so to me it makes sense, but if I am weird I am weird Smile

My friend honestly must've made at least five comments sounding very shocked. If I was ever surprised at something someone had ordered to eat I don't think I'd comment at all, or if I was it would be 'ooh that's different' and then that's that-I am sure there are more interesting things to talk about!

And yes, both potatoes! Although I can see why one wouldn't want a mashed potato sandwich, or to put a baked potato in one although chip sandwiches are widely acceptable.

OP posts:
Cas112 · 02/07/2024 13:09

Ereyraa · 02/07/2024 13:07

You can order what you want!

But it’s weird.

This is what I was going to say😂

TheChippendenSpook · 02/07/2024 13:09

I had a potato skin along with fries and a burger when I was in Florida last year. It was amazing!

BebbanburgIsMine · 02/07/2024 13:10

Eat what you want!

It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, you're the one eating it, and if a baked tattie with a burger is what you want, just have it.

People think I'm weird as when I have a baked tattie I eat it just as it is, no butter, no filling, nothing on it at all except a touch of salt. It's my tattie though, so I eat it how I like.

I don't eat dairy, so I have sandwiches without butter, just the filling, and people pass comment on that too, which does get annoying.

TheChippendenSpook · 02/07/2024 13:10

I also eat mashed potato sandwiches when I have beef stew.