Stretch the truth to avoid going out to dinner

[Ruggerlass]

I’m supposed to be meeting friends in a couple of days for dinner. I’ve found out the restaurant that is booked has a hygiene rating of 1. I really don’t want to go. My predicament is should I be honest and say why I don’t want to go and risk upsetting friend who’s booked it or stretch the truth to keep the peace. I should say friend is not particularly fussy where she eats.

I would not go. And I’d be fuming if my friend knew it was 1*, didn’t flag that to the group and just backed out.
I think you should be honest, but hold your position.

Be honest!! I wouldn’t go either.

Friends don’t let friends eat at dangerous restaurants. Tell them the place should be condemned.

Just be honest with them! You could get ill or something ~ a very unnecessary thing, that you presumably don't need in your life!

Why is any restaurant of 4 and below allowed to stay open?

Nope, nope, nope - ex-chef here and while I will eat at a 4 (there’s a reasonable chance they’ll have tightened up their processes following a 4 rating and honestly, never been ill after eating at one)…there is zero chance I’m eating at one that has a 1* rating. The sheer lack of food quality control for that rating would make Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares look like oases of cleanliness and good practice 🫣

Definitely tell them in an ‘oh no, I just saw this and I’m not comfortable’ but maybe have a couple of backup suggestions so it doesn't look like you’re just being a negative nellie.

PS: I’m the person who just ate week-old homemade tuna mayo and egg mayo on sarnies today to use them up, so honestly, if I’m flinching at the thought of you eating there, you should be seriously worried 😂

I wouldn't eat there and would let my friends know why 🤢 but my friends wouldn't be surprised that I had looked at the menu, reviews and hygiene rating!

A 1? Is it just a wheelbarrow serving soup?!

I'd tell the truth. I wouldn't ever eat at a place with less than a 5 rating. Suggest to your friend that you go elsewhere.

😂😂

Thank you all for your replies. I’ve been honest and put on the group chat my reasons for bailing. I’ve suggested a couple of alternatives which are 5 rating but more expensive. Others have just messaged me shocked that this place has been booked and they too don’t want to eat there. So we’ll see

Does this include takeaways? I looked online recently and my local takeaway has a 1 star rating and says January 2025.

Bring back the laughing 😆!

But seriously OP, whatever you say I wouldn’t be going!

You don't have to bail

Just say "I've seen the place we're going has a 1 star hygeine rating, shall we go somewhere else? Here are some options..". Then everyone else will say "yes I'm not eating somewhere with 1 stars". And you will all eat elsewhere. No one wants to eat somewhere with a 1 star hygeine rating. Even if the friend of yours who's keen to eat in dirty restaurant still wants to eat there the majority of the group will dictate otherwise

Only if by some madness most people are happy to eat somewhere with a 1star hygeine rating do you need to bail

Yes it does. Includes all places that sells/serves food

Sorry, what I meant to ask was if a takeaway would also be closed down if it had a 1 star rating for over 2 weeks. As ours has had a 1 star rating for 6 months!

Its the only one that delivers to us but even I refuse to eat there anymore.

I would just say ‘Hi. An acquaintance of mine has just become ill after eating at our choice of restaurant. I’ve just checked the hygiene rating and it’s a 1!! 😱 Would you like me to book elsewhere?”

Easy.

Oh, I see you’ve taken action already. Good for you! 👏

Almost choked on my cereal! 😂

Someone told me that a rating of 4 is often down to the establishment not having the correct paperwork by the time of the inspection., Is that incorrect?

What is wrong with us women? Why can't we just tell the truth? Why are we so hellbent on protecting other people's feelings even to the detriment of our own wellbeing? I speak as one who would also have a problem telling them the reason I didn't want to go, even though I know that doesn't make any sense. Tell them, op. You could all book for somewhere better.

I would tell them! A restaurant my family used to go to regularly got shunned when I discovered they had a zero?! Don't even know how they were still operating.

I just read the update. Well done, op!!!

Just say you’re not feeling well on the day with a migraine or something. I wouldn’t think to much about it

Am I the only one who’s never checked the hygiene rating of anywhere we were planning to eat? 😮