to be irritated in a restaurant when people declare 'well I'm not having a starter/pudding' in a self-righteous way which makes you feel well bugger it I am even if you didn't want one ?

[MargaretMountford]

or not ?

I loathe pudding, and would rather have a starter. If I have two starters, I make sure they come with the main course.

'Tis only manners.

Me loo? No I'm too busy stuffing my face!

DC You really don;t have a good opinion of me do you? Never mind.

I have eaten a billion courses at all sorts of great places, taken 6 hours over dinner! That is fine, you get time to digest/drink etc

I was taught that if you are hosting you order every course so that your guests feel comfy in ordering the same. Doesn't mean you have to eat or drink it all! But get it brought to the table.

I merely think that your "only eat with me if you want to try everything" is rather me me me and not thinking at all about what someone else might want

Why should someone just go with what you want

Well we don't have "hosts" when we go out for dinner!

Aha
so again it is about them making you feel better about yourself
when in fact if you want a starter you are not a greedy pig at all, you just want a starter

snap starlight. i've order a starter instead of dessert. got some very odd looks.

i only have pudding if its someone elses, drives my sister mad.

I'm not keen on puddings. Love starters though.
I always have a cup of tea when the puddings come for everyone else (dont like coffee lol)

If no hosts, but splitting bill after, I still think you should take the pudding menu (or liqueur (sp?) list or whatever) and then just say quietly to waiter/ress nothing for me thanks but don't squawk it down the table and make others feel self conscious about diving into a huge creme brulee or whatever.

Well I am clearly very badly mannered
I don't give a toss what others are doing
I do what I want to do!

Neither do I give a toss what they do
If they want to have the most expensive thing fine
If they want 3 mains fine
If they just want a rocket salad and a glass of water, their choice
if they want farking caviar in their coffee, whatever

Oh dear am I taking this thread too seriously??

Well drumming fingers is very rude indeed

If they choose not to have a starter they can't expect everyone else not to!

Maybe they are better suited to kfc

Quite agree with CD.

Hey it scans.....

oh hurrah
a normal person

How the divil are you bree, not seen you for ages!

drumming fingers that is a joly poor show

You all sound like you go out for dinner with nervous wrecks who have massive self esteem problems

i will volunteer to come to a nice restaurant and not be a nervous wreck or spoil the atmosphere with bad manners

and i will chat nicely about intellectual/funny things too

and not quibble over the bill

CD

Great thank you, going through one of those phases in life where you feel loved and valued on all fronts.

You know the sort of thing.

Work is great....

Home is great....

Friends are great.....

Everything in perfect balance.

Sigh.............

my MIL does this,much as I love her, and it does make me want to behave like Mr Creosote ! it's just the way it's announced that irritates really