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 don't care, but some people (like my evil SIL) have a way of saying 'I won't want a dessert' in that special way that says 'CMOT will be having a dessert because she's a fat pig with no self respect, but I have control over my eating, bwhahhahah'. I have seconds just to spite her...

is it worth going out with them they dont sound much fun tbh

none of this is really about food though is it?
It's about power games and vicious digs and insecuity etc

is it a problem to do with going out with people who are not people you really want to spend time with like colleagues

i dont have any of those either

If I go out for Chinese I'm a sod for not bothering with main courses at all, the starter menu is usually so much more appetising

I hate "I'm not having a starter, but of course you're welcome to". Of course I'm fucking welcome to. You're not paying and I don't need your permission.

I always have both starter and a dessert if I can. I don't eat out that often and when I do, I'm going to make a meal of it, so to speak.

Stuff everyone else!

I love pudding to, but generally if I have a starter, there is no room for pudding - so I tend to skip the starter. I don't care if others want to have a starter, I'm happy to wait (and pinch bits from their plates ).
So YABU MM
And I'm doing SW - and will save my syns up for pudding so I don't deprive myself of naughty treats. So ner!!!

I hate starters, I don't see the point. They ruin your appetite for the main. I rarely get dessert because I don't have room. I would prefer to have a huge main course and make it last all evening.

Starters are the BEST part of the meal.

Actually, I've always sneakily wondered if I could just have a starter then a dessert and skip the main... but that probably would be seen as pretty weird and antisocial I have a fairly small appetite though and that would be damn near perfect...

I rarely get out for a meal these days so when I do I damn well make sure I have all 3 courses!

I never know when my next night out is going to be, gotta make hay while the sun shines.

Oh, and I don't care what anyone else thinks.

And as for waiting for other people to finish their course before you get food - surely that's just extra wine drinking time?

Lol I'm with you on that one Rubberduck!

Actually I've decided - next time I go for a meal out which is "let's go straight to mains" (HAH... that'll be sometime in 2010 then) then I'm going to have a starter as my main with a side salad or chips or something. Much more sensible, and then I won't end up leaving loads and having to do that horrible explaining thing to the waiter I always feel obliged to do "no... no it was lovely... it's just I have a small appetite... and I need pudding".

god I am starving now...

tummy rumbles noisily

I never have a started mostly because I love my puddings and I wouldn#t be able to eat a starter and a pudding. Also I never like anything on the starter menu.