Restaurant Etiquette Question?

Question

Okay so your in your downtown area of your city right, you come across a nice restaurant with your lady/guy whichever applies... But your not hungry, but your other is... You decide to go into the place and get a table for yourselves... Now the waiter comes and only your other orders right... She asks if you would like something, you say no... So the food comes and it looks good and you want to try it but dont want a big plate... Is it considered bad taste to have my lady slide the plate over for me to eat from it? And lastly, when i asked her for the price of the canned cokes, she told me 2 dollars, and i didnt say anything, but when she came back she told me she would just give me one... I got really upset because i thought she was thinking i was too poor to take the 2 dollar charge, and this wasnt the case.... Any ideas?

Answer 1

It seems that someone is assuming a lot and taking offense when none was given. For starts, no, it wouldn't be impolite to have a taste of what your lady had ordered. Secondly, you could have simply ordered a glass of ice water or a coffee if you weren't hungry. And thirdly, the incident with the can of Coke is not because she thought you were poor but because her manager probably insisted that you have something in front of you. It reflects badly on a restaurant when someone is seated with nothing in front of them. The casual observer would think you have a very poor server or that the food was sent back--neither of which a good restaurant owner wants anyone to think. You were offered the free Coke in an effort to stimulate good will, maybe whet your appetite, or because they recognized $2 was too much. Rather than get all hyper because you think they pity you, think where the other person may be coming from.

Answer 2

My thoughts:

When ordering you should have said you'd like to split the dinner, meaning you'd have a plate in front of you. That's a common practice and perfectly fine. A lot of couples know that plates are huge and if you just want nibbles, no matter how posh the restaurant, plate-splitting is fine. There might be a bit extra charge, but you said that was no problem.

As far as the Coke. You said you didn't say anything when she told you the price. You probably should have said "OK" or "I'll pass." I know I'd get a bit offended if a restaurant tried to give me free stuff and I'd insist on paying.

Hopefully the meal was good though and you'll go back someday.

Answer 3

1.) Yes, asking your girl to slide her plate over to you is rude. You could've ordered an appetizer if her food looked so appealing or at least asked the waitress for a small plate so that you could try some of your date's food without disrupting her since she's actually hungry. I don't think it would've been seen as very rude to ask for a small plate to TRY your date's food because, in the eyes of the establishment, that makes you more likely to buy some food of your own.

2.) You're being over-sensitive about the sodas. Since you weren't having anything, she probably figured that you were inquiring for your date and not yourself.

Answer 4

Is it bad taste to ask your companion to slide their plate of food across to you so you can indulge in it? Ummmm, yuppers! Now if your companion asks you if you want to 'try' it, that is a horse of a different color. It should be a taste only. One bite.
You should be able to understand why the wait staff thought you didn't have the money for a drink, you weren't eating, and then you didn't want the (way overpriced) coke. Heck it was free, you should have accepted the gracious and generous offering.

Answer 5

I think it is OK. Why should you eat if you are not hungry. Tasting your friend's food? That is OK.

As far as giving you the Coke; the server probably just didn't want to bother putting it on the bill.

Don't worry about the small stuff - everything is fine.

Answer 6

you are poor.

2 quick restaurant etiquette tips:

1) Never take a seat at a restaurant and not order food. you are wasting space that could be filled with a paying customer. and certainly don't have them split an entree between two people. it is behavior like that which forces restaurants to make notes on menus about "minimum 1 entree per person, no splitting"

2) If you have to ask for the price of an item, you probably can't afford it. A restaurant that doesn't publish prices for soda/iced tea/bottled water assumes it's clientel is wealthy enough that $2 doesn't matter much. If you have to ask, you don't belong in that restaurant.

Answer 7

Going to a nice restaurant and ordering nothing at all seems a bit lame. You could order something small like a salad and pick at it. Or order 2 or 3 items off the appetizer menu and you pick at them while letting your date have the lion's share.

Answer 8

yes this is bad etiquette. If your not hungrey at least order something like an appitizer or dessert. That way you can share and it is no big deal. As far as the drink thing you waiter was just trying to be nice....seems like you where being over sensitive. I hope you at least tipped her.

Answer 9

It is perfectly fine for you to accompany someone to a restaurant for a meal and you not order anything. this is not uncommon and its non of any ones business, there are a lot of reasons for not ordering food examples would be you are fasting for a blood test, fasting for religious reasons have just had a meal or not hungry. you are there to keep your friend company while they eat. No big deal

Answer 10

no, just let her eat it and then when your drop her off or something, stop and get a bite to eat somewhere else. never take a womens food!! haha. let her do what she wants with the whole money deal. if she wants to pay for some then let her pay. dont think of it as rude. b/c its not.