Dating and Money #3

[Deleted]

Ladies:
- When are you are on a dinner date, do you pay attention to the price of the item on the menu that you are ordering?

Gentlemen:
- Does her order determine what you will order? Or you pass that now financially?

I remember when I started dating my wife (we were both 17) depending on where we went, and how much cash I had, the price of her meal determine what meal I was going to order.

But I have to give my wife props for that, she never ordered something outrageously expensive unless maybe it was a special occasion and even then the restaurant would usually be more upscale and most of their prices would be outrageous.

Nowadays that we are somewhat financially stable, it really doesn't matter what she orders, I will get exactly what I want ;D ;D and meal prices we usually order for the same dollar amount only when she orders sea food (my wife LOVES sea food and I am allergic to sea food) so when we go out to dinner is the only time she can have it.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I pay attention to the price whether I am on a date or not. My HS sweetheart ordered a "market price" item off the menu and then flipped at the price.

I told him "market price" is code for "expensive" and if you aren't prepared to pay then don't order it in the first place!

ETA: I know it really refers to how much the going rate is for the resturant to purchase it and hte price changes accordingly, usually in reference to sea food.

[kjsh]

When I was dating I always ordered something that was within the price range of what I'd be willing to pay (for me or for treating another person). I always offered in full sincerity to split the bill so I wanted to be sure that I was comfortable covering my half.

[dancinmama]

I always tried to order the least expensive entree on the menu that I liked.

[strider]

I liked The Office episode where Pam is about to go on a date and Phyllis tells her to order the most expensive item on the menu. Then Stanley tells Pam that she'd have to put out if she did that. Then Phyllis nods and says "Oh yeah, you will."

Haha.

In general I haven't had too many unreasonable dates. If I already picked the place I expect a certain range. If it's a nice steak restaurant or something similar I expect to shell out some cash. If it's an average chain restaurant I expect to pay an average amount and not the finest dish there.

So, base it on the restaurant and not on the meal.

[Deleted]

I'm female and always tend to order from the middle price range of the menu regardless of who's paying. The only exception is if something I really love is among the high-priced selections. If I'm paying, well, then that's my business. If I were with a guy whose budget it would cripple I'd offer to split the bill. If he refused I'd order something else.

Fortunately, my tastes don't run to massive cuts of prime beef or large servings of lobster. It's more likely to be an appetizer that's overpriced given the cost of the ingredients, but includes a favorite ingredient (arugula, a good beefsteak tomato, any combination of spinach and garlic).

And if something were marked "market price" I'd ask for specifics. I've also learned to ask for the prices when they go into lyrical descriptions of their specials and "forget" to mention prices.

[illinicheme]

It's been nearly ten years since I was last on a dinner date, but I always pay attention to price. I would pick something that is appealing to me, low-to-medium priced, and would also sincerely offer to pay for my half.

[whoisjohngalt]

I never looked at the price, but I think I was a super cheap date anyway. I never ordered a drink or an entree, just an appetizer, small salad and a desert.

But I also didn't look at prices when I went out with friends and paid myself. As cheap as I generally am, if I don't think I can afford it, I would not go out to that restaurant at all instead of sitting there and picking my food choices based on the price.

Also, I won't go to places if I don't think their food is worth the price. I am not paying $15 for an average sandwich or $12 for an average artichoke dip. If the food is great, charge me all you want, otherwise, get real

Lena

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

I never look at the price.

[Deleted]

Apr 4, 2011 14:15:46 GMT -5 Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ said:

I never look at the price.

A gentleman, a scholar and light on his feet.

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

A gentleman, a scholar and light on his feet.

.....with a lot of Savior Faire....

[The J]

I'm definitely past that point in my life. I don't go somewhere that I can't afford.

[Deleted]

When I go on a date with my wife, I always order chicken because I know she is getting something expensive.

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

When I go on a date with my wife, I always order chicken because I know she is getting something expensive.

I'd think a good looking fellow like you would make his wife pay for all their dates.

[Deleted]

I take my cue from him. I ask what he is getting or what he recommends. If he recommends something I will usually order that, if he doesn't I stay in the same price range as his meal or lower.

[Deleted]

Apr 4, 2011 14:26:26 GMT -5 The J said:

I'm definitely past that point in my life. I don't go somewhere that I can't afford.

It's not just a matter of affordability. Example: Morton's, last time I checked, charged $11 for a beefsteak tomato as an entree. That's it. The tomato. I think they sliced it for you. I've ordered it when the company was paying, which is actually a violation of my rule to be as careful with my employer's money as I am with my own- but then, I didn't choose the restaurant when we ate there. If DH and I went to Morton's, could we afford it? Sure, but they'd have to give DH a menu without prices or he'd get indigestion. We live in Kansas. You can get a piece of excellent local steak at the grocery store, throw it on the grill, add a beefsteak tomato from the farmer's market (in season, of course) and pay a fraction of the price.

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

I ask what he is getting or what he recommends. If he recommends something I will usually order that

I love chicks who are good at following directions and taking orders....

[jd2005]

If you have to look at the price you shouldn't go out.

[The J]

Apr 4, 2011 14:43:08 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

Apr 4, 2011 14:26:26 GMT -5 The J said:

I'm definitely past that point in my life. I don't go somewhere that I can't afford.

It's not just a matter of affordability. Example: Morton's, last time I checked, charged $11 for a beefsteak tomato as an entree. That's it. The tomato. I think they sliced it for you. I've ordered it when the company was paying, which is actually a violation of my rule to be as careful with my employer's money as I am with my own- but then, I didn't choose the restaurant when we ate there. If DH and I went to Morton's, could we afford it? Sure, but they'd have to give DH a menu without prices or he'd get indigestion. We live in Kansas. You can get a piece of excellent local steak at the grocery store, throw it on the grill, add a beefsteak tomato from the farmer's market (in season, of course) and pay a fraction of the price.

I'm talking about in the dating scenario. Do I think $11 for a tomato is pricey? Sure. But if I choose to go to Morton's, and my date orders that, I'm not going to flip out over it, and it's not going to change my order.

[Deleted]

Apr 4, 2011 15:12:36 GMT -5 jd2005 said:

If you have to look at the price you shouldn't go out.

I thought it was if you couldn't afford to tip?

[Deleted]

If I am letting him pay, it would be because he asked me out and most likely picked the restaurant. If you pick the restaurant, I assume that you can afford the prices on the menu.

That said, I probably wouldn't order the surf and turf on someone else's dime (plus, I'm not a big fan of lobster) - or whatever the most expensive item was - but I wouldn't think twice about anything in the middle of the menu.

The wine list is where you really get into trouble... there I might try and take my cues from my host.

[dividend]

DBF and I split everything down the middle now, but even when I was doing the dating thing, I just ordered whatever looked the most delicious, even if it was expensive. Why would I want to date a guy who'd be put off by that? Why would I deviate from my usual restaurant habits in the early dating stages? If the guys picks the place, there's nothing I could order that should be impolite - within reason. It's not my fault if they pick a restaurant whose prices make them uncomfortable. I would never take a guy out someplace where I was going to worry about the prices. What's the fun in that?

I had a college BF who would offer to take me out to a nice place, and then we'd get there, and he'd get mad at me for ordering an appetizer and an entree. Or and entree and then dessert. Like, he'd legitimately be upset and me as he was paying the bill. I don't like going somewhere and being restricted to the cheapo side of the menu. If he was that worried about his budget, I'm not going to complain about the hole in the wall taco place, or sharing a pizza or something. But it felt incredibly cheap that he would take me somewhere, and then not be able to enjoy himself because of the cost. It's like, DUDE! Just pick some place cheaper. He ruined the experience of the nicer places, and that sucked.

[wvugurl26]

So yeah $11 is pricey but if we are talking $11 for a tomato in January that tastes like a tomato well that's closer to reasonable than $11 in the summer when I could buy a ton of good tomatoes at the farmer's market.
My tastes don't run to the biggest steak on the menu with a lobster tail on the side so I order what looks good. I wouldn't order something I wouldn't pay for if I was buying.

[Apple]

Ok, people may think I'm crazy, but the last first date I had we met at a truck stop diner (about the halfway point for both of us, easy to hop back on the freeway if we didn't like each other--met online). Neither of us was that hungry though so we split a sandwich and fries. He just said no tomatoes, I said no onions (that ended up being the best first date ever, we had fun, I got to drive his D8 and knock down a few trees, it was really all just about having fun and getting to know each other)

If I think a guy is going to refuse to split the bill I order something mid-price-range. I'm not a big drinker so I usually just get water no matter who is paying.

[blackcard]

My starving artist boyfriend I was always concerned. Had to split the check a few times. He was cute, but no keeper.
A few losers bragging about how wealthy they were, suddenly cheap on the restaurant? You said we would dine at a real restaurant? Remember? That means cloth napkins, not paper ones. UGH!

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

When I go out now (with my wonderful DH), I always pay attention to the prices ~ but that doesn't mean I still don't order what I want. (grin)

[suziq38]

I only ordered what I liked that I could afford to pay for myself.
I was somewhat frugal back then.

[suziq38]

DH and I share the larger meal.

[CarolinaKat]

Apr 4, 2011 14:04:18 GMT -5 @illinicheme said:

[...] I always pay attention to price. I would pick something that is appealing to me, low-to-medium priced, and would also sincerely offer to pay for my half.

This, I did just this. Now I order what I want which is almost always medium priced and DBF orders what he wants, which is usually the same range.

[Deleted]

Apr 4, 2011 23:58:28 GMT -5 suziq38 said:

DH and I share the larger meal.

some restaurants have a sharing fee which can sometimes be high enough to make it so that you might as well get your own food.