Be Excellent To Each Other

Dear gentle and wise beexers, I call upon you here to assist with a matter of some deep disagreement.

I'm referring to that awful moment when going to a restaurant in a group and somebody utters those most hateful words:
"Shall we order a load of different things and just share?"

On one side those who feel that sharing is a lovely way to spend a meal, very inclusive and makes for easy ordering.
On the other side are those who believe that you end up eating shitty food chosen by people who choose badly, who then proceed to eat all of the delicious, delicious things that you wanted all along.

This may not be an unbiased poll. What say you, beex?!

You must be fun at tapas places.

Is it Chinese food?

Tapas isn't a meal, it's disappointment with a high price tag.

This isn't a food question, it's a social etiquette question. The etiquette being how do I say NO.

Table flip and flounce

Is it because people order stuff without eggs on top?

Disagree. There is an amazing Greek tapas place in Nottingham and I am never disappointed

I don't mind too much if it's food that's meant for sharing but I can't fucking bear it when people all order their own things and then starting lean across the table or more importantly across me with forkfuls of each others food.

What? No it isn't. The question is how do I stop them being wrong about it.

"Do what you like, but leave mine alone"

Also, you are Smithy from Gavin and Stacey AICMFP

No

If it's a curry or Chinese meal then yeah that's nice to try loads of stuff.

Bonus too for eating more than everyone else.

I voted "Touch my food I cut you" but then I remembered that we ordered a variety of things at Lilian's at the weekend and nobody cut each other.

Because they took your warning seriously, obviously.

There can be exceptions - sharing doesn't always cause disaster. But in those cases you've got lucky rather than it being an acceptable general position

Indian and Chinese are fine, especially for takeaways. Other than that, I tend to prefer having my own thing. I'm not a fussy eater, but I don't touch fish, shellfish, or anything from the depths so the more plates of those that friends order, the less choice I have. There's always the social awkwardness of finding some particularly tasty dish and wanting to have it all.

(The big Domino's order at Cottage is always a treat, in case anyone's taking notes..)

There is always more food available you miserable fucker.

If it's tapas, and sharing is pre-agreed - fair enough. Anything else, get tae fuck

Ah, but if you're splitting the bill (which is the only acceptable option) then over-ordering to make sure you get what you want becomes its own challenge.



Even tapas, some other fucker will eat the last bit of chorizo in red wine.

Ah, that's probably where I'm doing it wrong - I either get each dish apportioned out roughly equally based on who wants to try it in advance, or I politely ask if anyone minds if I have the last piece of something.

When I go places I order things that I like and normally stick with that so the idea of sharing with other peoples choices fills me with dread.

Why not go to an all you can eat buffet? I went to one on Saturday night and you could please yourself there with a whole host of slightly warm food that's been left out for hours. You can also fill your boots on Haribo and jelly babies which are all dispensed from a giant trough that kids with dirty hands, rummage about in.

It was horrid.

That's why you make sure you're the fucker!

Also: http://www.military1st.co.uk/products/3 ... AuOH8P8HAQ

I got one of those in a Secret Santa last year, along with some very nice chutney.

JOEY DOESN'T SHARE FOOD.

Unless it's the piles of brisket, wings and pulled pork I've made, in which case there's at least 17 times as much as necessary, so have at it.

I'll still feel like I'm being robbed mind.

Sounds like a place I went to in Sheffield. I had pizza, mashed potato, sweet and sour chicken and daal on one plate. It was tepid and nightmarish.

http://www.cosmo-restaurants.co.uk/locations/sheffield/

I mean, to a large extent that's on you.

The place I went to was called Flavourz but there's also a Cosmo near to where I live. I went there once and it was equally as bad. It also had a terribly designed restaurant which meant that you had to go past the bar and through a tiny walk way (where everyone waiting for a table was waiting) just to get to the food.

Taybarns near the M1 Birdwell exit is like an inner circle of All You Can Eat hell

Edit: WAS a circle of hell. It's just a Brewers Fayre now, thank goodness.

I used to love spending lunches at all-you-can-eat buffets when I was in the US. A veritable feast, with free refills, for $6, back when the pound was worth something.

All you can eat Chinese in Newcastle 'Chinatown'. Lao's Sunday buffet was the special food and cost about £8.

Sunday lunch, about 14:00 leaving after having eaten my fill, two women outside throwing up full length noodles in some sort of Olympic, synchronised puking contest from over eating.

Wok this way was the best though, only cost £3.

Is that for all meals out, or just the ones where people do share?
My experience is that the people most keen to split the bill are the ones who've been drinking huge bottles of Peroni all night and ordered three courses.

With the people we do occasionally eat out with I get upset because I do order more beer and (in places like Reds) food than anyone else, and then am not allowed to pay over the split. Lucky I guess.

I will admit I was dangling that out there for the argument to start, just a little bit

I always chuck in more if I've had more

Which is always

I'm all for it, with curries and things (not burgers or fillets). For me it's the best way to eat something new without taking a big risk and receiving a whole plate of disappointment for oneself. It's partly how I have moved from being a picky eater and quite averse to trying new things into (relatively) bold and eager for new experiences.

Only dine with people that you really like, then it's not a problem (I find).

I recently shared a Chateaubriand with my best mate at a restaurant, he was pushing for it and I was dithering in my menu choice so he ordered it, taking a liberty that only a best mate can get away with

It was fine really we got out own sides and the waitress divided the meat for us so after that, it was like your own meal.

Wouldn't normally do it with this sort of food but no issue with Chinese etc.

Only other time I "share" is with desserts, I tend to prefer a starter, my wife likes desserts more, so after she makes her choice she then picks her 2nd option for me. When they arrive we give each other a bit of each dessert.

If I'm out on my own or with work seldom bother with desserts.