General Chat

I should have said.......... there were twenty+ people in our group, two tables of 10 or 12.

I don't think I was missed.

And......... have heard since that not many were impressed with their meals.

I think your behaviour was not totally appropriate and I can well sympathise with the attitude of the host. I would have felt a bit peeved if someone I had invited to share a meal with me chose to sit at the bar instead.

If you were unhappy with the restaurant on previous visits it might have been better to politely decline the invitation, although I am surprised the kitchen couldn't supply something more suited to your taste. In my experience most restaurants are only too happy to provide alternatives for people with special preferences, and many will actually allude to this in their menu.

When we were told during the week that a booking had been made for 20+ people, we reminded the birthday girl & her husband that I usually have a problem with that restuarant. I said I would check out the menu on Friday night. She said .. no problem.

It's not like I left her sitting on her own!

And no, that restaurant isn't one that will go out of their way to keep someone happy. I know many people who have sent meals back to the kitchen, and some who have asked for a refund!

Well I hope you have rated them on Trip Advisor.. I always do... good or bad.

I have had a fad about food all my life, not an allergy or anything serious, but I hate not knowing what food I am about to eat. I won't queue at a carvery because it reminds me of school dinners, which made me cry ( at night when I went to bed) as a child because I hated them so much. I had to start school dinners again when went to high school. The next five years I swirled the gravy around the plate to give the impression I had finished my meal. So what would I have done.? At my best friends wedding I ate the prawn cocktail, but I couldn't queue at the carvery for the rest of the meal, so I simply said I felt unwell. In later years I was invited to a meal by a lovely man who was really looking forward to our evening but the thought of this restaurant, yet another carvery, upset me to the point I had to say I would have to change the venue. I went with some new friends about six months ago and simply sat with a drink and made a good excuse whilst they ate and I joined in the conversation. We all had a good night. If an invitation was sent to me and I didn't like the restaurant, or anywhere where I would have to justify why I didn't want to eat, I would say that I was pleased to receive the invite but say I was really sorry that I was already going out and could we meet up as soon as possible to catch up on how their evening went.
Over the years I have come up with more reasons not to eat at someone's home or at a venue I don't like, simply because I don't enjoy most foods... however I have never managed to resist dessert so occasionally that is my last option.
I feel the invitation should have been declined.

Birthday or no birthday, if I knew there was nothing on the menu that I could eat I wouldn't have gone. Turning up late with a bunch of flowers and a little white lie for the birthday girl might have been a saving face all round option but hey, too late now lol. I wouldn't have gone along and sat at the bar away from the party.

Having said the above, I've juggled special dietary needs with family for years - them not me, I'm merely a veggie - it's second nature to me to ask guests if they are ok with whatever is on the menu and book accordingly.

I find it hard to believe that there was absolutely nothing on the menu that you could eat. A bowl of soup? Small salad with no dressing? Even just a bread bun. I think that you should have sat at the table with your friends and made conversation even if you just played with the food. I think it was in very poor taste for you to sit at the bar alone

Well, you did ask what we would have done and I certainly would not have done what you did.

I would have asked for a salad, omelette, or something simple that I could eat. If this wasn't possible I would stay at the table and make sure I was part of the conversation. I wouldn't have left my husband there on his own to celebrate with the friends as I don't think this would have been polite or fair on him. I also think that leaving the table would make more of a fuss of the situation.

Scozz, perhaps the birthday girl walked past you because you had propped up the bar all night rather than sitting with them.

I am not the best one to know about allergies and fads because I eat anything put in front of me. However, I still can't get my head around the fact that the chef would not or could not make a salad or a plate of vegies for you.

I would of sat at the table drinking my Diet Pepsi
Nibbling on lettuce :-D :-D :-D

In that case JoyBoro, you're very welcome at my birthday bash LOL ;-) :-D