Somehow this silly habit of me and my spouse having to order two different entrées at a restaurant has come about. You would expect that it has to do with sharing but many times we don't even share. What sucks is if we both like something on a menu and one person picks it first. Does anyone do this same style?
On occasion I have been convinced to order an entrée I don’t even really like that much simply because my spouse really likes it and can’t decide between two choices.

This happens with us more often than not because we both love to taste everything. Sometimes we end up ordering the same thing and I almost have a pang of--well, not guilt, but regret at the lost opportunity. And sometimes I deliberately order the same thing as Mr. Fox just to remind myself that it's just a meal and not, say, an important food research opportunity. (this is almost subconscious--I really don't agonize over it)

Conversely, I have been in situations where I got the distinct impression that it was not cool to order a different meal from everyone else. It wasn't even a question of price, if someone else was paying, but, hmm, conformity as a way of validating the other diner(s). Felt very strange.

If your spouse is agonizing between two choices maybe s/he should be the one to order the entree that you don't like!

Sometimes we end up ordering the same thing and I almost have a pang of--well, not guilt, but regret at the lost opportunity.
For C. and me it's the same way. Usually, we each have a first and
second choice, and we can make something work out of that. The
difficulty at times arises with wine choice, but usually that's finessable.
Seldom have we ordered the same thing, but it's happened, and usually
it's the fault of the wine.
Conversely, I have been in situations where I got the distinct impression that it was not cool to order a different meal from everyone else.
I'd probably resist this kind of peer pressure; don't know, as I've
never noticed it before.
If your spouse is agonizing between two choices maybe s/he should be the one to order the entree that you don't like!
Exactamente.

There's no accounting for Food Rules (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=578818) sometimes :D

Yes. The corollary question is whether you would always share an entree, or take a bite of someone elses entree.... irrespective of the price of the dinner. Hope this doesn't derail the thread, but my primary reason for ordering something different is to be able to share.

My wife rarely finishes half of any entree so I usually order something different then my wife so that I can taste two meals.

Maybe that is why I get larger and larger and my wife stays slim.

Somehow this silly habit of me and my spouse having to order two different entrées at a restaurant has come about. You would expect that it has to do with sharing but many times we don't even share. What sucks is if we both like something on a menu and one person picks it first. Does anyone do this same style?
On occasion I have been convinced to order an entrée I don’t even really like that much simply because my spouse really likes it and can’t decide between two choices.


The only time this is an issue for my wife is if there are two entrees she wants to try, in which case she'll order one and I'll get to order the other, then she'll pick which one she prefers. Then again, I always get to eat her french fries when we're eating something that comes with fries, so it balances out :-)

Bob

If it's a new restaurant or one that we don't frequent often, then I like to get two different entrees. But, if it's a trusty old standard and we both know what we like, it makes no difference (i.e. Crispy Beef at Cheesecake Factory).

No matter who it is, I share, and hope I can partake.

But generally... I order something different than everyone else in the party, unless I REALLY want it.

It goes back to my childhood. I have a sister 5 years younger who liked to copy me when we were kids. So, I got in the habit of telling her what I would order and then "changing my mind" after she ordered.

I can usually count on a taste of Mrs BamaVol's meal since she can't finish an entree most days. I'll offer a taste of mine. She'll resist unless I insist. We do split a dessert most times if we order any.

Yes, but it isn't a hard and fast rule, and we do pretty much always share. So we each get some of both entrees. Seems to work pretty well. If one spouse is going to say, "Heck, this is pretty good, so you can't have any," then clearly it isn't going to work. For us it's instinctive that if something is good we want the other one to experience it too.

Actually since most appetizers tend to be much more interesting/unusual than entrees we will order three appetizers(which we tend to share anway) and then split the entree.
That very often leaves space for dessert ....which cant be a bad thing:)

mike

When I am eating with coworkers its a hard fast rule. if somebody orders what i wanted first too bad so sad I can not get it and must choose something else.

No we dont share either

CPTANGO

We either order different dishes or share just one and order an appetizer. Portion sizes these days are rediculous!!

Somehow this silly habit of me and my spouse having to order two different entrées at a restaurant has come about.


Shucks, decades ago, in fancy resturants at least, we simply started ordering three appetizers and a salad. The chef's best efforts go into the appetizers, and most salds are dramatically over-sized. You can frost the waitperson's pumpkin by insisting that each dish be served in succession....

Funny, but I don't know how it started either. My SO and I always order two different dishes or just order an appetizer and one main entree. We'll check with each other before ordering and agree on two different dishes. Our line to the waitress is always "We share well". We like to be able to taste other dishes without ordering too much food.

I recently ate at Michy's in Miami, where vrtually every item on the menu can be ordered as either a half or a full portion. A great concept that I hope spreads to more places ....

I recently ate at Michy's in Miami, where vrtually every item on the menu can be ordered as either a half or a full portion. A great concept that I hope spreads to more places ....

I've recently seen a trend toward a menu section of "small plates" that are smartly portioned and priced. I applaud.

Actually since most appetizers tend to be much more interesting/unusual than entrees we will order three appetizers(which we tend to share anway) and then split the entree.
That very often leaves space for dessert ....which cant be a bad thing:)

mikeWe have done the same thing, and in the right places skipped the entree altogether. Dessert is an whole different animal.:D

I've recently seen a trend toward a menu section of "small plates" that are smartly portioned and priced. I applaud.i have not seen this so much on the menu, but I find I get less of a dirty look now if we ask for somehting to be split. In all fairness, I have even had some waiters pick up on the fact we may be waivering and offer to split something.^

i have not seen this so much on the menu, but I find I get less of a dirty look now if we ask for somehting to be split. In all fairness, I have even had some waiters pick up on the fact we may be waivering and offer to split something.^

I've had servers suggest a particular dish be split. I remember my 2 youngest sons (early-mid teens at the time) each ordering a chicken caesar salad and the server bringing 2 half salads and charging for one. He explained that the full salad was huge and if they finished, he could always bring another. They didn't, and I got out of there will a smaller bill and he got a bigger tip. ^

i have not seen this so much on the menu, but I find I get less of a dirty look now if we ask for somehting to be split. In all fairness, I have even had some waiters pick up on the fact we may be waivering and offer to split something.^

I ate at a very nice restaurant in Ohio last month where the menu featured a whole page of "small plates". They were unique dishes, not just smaller versions of the larger entrees with prices about 60% of an entree.

I've been researching menus online for a upcoming trip to Vienna and came across the same thing.

Actually since most appetizers tend to be much more interesting/unusual than entrees we will order three appetizers(which we tend to share anway) and then split the entree.
That very often leaves space for dessert ....which cant be a bad thing:)

mike
I have found myself doing the same thing when dining with good friends.
Especiallly in places with silly charges for splitting orders.
By myself I often order 2 app's because the portion sizes are usually large.Guess I am geeting to be wierder and cheaper as middle age advances-but I loathe wasting money at restaurants(and I grit my teeth if on a date my companion orders more than they can eat)these days.

Here's another twist: several local restaurants often offer "1/2 priced entrees" promotions during slow periods, but no discount on appetizers; so Mrs. kaukau and I will order one entree and share it as a first course, and then another and share it as the second. Nice!

No rules. If you've got something really good, why would you share it? The others can get their own.

It's not a hard and fast rule, but my hubbie and I will usually order something different, and taste the others. Sometimes, it results in a different order on our next visit. For example, we went to a local thai restaurant, and he had something I just loved. Next time we went, that's what I ordered - he went back to his normal favorite. (pad thai).

Husband is much less adventuresome than I am - I like trying new restaurants and new dishes. He likes his favorites, and rarely ventures far from them. Occasionally, of course, this has backfired on me, and I got a truly repulsive meal :(

One of the reasons I love traveling is that it forces him to try new restaurants, if not new dishes. How many different pubs in the UK/Ireland has he been to? 50? He ordered fish-n-chips or beef and guinness pie at all of them :)

One of the pleasures of dining out is enjoying our meal of course. So why would we force one of us to order something different if we both want the same entree? I don't understand that.

I'm vegetarian, and my husband is a meat eater who hates veg, so usually we just order whatever we want. I might take a little tomato off his plate, or some other veg he finds very repulsive, but we don't tend to share dishes.

Even when I've been out with parties from work, it hasn't been something I've noticed many people do - is it a custom that hasn't reached the UK yet, or do I just run with the wrong crowd?

I would be a very unhappy camper to be expected to order something other than what I really wanted.

That said, if it's just me and a close someone else, and I end up order something different from my companion, and they said, "oh, that looks great" or "I was going to order that" I'll usually offer them a taste before I dig in.

Other than that, I order what I want and don't worry about it.

I don't, but the wife and her family does most of the time.

She'll always ask what are you getting before she can figure out what she wants, which is fine, but when the entire family is there, it's like a really bad episode of lets make a deal as they all try to figure out what then can get and enjoy and not duplicate an order and still assert their menu domination.

Sometimes you just lean back and laugh.

we always order different things in order to be able to share. If it looks like we're leaning towards the same thing, I'll figure out my second choice and go with that. Like others, we often will order only from the starter section and skip the entree...two appetizers and a soup and salad, or something like that. It tends to be less food and often the food just sounds more appealing.

Hi,

I need this rule with a friend of mine. She orders the same thing as me EVERY SINGLE TIME we've ever eaten together. I've tried to hem and haw so that she'll order first, but she will not order until after I order. She's not like this in a crowd, only I guess when dining with one other person.

Hi,

I need this rule with a friend of mine. She orders the same thing as me EVERY SINGLE TIME we've ever eaten together. I've tried to hem and haw so that she'll order first, but she will not order until after I order. She's not like this in a crowd, only I guess when dining with one other person.

Let her order then change your order before the server runs off. If she changes hers, ask her ... is her problem?

I always order whatever interests me most, (within reasonable price bounds, especially if someone else is picking up the tab.) As far as eating with my wife, we rarely end up ordering the same thing, mainly because once she finds something she likes at a restaurant, she will order the same thing every time we go, and I generally avoid repeating until I've tried everything on the menu that looks interesting. And I know I will usually get a bite of hers.

Somehow this silly habit of me and my spouse having to order two different entrées at a restaurant has come about. You would expect that it has to do with sharing but many times we don't even share.

On occasion I have been convinced to order an entrée I don’t even really like that much simply because my spouse really likes it and can’t decide between two choices.

Mine can try to be a bit controlling at times, be luckily it hasn't gotten that far!

When I am eating with coworkers its a hard fast rule. if somebody orders what i wanted first too bad so sad I can not get it and must choose something else.
CPTANGO

Strange! I don't wait until everyone else orders before I decide to order, and I don't change my mind based on what anyone else orders, unless I missed it on the menu and it sounds better than what I planned to order. It doesn't bother me in the least to watch someone else eat the same thing I am having.


Conversely, I have been in situations where I got the distinct impression that it was not cool to order a different meal from everyone else. It wasn't even a question of price, if someone else was paying, but, hmm, conformity as a way of validating the other diner(s). Felt very strange.


I have run into that a few times, usually going out with co-workers, or co-workers and customers. Within reasonable price bounds, I usually don't mind ordering different than everyone else, unless its a situation where others are taking me someplace I have never been for the express purpose of trying some specialty that the place is known for.