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!

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.
I'd probably resist this kind of peer pressure; don't know, as I've
never noticed it before.
Exactamente.

There's no accounting for Food Rules sometimes

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.

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!!

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....