Does it irk you when somebody orders what you are having?

[WestCoastWilson]

Thank you Guys for the most interesting and amazing feedback and comments to my question.

In my case, when it comes to going out to eat with family and friends, we never share or split a meal. I think I have only done that about once or twice in my life . . . with the exception of going out to Chinese restaurants, where everyone in my party will order one dish and we share it amongst ourselves, this is the norm every time I go to a Chinese restaurant. Other than that, I don’t like or want to share my food. Once in every blue moon, I will sample or offer a sample if my dining partner ask or offers. In my case, often whenever I am dining with my friends or family, one of them will order the exact thing I order . . . however these are always the same people that I have been happily dining with all of my adult life (for over 30 years). Maybe I just should stop dining with my family and friends, and get some new friends that do not have that annoying habit of asking me what I am going to have and order the exact same thing. LOL!!!

Yet I never make a big deal out of it, I just be irked in silence. I would not mind if they happened to order the same thing when the waiter comes around to take our order, however it is the discussion of “what are you going to have” (before the waiter arrives) that creates this problem. For the record, I am talking about when I only dine with one or two people at the same time. Whereas if I went with four or more people, I would expect for others to order the same thing on occasion, and that does not bother me. It is more of the one-on-one or one-on-three type dining situation where this happens.

The_Reaper, my father does the same thing too! However he is not trying to tick me off or anything, however he just does not go out to dinner that much, and I guess he feels safer ordering what I am having since we both tend to like the same foods . . . I guess it must have been something he gave me from his DNA. Yet it does irk me, because he ALWAYS ask me what I am going to order. My mother, while she was alive, we seldom ever ordered the same thing, because our tastes were much different.

Wilson

 

[frankfrank]

Now, if your eating partner asks instead "Since yuou've eaten here before, is there anything you suggest?" would be a lot better, but that only works in a place that's "new" for him of course.

That does seem a little weird that somebody will decide on something BECAUSE you're ordering it, though. I do personally know one autistic(?) guy in a south Minneapolis suburb, who will generally order the same as somebody else, because he's pretty much incapable of making decisions.

 

[JOHN B]

Drives me nuts. How are we going to share if you order the same thing?

THANk you! I totally agree. I love good food, and I love sharing food. It bums me out when someone I am eating at a restaurant with, does not want to try any food I might offer. Sharing (two DIFFERENT meals) is the best part of eating out with friends.

 

[braex27]

No. I do it all the time.

I make a point of recommending great dishes that I know, or like, and consider it a compliment when people take my recommendation and order the same as me.

 

[wundersteve]

I don't mind at all, especially if I am pretty hungry. I think the advantage is that if the kitchen is making two meals the same, it makes their job easier and the meals will possibly be ready a bit more quickly, compared to preparing very different meals.