Setting $ limit on teen bday dinner with friends

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Restaurant might be able to accommodate a pre fixe menu where options are more limited. You could ask.

This is a good idea

+1

or pre-order some stuff for the table that everyone shares...

[Anonymous]

My daughter did this with her friends. I gave my daughter cash to pay for the dinner. I think I gave $250, and it was to cover dinner & tip. It was more than enough (four kids).

[Anonymous]

We did this recently and two kids ordered house salads because they were told not not order the most expensive thing on the menu by their parents so they ordered the least expensive thing.

[Anonymous]

I have done both. Have a $ amount fixed per person or have my kid put in on my credit card and have no limits.

My kids are very responsible and have friends who are similar to them. They make good choices and are careful in how they spend their money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I say let them order whatever they want on the menu. Either full pay for this place or make him choose a place that doesn't offer menu items more expensive than want you want to pay.

This. It is rude to expect teens to pay for what is left over especially if they end up splitting the cost when just say 2 spent a fortune. With family you can set a limit and let everyone know. Don't do that with friends at a party. Not your son's job to police his friends or threaten they they will have to pay part of it. Also, teens can be notorious for trying to get away with not paying the total amount or not giving a proper tip. Don't risk screwing a waiter because they went overboard and the gift card wasn't enough and your son used tip cash to pay for the extras. Why don't you go as a family to the place with pricey options and have him chose a place to go with friends where nothing is beyond a certain price.

[Anonymous]

I think you can set some reasonable parameters "one app, entree, and dessert pp" or "one entree and an app or desert, but not all 3" but not a dollar limit.

[Anonymous]

Or do a place with family style dining? Like Maggianos? Does anyone go there anymore? Lol

[Anonymous]

I would limit the number of friends before I’d limit what they can order.

[Anonymous]

I would suck it up. Which I've done ever since my nephews hit about 15 and started ordering the most expensive steak every time we go out.

I actually asked my SIL once if it bugs her that her son always orders dishes that cost $50+. She said "it's what he likes."

[Anonymous]

My son likes steak and seafood so his order is always on the high end when we go out as a family, but he knows to order in line with the host when somebody else is treating. Don't most tweens/teens know this? If you're worried about it I'd have my son take his friends out for pizza or Chinese food (something family style).

[Anonymous]

How many friends are we talking? I'd recommend calling the restaurant and asking for a pre-fixed menu and explain it is for a kid's party. Ask them to print up some little event menus that list the options.

1) Ask the restaurant if they will limit the drink options and print them on the menu or provide carafes of 2 types of soft drink + water
2) Pre-order appetizers for the table
3) Pick 3 or 4 entrees from which the kids can order
4) Pick 2 or 3 desserts from which the kids can order

[Anonymous]

better to limit number of kids rather than limit from what they order. I have done a couple of teen birthday meals and most of the kids were pretty conservative with what they ordered. You could order the apps and then serve the cake as dessert?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many friends are we talking? I'd recommend calling the restaurant and asking for a pre-fixed menu and explain it is for a kid's party. Ask them to print up some little event menus that list the options.

1) Ask the restaurant if they will limit the drink options and print them on the menu or provide carafes of 2 types of soft drink + water
2) Pre-order appetizers for the table
3) Pick 3 or 4 entrees from which the kids can order
4) Pick 2 or 3 desserts from which the kids can order

Restaurants are usually happy to do it since it makes their job easier too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I say let them order whatever they want on the menu. Either full pay for this place or make him choose a place that doesn't offer menu items more expensive than want you want to pay.

This. It is rude to expect teens to pay for what is left over especially if they end up splitting the cost when just say 2 spent a fortune. With family you can set a limit and let everyone know. Don't do that with friends at a party. Not your son's job to police his friends or threaten they they will have to pay part of it. Also, teens can be notorious for trying to get away with not paying the total amount or not giving a proper tip. Don't risk screwing a waiter because they went overboard and the gift card wasn't enough and your son used tip cash to pay for the extras. Why don't you go as a family to the place with pricey options and have him chose a place to go with friends where nothing is beyond a certain price.

You absolutely you can set a limit with teens and should as some kids are brats and would order a lot or the highest item as their parent didn't teach them manners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did this recently and two kids ordered house salads because they were told not not order the most expensive thing on the menu by their parents so they ordered the least expensive thing.

That would be my kid or maybe it is also because there was nothing else they could eat.