Home for sure. I like alcohol but no biggie if it isn’t offered, especially if kids and driving are involved anyway.

Anonymous wrote:If hanging out with another family, would you prefer to be invited to a dinner out to a restaurant, or dinner at their home?

Depends. I have a good friend who cannot cook and I mean she can't boil water for pasta! Fortunately, she knows this. If it's entire family then at home. If it's just adults then go out to dinner.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Home. I love seeing what people cook, relaxing over a cocktail, etc. Restaurants are kind of loud and boring.

Since you said relaxing over a cocktail makes the night more enjoyable, how do you feel if the hosts don’t have alcohol in the house and only offer tea, sparkling water, lemonade, etc?

I’ll be honest, I don’t love it. I never drink sugary drinks like lemonade with dinner. Tea, maybe if they’re making Asian food. I’ve never gotten into sparkling water, would as soon have tap, but it doesn’t seem very exciting.

Agree. I don't happen to know anyone who wouldn't serve alcohol in their home even if they themselves don't drink it, and I can honestly say this has never happened to me. I think people so extreme that they don't even have any alcohol at home probably socialize with other people who feel the same.

This is helpful. We are Muslim and don’t keep alcohol in the home. Where we live there are very few who share our religion thus we have a very diverse friend group. Many actually don’t know we are Muslim as we don’t broadcast it. Would you prefer to know prior to coming over so you could turn down an invitation? We are just not starting to invite new families over but would hate to ostracize ourselves as poor hosts due to our beliefs.

I would still come but it might make things less awkward to mention it in advance. And to pp's point I'd probably clarify whether you just don't drink or don't allow it in your home.

We would prefer not to have anyone drinking in our home, but that is something we tend to be more conservative on as compared to others who share our religion. If someone brought a bottle of wine as a hostess gift I would never say anything other than thank you and just put it on the counter/ pantry. I want people to feel welcome in our home but this is also a closely held belief of ours in our home. For instance, if we are dining out at a restaurant and another couple orders a drink we would not say/do anything.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Home. I love seeing what people cook, relaxing over a cocktail, etc. Restaurants are kind of loud and boring.

Since you said relaxing over a cocktail makes the night more enjoyable, how do you feel if the hosts don’t have alcohol in the house and only offer tea, sparkling water, lemonade, etc?

I’ll be honest, I don’t love it. I never drink sugary drinks like lemonade with dinner. Tea, maybe if they’re making Asian food. I’ve never gotten into sparkling water, would as soon have tap, but it doesn’t seem very exciting.

Agree. I don't happen to know anyone who wouldn't serve alcohol in their home even if they themselves don't drink it, and I can honestly say this has never happened to me. I think people so extreme that they don't even have any alcohol at home probably socialize with other people who feel the same.

This is helpful. We are Muslim and don’t keep alcohol in the home. Where we live there are very few who share our religion thus we have a very diverse friend group. Many actually don’t know we are Muslim as we don’t broadcast it. Would you prefer to know prior to coming over so you could turn down an invitation? We are just not starting to invite new families over but would hate to ostracize ourselves as poor hosts due to our beliefs.

I would still come but it might make things less awkward to mention it in advance. And to pp's point I'd probably clarify whether you just don't drink or don't allow it in your home.

^ fwiw I’m the one who first wrote about cocktails

Subject: Poll: dinner out or dinner at home? [Up]
Anonymous



Anonymous wrote:
Home. I love seeing what people cook, relaxing over a cocktail, etc. Restaurants are kind of loud and boring.


Since you said relaxing over a cocktail makes the night more enjoyable, how do you feel if the hosts don’t have alcohol in the house and only offer tea, sparkling water, lemonade, etc?

Totally fine. It’s the sitting around, chatting aspect of cocktail hour I most appreciate. Could be coffee before brunch. Could be seltzer and lime. It’s the being able to chat, sit in comfy chairs (or stand in the kitchen), let kids run around a bit instead of sitting down and having someone pressure you for an order that is enjoyable. If I want a cocktail I can easily get that at a restaurant - it’s just a different vibe.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Home. I love seeing what people cook, relaxing over a cocktail, etc. Restaurants are kind of loud and boring.

Since you said relaxing over a cocktail makes the night more enjoyable, how do you feel if the hosts don’t have alcohol in the house and only offer tea, sparkling water, lemonade, etc?

I’ll be honest, I don’t love it. I never drink sugary drinks like lemonade with dinner. Tea, maybe if they’re making Asian food. I’ve never gotten into sparkling water, would as soon have tap, but it doesn’t seem very exciting.

Agree. I don't happen to know anyone who wouldn't serve alcohol in their home even if they themselves don't drink it, and I can honestly say this has never happened to me. I think people so extreme that they don't even have any alcohol at home probably socialize with other people who feel the same.

This is helpful. We are Muslim and don’t keep alcohol in the home. Where we live there are very few who share our religion thus we have a very diverse friend group. Many actually don’t know we are Muslim as we don’t broadcast it. Would you prefer to know prior to coming over so you could turn down an invitation? We are just not starting to invite new families over but would hate to ostracize ourselves as poor hosts due to our beliefs.

Are you opposed to someone bringing a bottle of wine? If not, it would be a kindness to say “we don’t drink but please feel free to bring some for yourself.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Home. I love seeing what people cook, relaxing over a cocktail, etc. Restaurants are kind of loud and boring.

Since you said relaxing over a cocktail makes the night more enjoyable, how do you feel if the hosts don’t have alcohol in the house and only offer tea, sparkling water, lemonade, etc?

I’ll be honest, I don’t love it. I never drink sugary drinks like lemonade with dinner. Tea, maybe if they’re making Asian food. I’ve never gotten into sparkling water, would as soon have tap, but it doesn’t seem very exciting.

Agree. I don't happen to know anyone who wouldn't serve alcohol in their home even if they themselves don't drink it, and I can honestly say this has never happened to me. I think people so extreme that they don't even have any alcohol at home probably socialize with other people who feel the same.

This is helpful. We are Muslim and don’t keep alcohol in the home. Where we live there are very few who share our religion thus we have a very diverse friend group. Many actually don’t know we are Muslim as we don’t broadcast it. Would you prefer to know prior to coming over so you could turn down an invitation? We are just not starting to invite new families over but would hate to ostracize ourselves as poor hosts due to our beliefs.

Depends. I usually prefer restaurants unless the kids are brats. Some home situations are nice if the homes are clean. No dogs please, no chili and no pasta.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Home. I love seeing what people cook, relaxing over a cocktail, etc. Restaurants are kind of loud and boring.

Since you said relaxing over a cocktail makes the night more enjoyable, how do you feel if the hosts don’t have alcohol in the house and only offer tea, sparkling water, lemonade, etc?

If they invited me, I'm bringing the alcohol.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Home. I love seeing what people cook, relaxing over a cocktail, etc. Restaurants are kind of loud and boring.

Since you said relaxing over a cocktail makes the night more enjoyable, how do you feel if the hosts don’t have alcohol in the house and only offer tea, sparkling water, lemonade, etc?

I’ll be honest, I don’t love it. I never drink sugary drinks like lemonade with dinner. Tea, maybe if they’re making Asian food. I’ve never gotten into sparkling water, would as soon have tap, but it doesn’t seem very exciting.

Agree. I don't happen to know anyone who wouldn't serve alcohol in their home even if they themselves don't drink it, and I can honestly say this has never happened to me. I think people so extreme that they don't even have any alcohol at home probably socialize with other people who feel the same.

Depends on the age of kids. Going out to dinner with teens, especially someplace different with delicious food, is so much fun! Younger kids? I'd rather eat on a back deck and watch the kids play in the yard.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Home. I love seeing what people cook, relaxing over a cocktail, etc. Restaurants are kind of loud and boring.

Since you said relaxing over a cocktail makes the night more enjoyable, how do you feel if the hosts don’t have alcohol in the house and only offer tea, sparkling water, lemonade, etc?

I’ll be honest, I don’t love it. I never drink sugary drinks like lemonade with dinner. Tea, maybe if they’re making Asian food. I’ve never gotten into sparkling water, would as soon have tap, but it doesn’t seem very exciting.

Restaurant. But I live in NYC, so this is pretty standard.

I don’t think I have a preference. It depends on the weather, the friends, the restaurant, the occasion, etc. Either one is great if they are good friends I enjoy spending time with.