Anonymous
Post 10/31/2017 00:39     Subject: Friend Picks Very Expensive Restaurant for Birthday Dinner.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Funny, I have a friend who celebrates her birthday by TREATING all of her friends to dinner at some fancy place she's always wanted to try. We argue about the bill, but the most she's ever let us do is pay the tip. And I think she still tipped on top of our contribution.



This is the only way I would agree to go out with friends for my birthday, if I treat.


I feel weird when the birthday boy or girl treats to dinner. Let people treat you nice on your birthday!


I lived in Eastern Europe for a few years and that was the way they did it. Birthday boy/girl pays everything. Among my western expat friends, we'd do the opposite like here in the US, and the birthday boy never had to open his wallet that night.
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2017 00:23     Subject: Friend Picks Very Expensive Restaurant for Birthday Dinner.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Funny, I have a friend who celebrates her birthday by TREATING all of her friends to dinner at some fancy place she's always wanted to try. We argue about the bill, but the most she's ever let us do is pay the tip. And I think she still tipped on top of our contribution.



Ha, I do this! I cannot fathom inviting friends to celebrate ME, and making them pay to do it!


This is what I usually do, but OP is the one who invited her out. It would be kind of weird if OP invited birthday girl out then expected bday girl to foot the bill.

But I also agree it's weird. The only time I've purposely chosen a more expensive place is if it's someone I'm extremely close to, who I know can afford it, and who I am absolutely certain is more than happy to pay.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2017 21:49     Subject: Friend Picks Very Expensive Restaurant for Birthday Dinner.
Is she hot?
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2017 21:47     Subject: Friend Picks Very Expensive Restaurant for Birthday Dinner.
Anonymous wrote:OP here, since we offered to take her out, we intended to pick up the tab for the whole thing (BF included), as we have done in the past. I'm sure she assumes that too.


You gave her the choice if restaurant


Next time say "we want to take you to Les Expensif RestaurBt for your birthday.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2017 18:40     Subject: Friend Picks Very Expensive Restaurant for Birthday Dinner.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Thats what you get for acting like you have a great job and are making all of the money. When you pretend you are doing way better than your friends, you deserve it when they call your bluff.

This is nonsense.


Dude, I know several people like what OP described. They only eat out at nice restaurants or do fun events when someone else is footing the bill.

Going to a "nice" restaurant for my one friend is going to Olive Garden. When we organize a friend lunch, she's always the one throwing out The Melting Pot, Ruth's Chris, Komi, Pineapple & Pearls, etc. It never fails, when it's someone else's turn to pay, it's at a nice place. When it's her turn to pay, the options are like Olive Garden, Texas Roadhouse, BJ's, etc.


Slightly off topic I know, but did you really just put the melting pot in the same category as pineapple and pearls and Komi!


NP

Lol. I laughed too, but I think she was referring to the price point. Can’t remember the last time I was at the The Melting Pot, but it was way too expensive for a tiny portion of food that they don’t even cook for you. I left hungry, and I’m not a big eater.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2017 18:11     Subject: Friend Picks Very Expensive Restaurant for Birthday Dinner.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Thats what you get for acting like you have a great job and are making all of the money. When you pretend you are doing way better than your friends, you deserve it when they call your bluff.

This is nonsense.


Dude, I know several people like what OP described. They only eat out at nice restaurants or do fun events when someone else is footing the bill.

Going to a "nice" restaurant for my one friend is going to Olive Garden. When we organize a friend lunch, she's always the one throwing out The Melting Pot, Ruth's Chris, Komi, Pineapple & Pearls, etc. It never fails, when it's someone else's turn to pay, it's at a nice place. When it's her turn to pay, the options are like Olive Garden, Texas Roadhouse, BJ's, etc.


Slightly off topic I know, but did you really just put the melting pot in the same category as pineapple and pearls and Komi!
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2017 18:05     Subject: Friend Picks Very Expensive Restaurant for Birthday Dinner.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Funny, I have a friend who celebrates her birthday by TREATING all of her friends to dinner at some fancy place she's always wanted to try. We argue about the bill, but the most she's ever let us do is pay the tip. And I think she still tipped on top of our contribution.



This is the only way I would agree to go out with friends for my birthday, if I treat.


I feel weird when the birthday boy or girl treats to dinner. Let people treat you nice on your birthday!
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2017 15:29     Subject: Friend Picks Very Expensive Restaurant for Birthday Dinner.
Anonymous wrote:Funny, I have a friend who celebrates her birthday by TREATING all of her friends to dinner at some fancy place she's always wanted to try. We argue about the bill, but the most she's ever let us do is pay the tip. And I think she still tipped on top of our contribution.



This is the only way I would agree to go out with friends for my birthday, if I treat.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2017 14:56     Subject: Friend Picks Very Expensive Restaurant for Birthday Dinner.
I’m another one that pays when I’ve invited others to celebrate my birthday.

Are prices less expensive for lunch? You can say it’s out of your budget for dinner, but if she’s really keen on it and lunch is a more affordable option, give that a go.

But I think if you’re not honest about the budget aspect, this friend of yours sounds too clueless to ever pick up on it independently.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2017 14:49     Subject: Friend Picks Very Expensive Restaurant for Birthday Dinner.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Thats what you get for acting like you have a great job and are making all of the money. When you pretend you are doing way better than your friends, you deserve it when they call your bluff.

This is nonsense.


Dude, I know several people like what OP described. They only eat out at nice restaurants or do fun events when someone else is footing the bill.

Going to a "nice" restaurant for my one friend is going to Olive Garden. When we organize a friend lunch, she's always the one throwing out The Melting Pot, Ruth's Chris, Komi, Pineapple & Pearls, etc. It never fails, when it's someone else's turn to pay, it's at a nice place. When it's her turn to pay, the options are like Olive Garden, Texas Roadhouse, BJ's, etc.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2017 14:37     Subject: Friend Picks Very Expensive Restaurant for Birthday Dinner.
Anonymous wrote:My friends bday is coming up and we offered to take her out for dinner on her bday and of course she can pick where. She informs us that she's always wanted to try a restaurant but it's too expensive, so that is where she wants us to take her and her boyfriend.

I checked the menu and with wine, cocktails, dessert, tip etc. I imagine the bill is going to be almost $400-$500 and add more for Uber or parking - which is a lot for us. I am stunned, it seems rude. But I am not sure if I am being cheap or a sucker. What would you do?


Yes, just tell her it's too expensive for you as well. Frankly, your friend is rather poorly mannered if she uses your generous offer as a chance to bleed you dry.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2017 14:35     Subject: Friend Picks Very Expensive Restaurant for Birthday Dinner.
Just tell her it's too expensive? maybe she's clueless, maybe she's a moocher.

But if you tell her it's too expensive for you, unless she's horrible she will suggest an alternative. If not, then you know who she is.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2017 14:34     Subject: Friend Picks Very Expensive Restaurant for Birthday Dinner.
Here is what you do OP. Agree to the dinner. As soon as you finish, drop $20 on the table for your ”share” and say you have to leave early!
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2017 14:29     Subject: Friend Picks Very Expensive Restaurant for Birthday Dinner.
Anonymous wrote:Funny, I have a friend who celebrates her birthday by TREATING all of her friends to dinner at some fancy place she's always wanted to try. We argue about the bill, but the most she's ever let us do is pay the tip. And I think she still tipped on top of our contribution.



Anonymous
Post 10/30/2017 14:26     Subject: Friend Picks Very Expensive Restaurant for Birthday Dinner.
That's insensitive of her, and you should tell her that's a bit out of your price range and suggest something which is, like a PP said.

I spend about $50 on my best friends' birthdays.