Mrs M and I went out for dinner the other night, with an old friend and her new chap and another friend of hers who we like very much. So nice company.
The restaurant was a local Japanese, where you’re expected to share plates. Which we did, and it was excellent food, beautifully presented, but tiny servings. Mrs M and I walked home afterwards both feeling that we hadn’t had enough to eat, and that we’d have to fill up with a piece of toast (with our cup of tea while we watched Unforgotten).
Personally I’d rather choose something from a menu and have my own plate of food in front of me, and share if someone wanted to try it (I usually do this anyway) and have the option of sampling someone else’s if they offer.
One problem with the place we went to was that there were 5 of us but everything came in plates of 4 things – dumplings, sushi etc. So unless there was some awkward conversation about “who wants just half” and even more awkward slicing, someone had to miss out.
Also, say you have one super delicious prawn gyoza, you’re probably going to want a couple more. But then in the ambience of the evening you can hardly order and scoff a whole plate yourself.
Oh dear I am making this sound like A Very British Problem. My parents hated this way of dining, and I think I have to admit I’m unashamedly with them.
mikethep says
🙂 I’m with you on this, although I think I’d probably stretch a point if there was enough food to go round.
My problem is slightly different. Mrs thep, who is disinclined to overeat both for her own well-being and that of the planet, is prone to suggest that we buy one dish in a restaurant and share it, particularly if it’s a pizza. I’m not keen on this, partly because I want my own bloody pizza and I want a whole one, and partly because I feel sorry for the restaurant, who were hoping to sell two pizzas and end up selling only one. Admittedly, what with the insane amounts of food you get served in Australian restaurants, it’s not as much of a problem as it would be, say, in Paris, mais quand même…
johnw says
I think, whether it works or not, depends on your budget. If you can afford to overorder and be happy to leave some, it works. If you feel that you need to carefully divide everything that arrives, it doesn’t. Also, it needs to all come out at the same time. I hate it when you like something, there’s more available but you don’t know if you should have more or leave room.
The other problem with sharing is that everyone needs to have broadly the same tastes. I’ve often managed to swing not sharing by dint of being vegetarian.
thecheshirecat says
I am not familiar with this problem as only a complete stranger would be foolish enough to opt for a sharing platter while I am at the table.
No, make that ‘while I am in the room’.
Moose the Mooche says
A catchphrase I’ve inherited from my dad is, “Are you not having that?”
Occasionally while pointing at food which people have actually got on their forks.
thecheshirecat says
My father’s was ‘Are you struggling with that?’
Only because my fork is occupied impaling the back of your hand.
SteveT says
Not fan of sharing or even tasting someone elsea food. Not tasting their food because if it is better than what you have ordered yourself it might spoil your enjoyment of your own food.
The ex Mrs T used to swear she didnt like chips but strangely when mine would come she always wanted to nick a couple. It used to piss me off and perhaps was a contributory factor in getting rid of her😀
Vulpes Vulpes says
Sounds ghastly. I prefer the approach taken by a fave Chinese place in Bath – everyone gets their own plate and you can help yourself to as much as you can eat.
Mrbellows says
That’s called a buffet.
Moose the Mooche says
Not uncommon in Chinese establishments I believe…
Mrbellows says
Or golf clubs.
Moose the Mooche says
This totally misses the point about dining out which is to spend ages bitching about what you’ve ordered because the other people’s dinners all looked better, and in any case they got more than you did.
PS. a very British problem at the moment is that you won’t be able to go into any kind of restaurant for at least another six weeks.
Vulpes Vulpes says
I know I had a more expensive starter, but you had three side dishes. Oh, and you had a second glass of wine. You greedy bastard. Whaddya mean ‘I paid for the popadums”? That was in 2017.