Table Manners

[A-37]

Here's the set-up:

You're in a restaurant with a lady (not your wife). Let's call her Marlene. You're served an Italian wrap (cut in half) and Marlene is served a patty melt burger on Texas toast (cut in half). Marlene likes the look of your wrap and asks if you'd like to trade halves. You say, "No, thanks." Marlene smiles and says, "Okay." Did you do the right thing?

 

[Sevens]

I'm in a restaurant with not your wife? Okay, let's skip past that for a second.

I'm the man and I ordered a wrap and the lady ordered a burger?!

Forget it, I'm out.

 

[cadmike]

I don't think what you said was rude. Some folks would say she was rude, for asking for food from another persons plate. Would you be so bold?

Having said that, some couples do like to share food at restaurants, part of the experience of dining out, and that's fine.

 

[BKLooney]

Yeah, you should have ordered one sweetheart, maybe next time..

 

[Onomea]

No, you did not do the right thing. I assume this is a date...

Wait...

Maybe I am reading this wrong. If this "not your wife"* lady is someone in whom you have no romantic interest, it's okay not to accept her wish to switch halves. You can treat her like you'd treat a guy you happen to be having lunch with.

If the lady is your wife, GF or someone in whom you have a romantic interest, or the potential therefore, then yeah, you should go along with the request.

*When I read "not your wife," I thought you were making an erroneous distinction between how one should treat wives as opposed to girlfriends/romantic interests. But after thinking about it for a while, I think maybe you are saying, "This person is not my wife or GF. Just someone with whom I got stuck with at lunch."

That's how it seems to me anyway.

 

[UncleEd]

Tell Marlene to stay at her own table.

 

[djohns6]

First date ? Make the trade . No point in screwing up your chances for future dates .

 

[Racer X]

Discussing doing this during the ordering stage, or pre-ordering stage, is the time to do it. Your answer after the food arrived is perfectly fine.

 

[sjmjax]

Maybe I'm weird. But if the burger or other food item is prepared to my liking, I'd be inclined to accept. I like variety in my meals. Might have been better to negotiate the possible swap before ordering.
Actually, that's a common practice between me and friends. Great way to try new things and not be stuck with an entire meal you may not like.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I'm inclined to think that this is very inappropriate of the woman (who is no lady)!

Ivan

My wife might have a problem with the burger, Then order her something else.

 

[Eric300]

Who's paying??

 

[lihpster]

With those menu choices on a date? Maybe. But what if she has ordered something I don't like? Or can't/shouldn't eat? Different.

If she's just a friend, how good a friend? Do your kids call me uncle? Or are you an acquaintance I ran into at the mall? Different.

Is this new behavior or does it happen repeatedly? Different.

It's a level of familiarity and entitlement I'm not comfortable with outside of my close circle. You want a wrap? I'll order you one. We'll get a takeout box for the leftovers, but I'm eating mine.

Also, unless you're paying, If I order a $150 steak and you get a patty melt, you can go screw.

 

[S42N8]

Live dangerously. Trade lunch….less'n ye caint handle Texas toast. Or Marlene.

 

[Rustyt1953]

 

[NFrameFred]

You may be asking yourself, "How did I get in this restaurant?" and You may be asking yourself, "who is the woman not my wife ?" Why is there a patty melt on my table ?"

"And you may tell yourself, "This woman is not my wife ". "I did not order a patty melt !", . . . . letting the days go by - same as it ever was . . . .

 

[ralph7]

Here's the set-up:

You're in a restaurant with a lady (not your wife). Let's call her Marlene. You're served an Italian wrap (cut in half) and Marlene is served a patty melt burger on Texas toast (cut in half). Marlene likes the look of your wrap and asks if you'd like to trade halves. You say no, thanks. Marlene looks hurt.
Did you do the right thing?

No, you screwed up.
You should have traded the whole patty melt for that effeminate wrap thing that you erroneously ordered.

 

[s&wchad]

Wrong answer...

Man up! Unless she's your sister, give a woman what she asks for...
Food is NOT on the top of the list!

You may be asking yourself, "How did I get in this restaurant?" and You may be asking yourself, "who is the woman not my wife ?" Why is there a patty melt on my table ?"

"And you may tell yourself, "This woman is not my wife ". "I did not order a patty melt !", . . . . letting the days go by - same as it ever was...

Are you a Talking head??

 

[UncleEd]

Never anyone ever asked to share my calf liver and onions.

 

[Xfuzz]

Talk about weird stuff to fret over...

 

[Rustyt1953]

The prime culinary rule I adhere to when it comes to dining with a female is "order extra fries".