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submitted 5 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

My fiancée does not know how to order off a menu. Actually she does, she doesn't care to order from a menu like most people do.

Going out to eat with her is pretty much an hour long ordeal of me gritting my teeth while she racks up a bill 3x mine, all while trying nicely to steer her to just one item. She'll open the menu, get overwhelmed with options, and end up ordering a la carte from places that do not work that way, asking for endless substitutions and upcharges. As an example, at a restaraunt, she might not be able to decide between a burger or chicken tenders, so she'll ask for "a half order" of both of them, then she likes the sound of one specific dipping sauce that comes with another entree so she'll ask for a cup of that, etc. Etc. I'll say something before we go in, she'll promise me she'll just get a water, and then get a water - and a margarita. It's draining. At this point, we go out maybe once pr twice a year unless something forces us out more than that.

The scenario that prompted this rant was that tonight was one of those times. Our bill was $82.10. My entree plus water was $10.99.

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[-] [email protected] 6 points 5 days ago

Do you have separate accounts? If she pays for her own meal with her own money, nbd. But I’m guessing since you’re planning a future together you’ll also be commingling your finances at some point (if you haven’t already), and with this in mind I urge you to have regular financial planning and check-in sessions with each other to mitigate frustrations over different spending habits.

I didn’t have parents who were great with money, and I don’t naturally have a great head for numbers, so when I got married I had a lot of learning to do. My husband is the complete opposite and stays on top of things much more than I do, but financial spending, saving, and planning are important to be on the same page about. Personally, if I know we’re saving money for a particular project or trip or something, I make much better choices in the moment.

In your specific situation, my advice would be to agree on an amount you want to spend on the outing beforehand so you’re on the same page. This still gives her the option to modify her order to her tastes, she just has parameters to work within. If she completely disregards that agreement, you can always step it up old school with the money-in-an-envelope method, where you can’t fall back on a debit or credit card if you “accidentally” go over (although if I were in your shoes going this route, I’d stash a card on me for emergencies, but make her sweat just enough she feels the burn of her mistake).

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[-] [email protected] 5 points 5 days ago

lol was that the chilis the three for me for $10.99? Literally when I got to chilis, I’ll get that $11 three for me, and my partner orders the salmon for like twice my meal. Very frustrating, but your situation is on another level... I have no advice other than don’t go through with the marriage if this is one of many, many things she does to induce “gritting of teeth.” Hopefully this is her like one quirk or something…

[-] [email protected] 5 points 5 days ago

Hmm, but I bet their salmon meal was healthier. 🤔

[-] [email protected] 6 points 5 days ago

Farmed salmon that’s frozen, cooked, frozen, then microwaved. Mmmmm…. Healthy meals at Chili’s.

[-] [email protected] 4 points 5 days ago

That salmon still sounds more healthy than deep fried anything or something drowning in a bowl of melted cheese.

[-] [email protected] 4 points 5 days ago

Just choose better restaurants that facilitate this type of ordering. You'll both be better off.

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[-] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

If expectations were set ahead of time, this sounds like a lot of fun.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

Is the sex good at least? That’s the only reason I can see you staying with her.

[-] [email protected] 0 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Run my friend... run fast and do not stop until you're out of her reach!

btw: In restaurants à la carte is the practice of ordering individual dishes from a menu in a restaurant, as opposed to table d'hôte, where a set menu is offered. It is an early 19th century loanword from french meaning "according to the menu". Your fiancee acts like she's the queen.

RUN!

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[-] [email protected] 0 points 5 days ago

I do this - order a la carte and hold stuff. I try to be very nice about it. I don't want a 3 taco plate with rice and beans for $20, only to throw most of it away. I want a la carte one taco and rice. Everytime I get a salad without dressing, a burger without sauce, anything without cheese, etc., it gets questioned. Please stop trying to give me other dressings, different sauces, and cheese on everything. I get menu anxiety and usually check it before we go so I can make a plan, especially if we're dining with people I don't know well. Know that's it's frustrating for her too; extra frustrating if you're calling attention to it.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

I might fundamentally disagree with you what a restaurant is. For me it's a place where hard working people get to share their cuisine with you. Most I'll ask at a restaurant is one alteration to one dish.

When I read the OP and your post, a restaurant seems like the place for you to get the perfect meal.

As Beau Miles puts it: "I plan on regretting what I'm eating at least once this week"

[-] [email protected] 2 points 4 days ago

The restaurants I visit usually sell food, not cuisine. Ordering 3x the food I want seems wasteful and expensive. I don't think that skipping cheese (and associated diarrhea) makes it the perfect meal.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 4 days ago

Different cultures! Dietary restrictions aren't optional though

[-] [email protected] -5 points 5 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

How is this a “good” off my chest?

Edit: Thanks for the downvotes you dumb fucks, way to explain your rationale and simply dismiss people. Real “good,” uplifting community here.

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[-] [email protected] 0 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

This is a red flag. Don't turn fiance to spouse until you really think about this or get her to corrupt it. Never going to dinner will make any future dates exceedingly difficult.

But honestly, if she has this red flag, there are likely a bunch of others you aren't seeing. The level of inconsideration she has to have to let her treat other people this way is exceedingly high. Not just how she's treating the wait staff, but the imposition placed on the cooks, as well as how the experience is affecting you. She's at best extremely thoughtless and inconsiderate.

Edit:or don't, divorce is available later if things bother you bad enough

[-] [email protected] 82 points 5 days ago

I feel like this is a discussion you need to actually have with her

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this post was submitted on 28 Jun 2025
156 points (95.9% liked)

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