Buying lunch for a friend

[Evil Genius]

I was in Vegas recently and met up with a friend I haven't seen in years. We went shopping and I offered to buy lunch. One because I was starving and two because my friend is unemployed. They agreed and we started to look for a place to eat. It took almost 2 hours to decide on a restaurant!!! I would ask if they liked asian food and would get a smart alek answer. We would stop at another place to look at the menu and the comment would be "Oh look at these prices!" After my repeatedly saying that is what I was expecting to pay for lunch. The constant comment was we could go to Burger King or Weinershnitzel I explained to them that I don't eat that kind of food, and then got the comment that I was too snooty. GRRRR We actually sat down at one place AFTER looking at the menu outside and that is when they proclaimed that everything there was going to be too spicy. (No they had never had a meal there) So we got up and left. At this point I was getting ill and I finally pulled them into a by the slice pizza place (Bleh) They ordered a slice of pepperoni pizza and then decided that they wanted lasagna and garlic bread and wine. I ended up with really bad pizza. BTW this person lives in Vegas and knows full well the prices of restaurants, etc on the strip.

So what would you have done?

 

[happygirl]

I was in Vegas recently and met up with a friend I haven't seen in years. We went shopping and I offered to buy lunch. One because I was starving and two because my friend is unemployed. They agreed and we started to look for a place to eat. It took almost 2 hours to decide on a restaurant!!! I would ask if they liked asian food and would get a smart alek answer. We would stop at another place to look at the menu and the comment would be "Oh look at these prices!" After my repeatedly saying that is what I was expecting to pay for lunch. The constant comment was we could go to Burger King or Weinershnitzel I explained to them that I don't eat that kind of food, and then got the comment that I was too snooty. GRRRR We actually sat down at one place AFTER looking at the menu outside and that is when they proclaimed that everything there was going to be too spicy. (No they had never had a meal there) So we got up and left. At this point I was getting ill and I finally pulled them into a by the slice pizza place (Bleh) They ordered a slice of pepperoni pizza and then decided that they wanted lasagna and garlic bread and wine. I ended up with really bad pizza. BTW this person lives in Vegas and knows full well the prices of restaurants, etc on the strip.

So what would you have done?

I know you were trying to be a good friend, some people have a really hard time letting people do things for them. I'd image your friend was feeling bad that you was buying his lunch and didn't want you to spend very much on him

 

[OceanAnnie]

I don't know. Probably what you did. Hindsight is everything.

You were trying to be polite. Nice offer. They sounded like kids in a candy shop, but the indecisiveness for 2 hours is extreme. Rude of them and an awkward situation.

I'm not sure anything you would have said or done could've effected the outcome, because you did make suggestions. Well, you could have said, Oh, yeah. I have to pick up something (lunch for yourself!). I'll meet you guys in an hour. J/K. That was a long, long wait!!

 

[Jennasis]

I'd do what you did...suck it up at the time and come and complain about the idiocy of it all on the DIS. People can be maddening sometimes can't they?

 

[sbell111]

I was in Vegas recently and met up with a friend I haven't seen in years. We went shopping and I offered to buy lunch. One because I was starving and two because my friend is unemployed. They agreed and we started to look for a place to eat. It took almost 2 hours to decide on a restaurant!!! I would ask if they liked asian food and would get a smart alek answer. We would stop at another place to look at the menu and the comment would be "Oh look at these prices!" After my repeatedly saying that is what I was expecting to pay for lunch. The constant comment was we could go to Burger King or Weinershnitzel I explained to them that I don't eat that kind of food, and then got the comment that I was too snooty. GRRRR We actually sat down at one place AFTER looking at the menu outside and that is when they proclaimed that everything there was going to be too spicy. (No they had never had a meal there) So we got up and left. At this point I was getting ill and I finally pulled them into a by the slice pizza place (Bleh) They ordered a slice of pepperoni pizza and then decided that they wanted lasagna and garlic bread and wine. I ended up with really bad pizza. BTW this person lives in Vegas and knows full well the prices of restaurants, etc on the strip.

So what would you have done?

I would probably have gone to Weinerschnitzel, but maybe Burger King.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

After the smart alek answers, I probably would have cut the visit short and went to eat. Offer to meet up later. Esp. after the "snooty comment". That is bizzarre.

 

[Silent1CB]

I was in Vegas recently and met up with a friend I haven't seen in years. We went shopping and I offered to buy lunch. One because I was starving and two because my friend is unemployed. They agreed and we started to look for a place to eat. It took almost 2 hours to decide on a restaurant!!! I would ask if they liked asian food and would get a smart alek answer. We would stop at another place to look at the menu and the comment would be "Oh look at these prices!" After my repeatedly saying that is what I was expecting to pay for lunch. The constant comment was we could go to Burger King or Weinershnitzel I explained to them that I don't eat that kind of food, and then got the comment that I was too snooty. GRRRR We actually sat down at one place AFTER looking at the menu outside and that is when they proclaimed that everything there was going to be too spicy. (No they had never had a meal there) So we got up and left. At this point I was getting ill and I finally pulled them into a by the slice pizza place (Bleh) They ordered a slice of pepperoni pizza and then decided that they wanted lasagna and garlic bread and wine. I ended up with really bad pizza. BTW this person lives in Vegas and knows full well the prices of restaurants, etc on the strip.

So what would you have done?

I would have handed the friend a $5 bill, told her to go to BK. I'm going to eat at this place here. Let's meet back in 1 hr at X spot.

You said you would buy lunch....not that you would eat with her.

 

[Froggyswife]

I think your friend was rude "snooty"? really? I wouldn't know what to do in that situation. Although since my stroke I tend to speak my mind more than usual... I would probably have told them off.

 

[snykymom]

I'd have said, after the first 1/2 hour, "Well, it looks like we can't agree. I'm going to eat at ________, and you're welcome to join me if you'd like; my treat. Otherwise, let's meet at ________ for [whatever] at ____ o'clock. OK?"

 

[sbell111]

After the smart alek answers, I probably would have cut the visit short and went to eat. Offer to meet up later. Esp. after the "snooty comment". That is bizzarre.

Not for a friend. I can't imagine a friendship where one person is not able to call the other something this benign.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Not for a friend. I can't imagine a friendship where one person is not able to call the other something this benign.

Has nothing to do with what they called me. It is the fact I am in Vegas and I am not going to eat Burger King, period.

I would split up with my own family in Vegas.

 

[Disney Doll]

I would have putzed around with them for maybe 30minutes waiting for them to decide, then I would have said "Well, I'm going to go to XYZ Restaurant. You're welcome to join me. If not, I'll meet you at 3 o'clock at the corner of ABC and DEF".

 

[daisax]

Too bad there aren't any buffets in Vegas.

 

[NMAmy]

I have low blood sugar and when I have to eat, I have to eat now. If family and friends are taking too long debating the merits of a particular restaurant, I've been known to say, "Listen, I'm eating HERE. You're welcome to join me or not but I'm eating now."

I get pretty testy when I'm hungry.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Is it possible that they felt awkward because you were paying and didn't want you to be put out financially? If they're unemployed, pennies matter and maybe they unknowingly transferred their concern about finances to you?

<----Just call me Pollyanna...

 

[sbell111]

Has nothing to do with what they called me. It is the fact I am in Vegas and I am not going to eat Burger King, period.

I already posted that I would have preferred Weinerschnitzel to BK.

 

[sbell111]

Is it possible that they felt awkward because you were paying and didn't want you to be put out financially? If they're unemployed, pennies matter and maybe they unknowingly transferred their concern about finances to you?

<----Just call me Pollyanna...

I suspect that this is exactly what was going on. That's one of the reasons that I would have eaten at the restaurants that my friend was comfortable with, rather than trying to force a more expensive one.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I suspect that this is exactly what was going on. That's one of the reasons that I would have eaten at the restaurants that my friend was comfortable with, rather than trying to force a more expensive one.

The burden also falls on the guest to decline and then the OP could have gracefully went her seperate way.

 

[MAKmom]

The burden also falls on the guest to decline and then the OP could have gracefully went her seperate way.

This is correct.

After I was seated I would never have left that table until I ate. I would have swooned first

 

[BillSears]

I'd let them veto once. After that I'd let them know that they had a choice of joining me for lunch at this restauant or they could suggest one right then that we both liked. If they couldn't come up with something I wanted to eat at then i'd go in and have lunch, with or without them. Just tell them I'm eating here join me or else we can meet up afterward.