How Often Do You Have Friends For Dinner?

[Saphire]

We have friends or family to dinner at our home around once a month, on average. We just came back from a restaurant with friends, which we have not done in awhile. I so much prefer going to someone's home or having company at my house. The evening is longer, the food is better, and the bill is a LOT less...yikes! I find many people do not entertain in their home too much anymore, or perhaps it's just my friends/family, lol. What about you? Would you rather meet in a home or restaurant? How often do you entertain?

 

[tiggersmom2]

We have a casual grill-out/beerfest/playdate for the kids about once a month.

 

[powellrj]

I hate, hate, hate to entertain. Thats not to say I never have people over. I had my DF on wednesday and my DS eats here several nights a week. I usually have extra food on hand for drop ins, but I hate to have to plan on having people over.

Our house is small and we only have one bathroom add a small kitchen and the fact that I work full-time and am usually running with the kids most nights so I don't have the time to prepare for guests and so thats why I hate to entertain.

I guess when I think about it, other than the kids and our families, we very rarely go out or have people over. Maybe when the kids are grown we will start to go out with friends again.

 

[EpcotMom]

Not often. They are so hard to cook.

Seriously, whenever they show up. We are pretty casual around here. So..maybe two or three times a month.

 

[lulubelle]

3 or 4 times a year. I know, but we Southern Californians are not that social.

 

[disykat]

We have an extra child for a meal several times a week, but rarely other adults. Probably friends for meals about 4 times a year, people just for dessert maybe a couple of times, girlfriends for "tea" several times, and then whenever family comes to visit.

I guess when I list it, it's more than I thought, but I still feel we should make the effort to do it more often. I'm not as good a cook as I'd like to be and worry too much about what I'll serve, etc.

 

[momto2girls]

We very rarely have people over for dinner. If we do, it is usually very casual and we order pizza in.

I would like to have people over more often, but it is just too much pressure! I get overwhelmed trying to plan a menu, worrying about how the food will turn out and whether I have the right wine and the appropriate serving dishes, etc.

So that is my long-winded way of saying that I'd prefer to meet at a restaurant. I would like to have a Christmas party this year, but if I do I will hire a caterer.

 

[malibuconlee]

It's something I would like to do more often. I have a girlfriend who comes with her son (hubby is in the Army and with training before and now his deployment, he's only been once) once or twice a month.

That being said, we had dinner for 10 at our house on Tuesday!!! Totally not planned. It was my friend's birthday on Monday, and she had been out of town the whole week before. I had marinated some meat to grill, and invited her over. She had plans to eat with a couple who's husband is about to deploy. His wife is here with their daughter. And some other friends wanted to show us pictures of the house they're buying in Texas after graduation. We ended up having everyone over for dinner the next night. It was a great time!!!

 

[Fan2CSkr]

I do it often. I really love cooking and entertaining. I get most of the Holidays. It seems to makes the family happy too. We also eat out a decent amount but I do prefer to entertain at home. I love the summer best for outdoor cook outs!

 

[KristinBelle]

Never, we only have a table that fits the 4 of of us.

 

[rentayenta]

Love entertaining! I love having people in my home, especially in my new home. Can't wait for the summer so we can take advantage of our deck. We have a set of friends that we go to dinner with about once a month. I also really enjoy guests that come to visit from out of state and stay in our home.


I too would rather eat and drink at home like Saphire said: the food is better and it costs a lot less.


It's also rare not to have at least one neighbor kid here at mealtime.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We have friends over (or go to their houses) once a week or so for a casual meal and kids play/adult hang. Last night we sat out in 40 degree weather wrapped in blankets next to a fire with 4 adults, 5 kids and a dog.

 

[MosMom]

Not enough! I think now that it is warm and we can BBQ and all sit outside with the firepit we will do it more.

 

[TheatreLady]

when it's warm a BBQ dinner on the patio, when it's cold a nice dinner in the dining room. so about once a week. Now you know why my house is always so clean!

 

[KimR]

I despise entertaining so we usually meet friends at a restaurant. It is so much more relaxing since no one has to serve or clean up so we can focus on socializing. Afterwards, we'll often go back to someone's house for drinks but I prefer the to have the main meal in a restaurant.

 

[TDC Nala]

Not often. They are so hard to cook.

I was thinking of Hannibal Lecter's last line in SOTL, "I have to go now, I'm having an old friend for dinner."

to answer the question...never. My condo's really tiny. My friends who live here are busy with their families, and a lot of my friends don't live here.

 

[PghLybrt]

At least once a week, more so in the summer. We probably eat out with others at least once a week also. I must say though for us eating out is the cheaper option!

If we go out to dinner it usually a mutually agreed upon place. Both couples pay their own bill. However when they come to my home I buy it all, and my girlfriend usually has some extravagant request or I found a really neat new recipe I want to try out. My friends know that when they come over they are going to be fed and fed quite well…….then there is the wine………


Now relatives….we leave that for holidays!

 

[bubie2.5]

Once a week, usually Fridays.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Not as much as I would like to, that's for sure. Because I work so much, we usually just meet people and go out to dinner together.

 

[Danauk]

Our best friends come over for dinner nearly every Friday (unless either couples have something else on e.g work related.) Sometimes we go to them, but mostly they come here. I like spending my Friday evenings after a long week at work with them (also it makes me clean the house before they arrive so I don't have to do that on a Saturday!!)