Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

If you are going to dinner party at a restaurant that someone else is hosting, say entrees are anywhere from $16 to $42, is it rude for a guest to order the most expensive entrée, $42 entrée?

Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

No. If price was an issue the host should have set up a set menu to choose from.

Re: Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

I would order what I wanted as if I was paying for it

Re: Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

I don't think it's rude since they were told they could order anything.
With that said, I would never do it. I don't order the most expensive thing when I pay, so I wouldn't feel right having someone else pay. Just wouldn't feel right about it.

Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

It is not rude at all.

Re: Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

Re: Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

Rude, no, but I would never do it, I would feel too guilty.

Re: Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

Re: Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

Re: Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

I always try to gauge what everyone else is ordering and then I choose what I am going to have accordingly.

If everyone is getting burgers I'm certainly not going to order a $42 steak. I would feel awkward ordering a very expensive dish unless everyone else was as well.

Message edited 4/15/2014 11:25:38 AM.

Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

I normally wouldn't do it-the only time I have is when it's for business and a company, not an individual is picking up the bill

Re: Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

I wouldn't do it. The range is large enough that I could find something I liked in a lower priced category. There is nothing that I NEED to have to eat or can't pay for myself at a later date.

I'll save the expensive meals for when someone else isn't picking up the tab.

and yes, I think it's rude if everyone is ordering a $25 entree & someone picks the $40+ entree.

Re: Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

Re: Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

Chances are I wouldn't order the most expensive thing but that is because I generally eat chicken or pasta. I do not eat steak and rarely fish and NEVER lobster.

So in other words....I'm a cheap date.

Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

Yes I think its rude.. I would feel less badly about it though if it was a company rather than an individual picking up the tab or if everyone was wondering on the expensive side of the menu. I also think its rude if you are going out with a bunch of friends and someone from the group orders an item much more expensive than everyone else.. esp if they do it consistently.

Re: Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

I would never do it.

Re: Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

Re: Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

I generally try to order in line with the others --- ie, app if the others get apps, just an entree if the others do, etc. Sometimes I will order something more expensive (ie: a lot of times we'll go to a nice restaurant for department lunches and many people get the pre fixe, but if I dont like the options I will order a soup and entree a la carte even though it works out to more, but then I'll drink tap water and pass on dessert both because I prefer water and dont care for dessert and because it lessens the cost of my meal). But, I wouldn't order one of the specials that is $50-60 when a typical entree is $20, I just dont think its appropriate.

I would order the most expensive thing on the menu if it was the only thing I would eat (rare but possible) and it was only slightly more.

Re: Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

I think it's rude. If someone else is picking up the tab, I like to keep my choice on the lower end of the menu.

Re: Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

Re: Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

if its something I normally would get, no i wouldnt hesitate. I wouldnt order the most expensive thing just because someone else is picking up the tab. thats just tacky.
I think its worse if you order a bunch of cocktails. or if everyone is having 1 drink and you order 3-4.

Message edited 4/15/2014 1:08:25 PM.

Re: Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

i don't know if i would call it rude. but i wouldn't do it... like others have said

* i don't normally eat the most expensive item on the menu when i'm picking the tab
* i don't eat meat, so i'll be a cheap date
* there's nothing on a menu that i cannot get for myself at another time

but i will not eat something i normally wouldn't eat just to avoid ruffling feathers.

Re: Ordering most expensive item on menu when someone else is picking up check

BIL always orders the most expensive thing off the menu. He's always goes for the biggest steaks, special salmon dishes etc. Especially when he knows someone else is paying--- he literally just looks for the item that costs the most money and picks that one.