if we go out for dinner at a restaurant...

[RhubarbPie]

Oh DF how sweet, where are we going?? I'm hungry!!!!!

Micky D's on me the most expensive restaurant in Philly on you.

HA!!! You said you have never had Micky D's!! So what is it?

Listen if DD moves out that way ( a distinct possiblity in 2 years ) I will treat you to a nice dinner, your choice.

I can't think of the most expensive restaurant in Philly, used to be Le Bec Fin but that closed... Sign of the times for sure.

Le Bec Fin isn't closed - its just gotten more laid back. Maybe you were thinking of Brasserie Perrier - another of George Perrier's restaurants, which did in fact close.

I don't know for sure, but we went to Vetri and ordered the grand tasting menu. It was 135.00 per person. I believe that was the most expensive (and best) meal I've had in Philly. For four people, after drinks and tip, the bill was around 750.00. And it was totally worth it.

 

[RhubarbPie]

Oh DF how sweet, where are we going?? I'm hungry!!!!!

Micky D's on me the most expensive restaurant in Philly on you.

HA!!! You said you have never had Micky D's!! So what is it?

Listen if DD moves out that way ( a distinct possiblity in 2 years ) I will treat you to a nice dinner, your choice.

I can't think of the most expensive restaurant in Philly, used to be Le Bec Fin but that closed... Sign of the times for sure.

Probably the Fountain or La Croix? I can think of some expensive places in the suburbs but I think those are probably the fanciest ones left in Center City now...

When hubby and I go out with friends or when I go out with my girlfriends, we usually pay for what we ordered, give or take a few dollars. When hubby and I go out he pays (at least until I start my job).

La Croix?? Have to look that up. Since DD went to Penn, she has given us great recs .. I think those savvvy college kids should write a guide... Many that she has taken us to have been amazing...
She moves back to the city next month and will get the whole new vibe then..

La Croix is in the Rittenhouse Hotel. It is good but not like Vetri-good. I believe their grand tasting menu is like 100.00 - definitely not the most expensive in Philly

 

[Dancing Fire]

I don't know for sure, but we went to Vetri and ordered the grand tasting menu. It was 135.00 per person. I believe that was the most expensive (and best) meal I've had in Philly. For four people, after drinks and tip, the bill was around 750.00. And it was totally worth it.

RP....since i couldn't afford the meal just bring me your doggy bag.

 

[RhubarbPie]

I don't know for sure, but we went to Vetri and ordered the grand tasting menu. It was 135.00 per person. I believe that was the most expensive (and best) meal I've had in Philly. For four people, after drinks and tip, the bill was around 750.00. And it was totally worth it.

RP....since i couldn't afford the meal just bring me your doggy bag.

OMG I would be happy to, but there is nothing ever left when we go to Vetri.

I don't know if you live in Philly, but you can go to Vetri Mon-Thurs. and you don't have to do the grand tasting menu (although you can if you want). You can also do the regular tasting menu (instead of the grand tasting menu) which is fewer courses and 115 per person. Depending on what you get and if you want a drink, you could probably eat a la carte for 55-70 per person. If you can swing the tasting menu though, its totally worth it and its what Vetri is so famous for. It's very special because they create the menu when you order it (its not a pre-made menu). So for example, I was the only one at the table who didn't eat meat (only seafood), so for my tasting menu, there was no meat. Just make sure beforehand that whoever you dine with also would like the tasting menu, as the whole table must order it.

I'm drooling thinking about it.

 

[diva rose]

Initial 'courting' period - I think men should pay but women should offer at least.
I always offer but the men usually decline.

When you get into a relationship - depends on the people in the relationship.

My DH never let me pay during our 'dating/courting' period. I was only allowed to buy him coffee/dessert/little snacks.
Even into our relationship he insisted on paying and I'd pay for little things.
He is an old fashioned man though. We're 3 years into our relationship - he still insists on carrying all the grocery bags and not let me carry anything. The only thing he won't carry is my handbag.

 

[jaysonsmom]

I'd expect you to pay DF. Usually when going out with someone older AND richer, they pay

With peers we usually split, and we don't split it according to what each person orders, we just divide it equally, so if it's 3 couples, the check is divided 3 ways, it doesn't matter if someone is dieting and orders salad and water, while the rest of us are gorging on steak and lobster.

 

[CourtLynB]

If my BF and I go out to dinner alone (we have Wednesday night "date night", hehe) he always pays. Back in the begining I would pay sometimes but now we say, He pays for dinner, I save money for the future house. (plus he makes 3x as much as me)

If we go out with other couples, the check gets split 50/50. We're lucky that our friends have the same drinking habits. Even when one friend was pregnant, she made up for the no-alcohol by ordering desert.

If we are with my parents, he tries to pay, but my father usually does. There have been times that my BF has "gone to the bathroom" and paid the check before it can get to the table. If we go out with his mom, he pays or if his brother is there, they split it.

On a side note, don't you hate when you're splitting the bill 50/50 and people forget to include a nice tip? Or there's the cash vs credit card issue.

 

[Octavia]

I don't know for sure, but we went to Vetri and ordered the grand tasting menu. It was 135.00 per person. I believe that was the most expensive (and best) meal I've had in Philly. For four people, after drinks and tip, the bill was around 750.00. And it was totally worth it.

RP....since i couldn't afford the meal just bring me your doggy bag.

OMG I would be happy to, but there is nothing ever left when we go to Vetri.

I don't know if you live in Philly, but you can go to Vetri Mon-Thurs. and you don't have to do the grand tasting menu (although you can if you want). You can also do the regular tasting menu (instead of the grand tasting menu) which is fewer courses and 115 per person. Depending on what you get and if you want a drink, you could probably eat a la carte for 55-70 per person. If you can swing the tasting menu though, its totally worth it and its what Vetri is so famous for. It's very special because they create the menu when you order it (its not a pre-made menu). So for example, I was the only one at the table who didn't eat meat (only seafood), so for my tasting menu, there was no meat. Just make sure beforehand that whoever you dine with also would like the tasting menu, as the whole table must order it.

I'm drooling thinking about it.

Ack, how did I forget about Vetri? My friend was just telling me about how she and her mom went there and almost died twice -- once when they realized how good it was, and once when they got the check...

 

[RhubarbPie]

I don't know for sure, but we went to Vetri and ordered the grand tasting menu. It was 135.00 per person. I believe that was the most expensive (and best) meal I've had in Philly. For four people, after drinks and tip, the bill was around 750.00. And it was totally worth it.

RP....since i couldn't afford the meal just bring me your doggy bag.

OMG I would be happy to, but there is nothing ever left when we go to Vetri.

I don't know if you live in Philly, but you can go to Vetri Mon-Thurs. and you don't have to do the grand tasting menu (although you can if you want). You can also do the regular tasting menu (instead of the grand tasting menu) which is fewer courses and 115 per person. Depending on what you get and if you want a drink, you could probably eat a la carte for 55-70 per person. If you can swing the tasting menu though, its totally worth it and its what Vetri is so famous for. It's very special because they create the menu when you order it (its not a pre-made menu). So for example, I was the only one at the table who didn't eat meat (only seafood), so for my tasting menu, there was no meat. Just make sure beforehand that whoever you dine with also would like the tasting menu, as the whole table must order it.

I'm drooling thinking about it.

Ack, how did I forget about Vetri? My friend was just telling me about how she and her mom went there and almost died twice -- once when they realized how good it was, and once when they got the check...

When we did the grand tasting menu, we went with my future in-laws and they took care of the check. I didn't argue with them haha

 

[Dancing Fire]

I'd expect you to pay DF. Usually when going out with someone older AND richer, they pay

With peers we usually split, and we don't split it according to what each person orders, we just divide it equally, so if it's 3 couples, the check is divided 3 ways, it doesn't matter if someone is dieting and orders salad and water, while the rest of us are gorging on steak and lobster.

my pleasure if your hubby doesn't tag along.

 

[HollyS]

Why would I expect you to pay? Are we dating?

Hubs and I - - still to this day - - have always dutched. Really. We've made the same amount of money for most of our relationship; WHY should he have paid for every meal for the last 16 years? We open our wallets and go halvsies. Always. Unless one of us decides to treat the other. We maintain separate bank accounts and split the bills. It works remarkably well.

 

[jaysonsmom]

I'd expect you to pay DF. Usually when going out with someone older AND richer, they pay

With peers we usually split, and we don't split it according to what each person orders, we just divide it equally, so if it's 3 couples, the check is divided 3 ways, it doesn't matter if someone is dieting and orders salad and water, while the rest of us are gorging on steak and lobster.

my pleasure if your hubby doesn't tag along.

Okay, my husband can stay home, you only have to pay for me and my chaperone

 

[Haven]

I wonder about this issue when we go out to dinner with new friends. If we initiate the plans, are we expected to pay? It's never a situation where we call and say "Would you like to join us for dinner at MK this Saturday night?" but rather more "Wanna get together?"

Do people really expect the couple that initiates the plans to pay for the meal?

Incidentally, we typically split meals with our friends. Sometimes DH has a lot of gift cards for great restaurants (we live in Chicago, all we do is eat around here) as gifts from clients, so we'll call friends and say "We have $250 to Morton's, let's go to dinner" and THEN we'll pay for whatever it costs over the gift card.

DFire--If we're going to McDonald's, I'll pay but only if you eat a hamburger.

 

[Camille]

Dating: boys always payed, DH still does
Girls night out: we divide the tab among us w/o fuss.
Moms night out, group II: We have two 'gifted' ladies that keep track of everything so we pay for our own meals & drinks.
If we invite another couple, we pay. Most of our friends reciprocate within a month, no biggie.
Newer couples: We invite them for lunch first and go from there.
Family: we mostly do At Home type of thing and take turns, some siblings still have small children.

 

[Kaleigh]

Haven,
If another couple asks us to dinner they pay... Not to say the guys won't wrangle over the check. But we reciprocate enough that it's never a problem.

 

[Dancing Fire]

I wonder about this issue when we go out to dinner with new friends. If we initiate the plans, are we expected to pay? It's never a situation where we call and say "Would you like to join us for dinner at MK this Saturday night?" but rather more "Wanna get together?"

Do people really expect the couple that initiates the plans to pay for the meal?

Incidentally, we typically split meals with our friends. Sometimes DH has a lot of gift cards for great restaurants (we live in Chicago, all we do is eat around here) as gifts from clients, so we'll call friends and say "We have $250 to Morton's, let's go to dinner" and THEN we'll pay for whatever it costs over the gift card.

DFire--If we're going to McDonald's, I'll pay but only if you eat a hamburger.

NO WAY!! how about Morton's instead??

 

[lilyfoot]

I always pay for myself when I'm out with friends.

Obviously, with my husband, it doesn't matter who puts their card down, it's all from the same account

 

[RhubarbPie]

Morton's (in Philly) makes the best crab cakes!! Oh yummo.

 

[princesss]

As friends, we get separate checks. If it's somebody's birthday, the rest of us split their meal.

If I'm on a date with a guy, I will offer to pay but I expect that the guy will turn me down. If he let me pay I would definitely pay my own way, but I probably wouldn't go out with him again. I think dating/hanging out with Southerners has spoiled me - not sure how I'd survive in places where splitting the bill is more common! Even now it's rare for BF to let me pay for pretty much anything (even when it is coming out of our joint account!).

 

[Dancing Fire]

As friends, we get separate checks. If it's somebody's birthday, the rest of us split their meal.

If I'm on a date with a guy, I will offer to pay but I expect that the guy will turn me down. If he let me pay I would definitely pay my own way, but I probably wouldn't go out with him again. I think dating/hanging out with Southerners has spoiled me - not sure how I'd survive in places where splitting the bill is more common! Even now it's rare for BF to let me pay for pretty much anything (even when it is coming out of our joint account!).

 

[princesss]

As friends, we get separate checks. If it's somebody's birthday, the rest of us split their meal.

If I'm on a date with a guy, I will offer to pay but I expect that the guy will turn me down. If he let me pay I would definitely pay my own way, but I probably wouldn't go out with him again. I think dating/hanging out with Southerners has spoiled me - not sure how I'd survive in places where splitting the bill is more common! Even now it's rare for BF to let me pay for pretty much anything (even when it is coming out of our joint account!).

Hey, at least I'm honest!