Why I Hate Shared Dining
Edo hates shared dining in restaurants. ‘Every time I hear that we’re going to one of those trendy restaurants where everything has to be shared “for a fun, social experience,” I feel cheated all over again. The concept of sharing sociably isn’t sociable at all to me.’
‘Last time was another such occasion. My girlfriend had made a reservation at a new restaurant in Amsterdam for the six of us. Great, I was looking forward to it. Because of the holidays, we hadn’t seen our friends for a few months, so we had plenty to catch up on. We started at the bar with a cocktail and then went to our table. So far so good.
Until the waitress started explaining “the concept.” Shared dining. I gave my girlfriend a reproachful look. She knows how much I hate it. Let me explain why.
A Great Deal. For the Restaurant, That Is
First of all, let’s talk about the price. Hospitality entrepreneurs know how to sell it. They pretend shared dining is a great deal because you can supposedly sample a little bit of everything. But let’s be honest: it’s simply a clever way to make you pay more for less food.
When I go to a regular restaurant, I order a starter, a main course, and often a dessert too. Then I know exactly what I’m getting. Now that’s a great deal to me. I can choose what I want and how I want it. A sirloin steak, medium rare with chimichurri. All for me. Fine if you want a bite, but why would I want to share my entire dish?
With shared dining, the portions always seem smaller, while the price is ridiculously high. And because it’s “so much fun” to taste different things, you end up ordering far more dishes than you normally would. Cha-ching!
Strange Portion Sizes
And then there are those portions. Maybe it’s just me, but I strongly suspect chefs deliberately serve odd numbers of items. It’s not as though I sit at the table with an abacus, but I do notice it. There are six of you, and five prawns arrive. I really don’t understand that.
When I go out for dinner, I don’t want to have to worry about who takes what at all. Even when I’m with friends, it’s always the same exaggeratedly polite behavior. “No, I’m fine, you take that prawn,” “You can have the last piece”—and meanwhile you’re left with that awkward feeling.
And when you really love something for once? Forget it, it has to be shared. You crave more but are left dissatisfied. It’s like having sex without an orgasm.
Leaving Hungry
But the biggest problem is that I always come home hungry. Seriously, I can’t remember a single time I’ve walked out of a shared dining restaurant feeling satisfied. Women hardly seem to have this problem, in my opinion. At least, I never hear them complain about it. They find it fun and sociable, all those little plates of dainty bites, but my friends and I still have to stop by FEBO or McDonald’s after dinner. A little later, I’m handing over a few dozen euros for greasy food, even though I’ve just paid a hefty bill.
Get Rid of Shared Dining!
So no, shared dining isn’t for me. Give me a good, honest plate of food that’s mine and mine alone. No hassle over sharing, no awkward situations about who takes that one or last piece, and no inflated bill because this “sociable” concept leaves you frustrated and hungry. When I go out to eat, I just want to eat—and, above all, get enough!
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Edo’s name has been changed for privacy reasons. His real name is known to the editorial team. Do you also have a personal story to share (anonymously!)? You can email us at info@favorflav.com
