When the company is paying for lunch

[James Bond]

Am I a jerk if I order the most expensive thing?

I'm looking at this menu, and the most expensive item happens to be what sounds really good to me (surprise, right). I don't want them to think that I'm ordering it just for the hell of ordering expensive food, but I don't want to get something I don't want either.

It's an $18 entree, fyi.

 

[iRONic]

Yes.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

No, unless its a small mom and pop shop they will likely not even pay attention and if they do they wont care

 

[krunchykrome]

When the company pays for lunch, I try to be considerate. I wont be cheap; I'll order something I want, but I'll hold back my temptation for the lobster and escargot.

 

[waggy]

unless its a really small business then its no big deal. doubt anyone would notice.

 

[GasX]

Learn what women have known for centuries. Order whatever you want. Anyone taking you to a restaurant at which they can't afford some of the dishes is a fool.

Keep in mind, if it is your boss signing the bill and everyone else is getting $5 sandwiches, you may come off like a bit of a tool, but basically you are ordering off a menu as is everyone else and (should) have free reign.

 

[zerocool1]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
When the company pays for lunch, I try to be considerate. I wont be cheap; I'll order something I want, but I'll hold back my temptation for the lobster and escargot.

i think that's the way to roll if you're eating on someone else's dime

 

[captains]

dont forget to order a samuel adams

 

[Cal166]

I hold back a bit and usually let the boss or other people go first...

 

[Fourier Transform]

When you are being treated, look at the left side of the menu. When you are treating, look at the right.

 

[Ns1]

That depends entirely on what company you work for lol. If it's a giant company then 18 bucks isn't going to matter (assuming everybody else is buying stuff roughly equivelent. 12-15 bucks vs 18 bucks isn't that big a deal). If it's a small business then yes, you're a jackhole.

 

[vrbaba]

depends on who is paying for the tab at that moment also. If its just your peer with a corporate credit card, then dont worry...everyone's bill goes in together. If its your manager and its from his pocket, or from his department's account, maybe...but as people have said no difference in 12 to 18 dollars. Best trick is to get the manager to order first, rest follows.

 

[adairusmc]

Originally posted by: captains
dont forget to order a samuel adams

To hell with that, get a Sam Jackson

 

[NuroMancer]

Originally posted by: Cal166
I hold back a bit and usually let the boss or other people go first...

Same

 

[djheater]

I order one of the 'specials' usually.

 

[imported_Imp]

Depends what other people get. If yours isn't the most expensive by far (i.e. others got $15 dishes), then ok. Don't cheap out like I did. The genius in me decided to barely eat anything, order cheap stuff when the bill was being split evenly for work outings...

 

[Dr. Detroit]

I always pick two entrees out just in case the Boss man who orders first decides to go with a Sammich or a burger. No sense in me eating a nice plate while hes wolfing down a burger and fries.

 

[SoulAssassin]

I travel for work and eat pretty much every meal M-F at the expense of the company (actually whoever we're billing the project to) and I generally order what I would order if I was paying for it. That's not to say I don't splurge from time to time but if you order what you would order if it was coming out of your pocket then you're not being a dick.

 

[Yreka]

I usually order what I want within reason.. I mean, I wont get steak and lobster if everyone else is eating soup.

I remember my first "Business Dinner", I went a little over the top.. I was just out of school.. Probibly 23-24, it was my boss, his boss, another coworker, and myself. We went to this resturant in the... I think it was the Venician Hotel in Vegas.. Fancy-ish place, you could tell the "bosses boss" was trying to show off.. Anyway, everyone is ordering various beef, fish entrees etc, I ordered a Kobe Beef / Shrimp plate. Now, at the time I didnt even know what Kobe beef was.. I remembered hearing Howard Stern talking about how good it was, so I wanted to try it.

Needless to say, the dinner was phenominal.. Easily the best food I have had in awhile.. As we are walking out, my boss goes " You got a pair of balls on you ordering a $120 plate of food"

Doh ! I had no idea it cost so much.. I had the "womens" menu, so it just listed the dishes and not the prices. In the grand scheme of things it didnt matter, it just made me feel like an a$$ at the time being so young and green.

 

[Yreka]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
I travel for work and eat pretty much every meal M-F at the expense of the company (actually whoever we're billing the project to) and I generally order what I would order if I was paying for it. That's not to say I don't splurge from time to time but if you order what you would order if it was coming out of your pocket then you're not being a dick.

Thats pretty much what I do now, although I only travel a couple times a year.

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: Yreka
I usually order what I want within reason.. I mean, I wont get steak and lobster if everyone else is eating soup.

I remember my first "Business Dinner", I went a little over the top.. I was just out of school.. Probibly 23-24, it was my boss, his boss, another coworker, and myself. We went to this resturant in the... I think it was the Venician Hotel in Vegas.. Fancy-ish place, you could tell the "bosses boss" was trying to show off.. Anyway, everyone is ordering various beef, fish entrees etc, I ordered a Kobe Beef / Shrimp plate. Now, at the time I didnt even know what Kobe beef was.. I remembered hearing Howard Stern talking about how good it was, so I wanted to try it.

Needless to say, the dinner was phenominal.. Easily the best food I have had in awhile.. As we are walking out, my boss goes " You got a pair of balls on you ordering a $120 plate of food"

Doh ! I had no idea it cost so much.. I had the "womens" menu, so it just listed the dishes and not the prices. In the grand scheme of things it didnt matter, it just made me feel like an a$$ at the time being so young and green.

Wow, haha. That story was honestly hard for me to read... that must have sucked!

 

[j00fek]

i dont order the most expensive thing but i dont order just a hot dog either

 

[radioouman]

Originally posted by: Yreka
I usually order what I want within reason.. I mean, I wont get steak and lobster if everyone else is eating soup.

I remember my first "Business Dinner", I went a little over the top.. I was just out of school.. Probibly 23-24, it was my boss, his boss, another coworker, and myself. We went to this resturant in the... I think it was the Venician Hotel in Vegas.. Fancy-ish place, you could tell the "bosses boss" was trying to show off.. Anyway, everyone is ordering various beef, fish entrees etc, I ordered a Kobe Beef / Shrimp plate. Now, at the time I didnt even know what Kobe beef was.. I remembered hearing Howard Stern talking about how good it was, so I wanted to try it.

Needless to say, the dinner was phenominal.. Easily the best food I have had in awhile.. As we are walking out, my boss goes " You got a pair of balls on you ordering a $120 plate of food"

Doh ! I had no idea it cost so much.. I had the "womens" menu, so it just listed the dishes and not the prices. In the grand scheme of things it didnt matter, it just made me feel like an a$$ at the time being so young and green.

LMFAO!!!!!

 

[sygyzy]

The most expensive thing is $18? HAHAHA. Just order it man.

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
The most expensive thing is $18? HAHAHA. Just order it man.

HAHAHAHAHAH THE MOST EXPENSIVE THING IS $18 THAT IS HILLARIOUS.

Yes, it's just a small restaurant next door to our work place. Is that really that hard to believe?