I went on a first date with a guy who tried to haggle with the waitress over the bill.
By @zaneforsure · Dating
Things were going surprisingly well until the check came. Then I witnessed a level of penny-pinching so profound that I think I astral projected out of my own body from secondhand embarrassment.
The full story
So I (28F) finally agreed to a date with a guy my friend swore was 'a great guy, just a little quirky.' The restaurant was nice, not super fancy, but a place you'd expect to pay the prices listed on the menu. The date was... fine. The conversation was okay, he wasn't a secret weirdo, and I was starting to think my friend might have been right. And then. The bill came. He picks it up and his whole demeanor changes. He squints at it like it's written in a dead language. He pulls out his phone calculator. Okay, a little weird, but maybe he's just being careful. Nope. He flags down the waitress, a very nice and very busy college-aged girl, and begins his interrogation. First, it was about his beer. they said he saw a happy hour sign outside. She explained happy hour ended at 6, and it was 8:30. He huffed. Then he pointed to his side of broccoli. 'This portion seems a little small for $7, don't you think? I feel like it should be more in the $5 range.' The waitress just blinked at him. I was trying to use my mind to will a sinkhole into existence beneath my chair. It got worse. they asked her if 'the chef could do anything' about the price of his entrée because he found it 'a bit rich' for his taste, but... he'd already eaten the entire thing. At this point, I’m sliding down in my seat. He then asked to speak to a manager. This man, over a bill that was maybe $85 total, called a manager to the table to debate the market price of broccoli. The manager was a saint, and, I think out of pure pity for me, eventually just took the guy's $7 side dish off the bill. The guy acted like he'd just won a landmark legal case. I threw my card down, paid for the entire rest of the bill, and practically ran out of there. they texted me 'great time! your treat next time?;)'. Absolutely not.
How people voted
- OP Is Right — 25% (27 votes)
- Both Messy — 46% (50 votes)
- OP Is Wrong — 29% (31 votes)
Readers say “Both Messy” (46%) — 108 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@rubysorta — My ex used to bring his own teabags to restaurants and just ask for a cup of hot water. Some people are just built different.
@ivyish — cryinggg
@hanky — you should text him back and ask him to go to an all you can eat buffet
@zaneactually — I'd send the friend who set you up the bill for your half and an invoice for your emotional distress.
@midconversation — Broccoli prices are crazy tho
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