I Asked A Friend Out For A Meal Next Week Week And She Mentioned...

[sandyRoe]

...one of poshest places in Belfast, and she would pay.
I'm not a man for fancy places so how do i suggest somewhere less daunting?

[barry1010]

Just be upfront and honest, sandy. Tell her you won't enjoy the meal because you won't feel comfortable and you want to enjoy her company. Suggest your favourite 'good' restaurant and offer to pay

[THECORBYLOON]

Tell her you were there last year and heard a waiter tutting as you used the wrong knife.

Your verbal abuse of tbe waiter resulted in a restraining order and you cannot go within 500 yards of it.

Adjust that distance if the alternative venue is closer.

[AuntPG]

Have you been out for a meal in the past? I'm just asking because I want to put a different angle on this. Pre-covid I lunched regularly with a friend who would often choose a pub smelling of stale beer and a landlady who could curdle milk at 12 paces. In the end I suggested somewhere else with a ' It'll be my treat' as a sweetener. It worked and now we go there regularly. Maybe your last meal was not up to her standard, or the place made HER feel uncomfortable, so she's trying to tell you in a nice way she expects a bit more?

[Sqad]

/////I'm not a man for fancy places ////

Go on force yourself for once.

[aelmpvw]

sandy's probably tried fancy places, that's how he knows

[sandyRoe]

The woman in question is at least 30 years younger than me.
I wear hiking shoes, waterproof jackets, and trousers that zip off beneath the knee.
I wouldn't feel comfortable in the place she suggested.

[Togo]

Be a gentleman Sandy ... scrub up and conquer your inhibition.

[sandyRoe]

Togo,
I've never been anything other than a gentleman. I've always held my weight on my elbows.

[AuntPG]

Sandy lol well she's definitely trying to tell you something lol. Maybe Diedre's Diner in the layby off the A4 is not quite what she expects :-)

[aelmpvw]

:-)

[Togo]

Haha Ta Sandy. Go and have a nice meal. If you can conquer the Camino you can face down a snobby maître d'.

[LeonBlank1995]

I would honestly say why don't you give the local Dog charity a small donation and we'll do fish and chips instead.

I have eaten in the poshest places imaginable and quite honestly, all an absolute waste of money. Merely paying for a sexy, young Eastern European waitress to call you Sir then eating from a fine bone China plate and cutlery far too big with a steak so small it wouldn't fill a child. And let's not forget some "cheffy" drizzle made with Andorran olive oil and yak's semen.

Fish and chips anyday of the week!!!!

[-SharonA-]

Stay home & order McDonald's!!!

[Barsel]

Surely you must have a decent pair of trousers, shirt, shoes in your wardrobe?
I must admit I don't own what you might call 'fancy' clothes, but I'm sure I could find something half decent to wear if necessary.