Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Business Lunches

I recently just started a new job at a very corporate organization - meaning there are several people on staff. As the new kid I get taken out to lunch a lot. It is strange to have people buy me lunch and yet it's nice. I thought it would end after awhile, but I get invited to lunch and then someone offers to pay. Let me also throw into the mix that we usually go as a group. I try and pay sometimes. Some people are easier to share the bills with than others.

So my question is since these folks are buying lunch and they say "get whatever you want" do you really get whatever you want? I had lunch with someone for the first time this week and they mentioned that they were getting a salad and a dish. I ordered first, I got a salad and a dish, then when they ordered they only got one thing? Was it because I spent too much? I'd rather buy my own lunch then wonder what to order.

Thoughts are welcomed and appreciated...


Some little known numbers about eating out (according to Forbes Magazine, Sept 2006)

$200 billion Amount spent at fast-food restaurants in 2005.

$476 billion Amount spent at all restaurants in 2005.

According to Forbes' guide to a business lunch you are actually supposed to order more than you can eat so the person you are with can take it back to the office. Who knew?

2 comments:

lesa said...

I'm a people pleaser, so I try to order reasonably. I don't order the cheapest thing on the menu, but neither the most expensive and I'd probably just order one dish. That being said, I don't usually eat much for lunch anyway -- even one dish is too much -- so maybe that's why! I'm a pretty cheap date :) (P.S. I like your blog!)

rachelerin said...

I think you are right on about all of this. It is nice to have someone take you out to lunch, but no fun to worry about what/how much to order. I usually do like you and ask them what they are getting before the waiter comes. That way I can guage how much to spend. If they changed their mind about what to get it probablly had nothing to do with you. Money is such a crazy thing!