My girlfriends and I went a restaurant two days ago (I was the designated driver). I ordered my meal and they ordered their meal. I went to take a picture of my plate and before I could even take the picture, one of them used her fork and stirred up my food. I got upset and asked her why she would do that and she told me it was “cringe” to take pictures of food. I could tell the other girls were uncomfortable but no one stood up for me. All I wanted was a damn pic because my plate was presented beautifully. I got upset and just walked out the restaurant and drove home, leaving them behind. When I got home, I asked who paid for my meal and Zelled her the cost. They started texting me and telling me that it was just a joke, what I did was immature and that it was wrong of me to leave them behind considering I was the driver. I do feel like I overreacted but I also feel like what she did was mean. AITA?
Edit:
– I did tell my friends I was going to leave, “I don’t wanna be here anymore” then left.
– My meal was steak, gravy, mash, and caviar, and it had a hibiscus plant on it since people are assuming it was pasta. Not sure if that’s important information or not.
– The girls who didn’t stand up for me, laughed at the situation awkwardly. I could tell they were uncomfortable but they didn’t say a word.
– The person who paid for my meal was one of the girls who laughed, not the person who stirred up my plate.
– I was only trying to take a picture of my plate, I wasn’t holding anyone back from eating their food.
People who can’t admit fault and turn into the victim aren’t worth keeping around 🙁
Where I’m from no one and I mean no one better cross my plate with limb or utensil if they value their lives. It’s rude, possibly unsanitary, and immature.
NTA.
Unsanitary is what I was thinking CoPilot. I would have pushed the plate towards her, told the server to add it to her tab, & ordered myself another. I don’t want someone else’s nasty utensils in my food.
It literally doesn’t matter if it’s cringe, it was your food that you ultimately paid for, and would’ve just paid for as usual if they hadn’t acted like children. NTA, who tf even asked for her opinion?
It was way more cringe that she dug in OPs plate, I wouldn’t want to eat it after that and made that “friend” pay for the meal they touched
In what world does a person have the gall to dig around in your fresh plate of food, mock you for taking a picture of it, treat your objection like it was a joke and then expect you to entertain their disgusting company for the rest of the evening and to chauffeur them home?
That person should be banished to live in a closed convent in the outskirts of Siberia till she learns how to use manners when interacting with others.
You are not the asshole. And it was classy to pay for your food later.
It’s time to shed some people from your friends list.
I like how they called OP immature. Because it’s not immature to mix up OP’s food to ruin a photo??? They ruined her plate. They mixed it all up. I would’ve left too.
Right? Calling OP immature is wild when they literally messed up her food on purpose. That’s the real childish behavior. I don’t blame her for walking out at all.
Even kid should’ve teach to not touch someone’s food. So they’re more immature than children.
Honestly, even without the photo I’d be pissed. I like eating my food in a certain way. If somebody mixed things up I’d be furious. Don’t touch my food.
NTA. That was a form of bullying, and you were absolutely in the right to not tolerate it.
They weren’t stranded, rideshare exists. Hopefully they all learned a lesson.
Exactly, this was a full on mean girl moment. Especially given OP’s edit, it was an expensive meal that sounds like it was presented beautifully. Who in their right mind reaches over and messes up someone else’s expensive plate of food?? Not okay under any circumstances, but that extra bit of info makes it especially jarring.
NTA
She overstepped because she wanted to be a AH and you decided you didn’t feel like being bullied and left. Good for you.
NTA, that was absolutely outrageous of her to mess up your food. The only way she could have rescued the evening was to apologize and reorder the food for you and not mess with it. I totally understand where you are coming from, leaving and going home. Presentation is part of the enjoyment of eating out.
ETA she still owes you an apology. She messed up the evening for you and for the other friends. Everyone should be mad at her. Maybe try telling them that leaving them and going home was also a joke, and don’t they find that hilarious too?