So, an interesting situation occurred last night that left me reeling and confused. Also, a little angry. It was just bizarre but I thought I would get the opinion of the guys here because you may have been on the other side of this equation once.

Normally, I prefer cooking at home, especially now that I have a large kitchen in which to do it. I always would sooner eat at home than go to any restaurant. That's just the way I've been. That way I know what's in the food and can have whatever I want exactly how I want it. But when I decide I'm just not going to cook, I go to a handful of places. So, last night I had decided that I didn't want to cook. I told DH that I wanted to go out to eat and that we should get the people who lived across the hall from him to go with us. They both worked as lobbyists so they usually had tantalizing stories to tell! Fly on the wall and all that.

He asked me where I wanted to go and I said I wanted French. I have only two favorite French restaurants: Petite Louis in Roland Park, and Bistro La Bonne in Washington, D.C. I wasn't really wanting to deal with the more formal atmosphere of Louis so I suggested we take the drive to D.C. for Bonne's more "down home" vibe. It's really a great place! Luckily, our neighbors agreed if we drove and if we did that they'd buy. Since we were at the DH's house, it was nothing to jump on 95 and speed down there in time to eat and get home. LOL

When we got there, we sat in the upper level seating area, which is up a small flight of stairs, at table that was next to one just in front of a railing. I prefer sitting high up because you can kinda see everything and everyone. It was a little busier than I'd seen it the last time we'd been during mid-week and our server seemed like she was waiting on more tables than she really wanted or needed. They didn't look short handed but who knows, right? We had just ordered (I ordered the Magret de Canard au Cinq Epices and duck confit) and she kinda disappeared, which is a feat in this place. I knew I wouldn't get my champagne with any kind of promptness.

I like champagne A LOT and take every opportunity to drink it everywhere I go where it's offered or available with just about everything. I have a wine fridge stocked mostly with champagnes (some "sparkling wines" too) and we will drink at least one bottle a week. I truly believe that champagne is for any time, not just special occasions. Isn't every day you're alive and not broke a time for celebration? I think so!

I go downstairs to the bar, which is now full, to get a glass of Triolet. A very nice, or so I thought, very attractive slightly older man gets up out of his chair and offers it to me so I don't have to stand while waiting to speak to the bartender. I thank him and sit. Now, I know for a fact that when we arrived, he was not there so there was no way he saw me come in with anyone. While I waited, we spoke to each other, which isn't unusual at all. He quickly told me quite a bit about himself like that he was single, in town on business and the hotel recommended this place if he was looking for a place to eat that "was better than Ruby Tuesday." He also asked if I was alone. I told him I was NOT and that my fiance and my friends were upstairs and I would be going back up to him after getting my drink.

At that moment, he offered to buy me a drink and I graciously accepted because, I'll admit, I won't turn down a man who offers me a drink and I can see it being made! It's like a reflex. LOL He got the bartender to get me the champagne and had it placed on his tab. I got off the stool and thanked him again for the drink and turned to go back to my table. The next thing that happened was so surreal that it almost made just want to leave the restaurant.

He actually raised his voice, not enough to be heard by everyone in the lower level but enough to be heard by people at the bar on either side of us and the bartender, and said in half-jokingly and half-serious tone, "You're going to just bring your sexy self down here, take the drink I order you and go? You're not going to talk with me more?" That's verbatim. Everyone at the bar that heard it turned and looked at me and him, stunned. I was so embarrassed! I just stammered that I was sorry but I came with people and they would expect me back at this point, which is true. I offered to stay a little longer because at this point I felt terrible.

Now, I have no idea if he was drunk or buzzed or what. It just seemed like a weird thing for him to do and it threw me for a loop, with him just blurting that out for everyone to hear. I mean, it was my drink at that point because he GAVE it to me which means I can drink it with whomever I wanted where I wanted, right? Either way, I think it was beyond mean of him to say what he said. I thought the whole conversation prior to the him buying the drink should've covered the chat especially since I didn't come alone and had guests, not to mention my future husband, waiting on me. When I buy or give something to someone, I don't expect anything in return. You can't, really. That's a sure way to end up disappointed or, like this guy, peeved at someone. He could have purchased the drink and been happy for the conversation and left it at that. I don't recall signing any contract with that drink. I know he was mad but I wasn't rude at any point to him.


I'm not sure but there must be something in the air or something in the water. What do you guys think? Does buying something for someone obligate them to you? This is with anything. I'd be interested in your opinions on this.