Girl demands boyfriend change food order due to smell. His response is a lesson in setting boundaries

People showing disagreement with their near and dear ones over food is completely normal; however, sometimes, it is not worth compromising on taste buds. At least, for one man, it holds true even if his girlfriend finds his order to be repulsive. The man stood firm in his decision and did not order another dish following his partner’s strong objection. The 27-year-old boyfriend– who goes by u/RinaRavissante on Reddit–opened up about his dilemma of either prioritizing his happiness or considering his girlfriend’s opinion. Through his post, the man sought the online community’s take on the entire situation that unfolded between the couple during a recent visit to a nice restaurant. 

"(Am I wrong) for refusing to change my order at a restaurant because my girlfriend didn’t like my food?” the boyfriend captioned his post. The couple had been dating for nearly a year, and the man found his 25-year-old girlfriend, Emily, to be an “amazing person.” While praising his partner, he added, “But she can be a bit picky with food.” In contrast, he described himself as easygoing, except for a few occasions here and there. “I really enjoy trying new dishes when we eat out,” the man shared. The couple went out last weekend to eat and enjoy each other’s company.

“We went to a nice restaurant, and I ordered a seafood paella. Emily ordered a chicken dish for herself. When my food arrived, she wrinkled her nose and said, ‘Ugh, that smells so strong. I don’t think I can eat my food with that next to me,’” he recalled. The boyfriend was “caught off guard” initially, and offered her to switch seats. But the woman kept insisting that he should order something else instead of paella. “I just think it’d be better if you ordered something else,” she told him. He responded, “I was really looking forward to trying the paella and that you should just focus on your own food.”

The girlfriend was taken aback by his reply and slammed him for being “inconsiderate of her discomfort.” She barely touched her food and was quiet for the rest of the meal. “Later, she told me I was selfish for not making a small compromise when she was clearly uncomfortable. I feel like I shouldn’t have to change my meal just because she didn’t like the smell, but now I’m wondering if I was being dismissive,” the man concluded, inviting reactions from the online community.

Showing their support for the boyfriend, u/Full_Pace7666 remarked, “That is utterly preposterous.” “Plus, he already has his food. What is his reason for sending it back? If I were the restaurant, he would be paying for both meals if his only reason was ‘My girlfriend doesn’t like the smell.’ And, paella usually isn’t cheap to begin with,” u/Glassgrl1021 echoed similar sentiments. “I easily get nauseous with smells, but I would never tell my boyfriend or kids they couldn't eat something because of the smell. Zofran is a life saver,” u/Layla_Ali added.