The choice between a fancy steakhouse and a taco truck that backfired
I had to pick between a nice sit down place, The Gilded Bull, and this amazing looking taco truck by the river. I went with the steakhouse to be impressive, but my date spent the whole time complaining about the $45 price for the chicken dish and the slow service. It was a two hour dinner of pure awkward silence. Anyone else have a 'safe' choice blow up in their face like that?
Read an article once that said asking directly cuts down on decision fatigue for everyone. It takes the pressure off trying to be a mind reader. People often don't even know what they want until you give them a couple clear options. Just opening with "what sounds good?" gets you a real answer faster. Saves a ton of back and forth that usually ends with "I don't care, you pick.