Every group of friends has one person who says, “I’m okay with anything.”
At first, it sounds easy. No complicated requests, no strong opinions, no need to worry about finding the perfect place. But after a few rounds of suggestions, I realise “anything is fine” can sometimes be the hardest answer to work with.
I have a friend who says this almost every time we plan a meal together. A café? Sure. Japanese food? Sure. Somewhere new? Sure. But when I finally suggest a place, there is always a small hesitation followed by, “Maybe somewhere else?”
I used to find it amusingly frustrating, but I eventually realised it was not really about the food.
Choosing where to eat is often a small way of showing how much we know someone.
When we pick a restaurant, we think about the person sitting across from us. Are they tired after work? Are they craving something familiar? Do they want somewhere they can talk for hours? Do they need a place that feels a little more special?
I have learned that some friends are not looking for a perfect recommendation. They just want to know that someone cared enough to think about the choice.
Sometimes, the search for a place to eat is really a conversation about how we look after each other.
Now, when my friend says “anything is fine,” I laugh a little before opening my list of saved restaurants. Maybe we will still debate for twenty minutes before deciding. Maybe we will end up somewhere completely unexpected.
But those little moments are part of what makes eating together memorable.
Because the best meals are not always about making the right choice. Sometimes, they are about having someone to make the choice with.
For more dining discoveries, town favourites, and stories behind the places we gather, explore Town Eats SG and discover the flavours that make every corner of Singapore feel a little more familiar.
