Ep 5. The One With Five Steaks And An Eggplant

In The One With Five Steaks And An Eggplant, the gang decides to go out for a fancy dinner to celebrate a special occasion. Rachel and Ross have been dating for a few weeks now, and Chandler has just landed a promotion at work. They all dress up and head to a fancy restaurant, where they are met with eye-watering prices and snooty waitstaff.

After careful deliberation and some awkward haggling, the group decides to order five steaks and an eggplant to split between them. However, when the bill arrives, they are shocked to discover that the cost is not evenly divided between them. Ross, Chandler, and Joey, who ordered four of the steaks, are expected to pay much more than Rachel and Phoebe, who only had a few bites each.

This naturally leads to a debate about splitting the bill evenly versus paying only for what you order. Ross argues that the fairest thing to do is to split the bill five ways, regardless of who ate what. Chandler, on the other hand, insists that they should only pay for what they ordered – after all, why should he have to pay for Rachel's expensive lobster tail?

As the argument heats up, the group starts to delve into deeper issues of class and privilege. Joey, who grew up in a poorer family, is shocked by the prices at the restaurant and feels uncomfortable with the ostentatious display of wealth. Rachel, who comes from a wealthy background, has no qualms about splurging on extravagant meals. Meanwhile, Phoebe refuses to take sides and instead tries to lighten the mood with her quirky sense of humor.

In the end, the group realizes that their argument is more about their own insecurities and personal histories than it is about the actual bill. They decide to split the cost evenly and plan to avoid fancy restaurants in the future. The episode ends with Ross and Rachel sharing a sweet moment as they walk home together.

Overall, The One With Five Steaks And An Eggplant is a humorous and insightful exploration of class and privilege, as well as a testament to the enduring friendships of the Friends gang.