10 Questions to Ask an Old Friend at the Dinner Table

Ariel Knutson
Ariel Knutson
Arie was the Features Director at Kitchn. She lives in Los Angeles.
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updated May 24, 2019
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Conversations with old friends, especially ones we haven’t seen in a while, can often be done in the past tense. You talk about situations that you shared together or people you used to know, and maybe you might gloss over what’s happening in your current lives. It’s easier to list the bullet points of the “big” life moments — the new job, the new partner, the new city you’re living in — but oftentimes what makes a friendship so special are the small things you bond over. How do you get back to that feeling over a bowl of chicken tikka masala?

Here are 10 more questions to ask an old friend that you haven’t seen in a while. Whether you’re sipping tea or eating dinner, these little questions will help form a memorable conversation at the kitchen table.

(Image credit: Esteban Cortez)

A couple weeks ago we wrote a post about tips for avoiding awkward conversations with old friends. The post came out of an interview with two British authors, Judy Apps and Catherine Blyth, who have both written about the art of conversation. Some big takeaways are that you should keep things positive, avoid sticking in the past tense, and embrace a little controversy.

Get the Tips: Expert Tips for Avoiding Awkward Conversations with Old Friends

Based on these expert tips, I’ve compiled a list of good questions to ask old friends you haven’t seen in some time. Once you’re caught up on old gossip and big-picture things, dive into these fun questions. Do you have anything you’d add to this list? Leave your suggestions in the comments.

10 Questions to Ask an Old Friend at the Dinner Table

  1. Are you currently living in your forever city or town?
  2. Have you read any good books or seen a good movie/show lately?
  3. What’s the best meal you’ve had lately?
  4. What are the top three cities in the world that you would like to visit one day?
  5. If you won the lottery (over 1 million), what’s the very first thing you would do?
  6. Where do you think you’ll be in 10 years?
  7. What’s the best thing about your job/school right now?
  8. What do you like about … being in a relationship, being married, having kids, living by yourself, having roommates, etc.
  9. Who is the person who knows you best right now?
  10. What is the thing you’re most proud of?