Boyfriend [22M] took me [20F] to an expensive restaurant for my birthday, a restaurant that my brother owns. He felt down all night and it ruined it for him. How do I make up for it?

My half brother [33M] (same mum, different dad) is quite rich (through his dad). He owns several hotels, restaurants and clubs here. We're quite close and I often go to his places. I mostly use the gym and swimming pool at one of his hotels.

My boyfriend and I have been dating for 3 months only, but he's only met him once. He knew about the hotel, but not the restaurants. So for my birthday (last night) he told me that he's taking me to "the best place in town" and that he's saved a lot of money for this dinner. He didn't tell me the restaurant's name to keep it a surprise. He actually wanted me to put a blindfold on when he drove me there and I didn't take it off until he was already parked and opened the door (his request). There are a few restaurants close to each other in that area and I was hoping he was taking me to another one, but luck wasn't on our side and he took me to my brother's restaurant.

I've been here tens of times with my brother, all the staff know me. So as soon as we entered they greeted me "Welcome Miss ..." and it ruined it for my boyfriend because he wanted this to be an special experience for me and he knew it wasn't going to be once he learned that I'm the owner's sister. I didn't care, I was just worried about his feelings.

Later that night I told him that it's the thought that counts and I really appreciate how thoughtful he was for planning and creating this experience for me. But he told me that he ruined it with his choice of restaurant and he should have known. He's taking it too hard on himself and last night he didn't even spend the night with me, also cried in the bathroom before leaving.

This morning he texted me an apology. I tried calling him to talk to him but he texted that he's too emotional and needs some space to figure out how to make things rights, despite me telling him that everything is perfect between us.

How do I help him get over this?

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TLDR; Boyfriend saved money to take me to an expensive fancy restaurant without realising that my brother actually owns the restaurant. I'm totally cool but he's taking it too hard, as he thinks he screwed up my birthday even though I'm appreciative and thankful of him for being so nice.

Submitted November 18, 2018 at 12:53PM by LopsidedIndiction https://ift.tt/2Q8UwVC