I (28M) and my wife (26F) agreed to meet a friend (30M) for dinner tomorrow night. He lives about 3 hours away and is here for work.

He is staying in another city about 25 minutes away, which is fine as I am excited to see him. I was in his wedding, he was sort of my wedding, we are fraternity brother, wives are friends etc.

After I sent a restaurant suggestion and he was deciding where to go, he comes back with “I made reservations for here at 7”. Looking at the menu, no entree is < $40, not including drinks, apps and tip. The place is relatively fancy with what a I assume is a business casual dress code (no shorts, close toed shoes).

I told him that a $200+ dinner in a Wednesday night is not what I had in mind, given that I am paying for both my wife and I, and I knew he would expensing his meal being that he is here for work, so price doesn’t matter to him. It’s not that I can’t afford it, but the principle of we’re driving out to see you because you invited us out, and then took it upon yourself to pick an expensive place with full knowledge your email will be expensed.

He responded with something like “a Big Mac is $13.49” and I asked if he could pick the spot I suggested or somewhere else more casual (sports bar, Mexican, etc.) and he tried guilt tripping me into attending and I told him maybe another time. Now he’s angry with me. AITA?