next year have your friends take you out, don't take them out. it's your birthday, not theirs!

#19 What the hell did I do to you?

#32 - i don't think the OP is being too focused on money, he/she was paying for all the friends' dinners in the first place so it's pretty rude of them to have a special cake arranged and then expect the OP to pay for it, regardless of how much this cost it's like making someone pay for their own present. and all the people who are so confused that someone would pay for their own birthday, hello this happens all the time! i bet most of you have had parties where your parents foot the bill, what just cause you're growing up and your parents can't/won't pay for you anymore suddenly you expect your friends to? they give you gifts, but you give the party. if you're friends offer to treat you to a birthday dinner then i would consider that the gift instead.

27, who says it's a girl...?

Did you take them out to an expensive restaurant? It's normal to pay for people when YOU take THEM out. You warn people it's an expensive place, but maybe ur friends honestly didnt like you much, personally I ask the waiter for the complimentary birthday cake SLICE to bring to the table for my friend (every restaurant does that for birthdays) instead of buying a full cake restaurant price, you're friends are real idiots.

half the people commenting can't read. the OP took their friends out..meaning that he/she was paying for their meals. and they decided the OP should pay for a "surprise" cake that he/she wasn't planning on paying for in addition to all of their meals. all you YDI can suck it

you had to pay for your friends to show up to your birthday dinner??? wow

I agree with #38. When you say "I TOOK my friends out," that usually means you are the one paying. I don't know why anyone would say the OP was being selfish for picking an expensive restaurant when he or she was the one paying. Depending on how many people the OP took, that was probably already a hefty tab-- the fact that they added on what was most likely a very pricey cake to the bill is obnoxious. If the OP never asked for it directly, why would anyone assume he/she should pay for it? Especially on a BIRTHDAY outing! Never "surprise" someone with a gift and then make them pay for it. Sorry, to the OP. Hope you were still able to have a nice time! :)

I always take my friends out for a meal on my birthday, it's kind of like a thank you for the gifts they get me. They all do the same, whoever's birthday it is pays. I agree with the OP on this one, if I were taking them all out for a meal I'd be a bit mystified if they decided to get me a birthday cake as a surprise, but I had to pay for that too!

Well since you took your friends out, that implies that you're paying-they were just trying to do something nice. Also, if you ask me, they should've been the ones taking you out-if you have to take them out, that's kinda sad.