Dress-code

I would at least wear a jacket.

I had a situation like this a few weeks ago and decided to wear a suit but without a tie. Eventually I was fine.

I agree that it might be better to be overdressed (suit with tie). Worst case scenario you can take a restroom break and take it off and just joke about it. Btw, choose safe colors/combinations. My advice might be different if I knew the city where you are, the title of the people you are meeting with or the restaurant that you are likely to go to. If still in doubt, play it safe and go with the suit.

I thought an MBB (non-US) was going to do something similar with me after the final round. They had some HR intern call me and invite to have dinner with a partner and other. I was to go to the office and then I would leave from there. When I pressed for the result of the interview he just said that I would hear back soon. On the morning of the big day a partner called me to extend an offer. That night I toured the office, was given a formal offer letter and taken to a nice dinner.

However, before I got the offer I reached out to mentors and other people that I thought could guide me. One of the responses I heard was that sometimes firms (the case I heard had to do with banks in NY) are on the fence and need to see you one more time. Sometimes they even invite a few candidates for dinner in order to see how they interact in a setting in which they might find themselves if they get the job (dinning with clients). In my opinion having a few finalists competing over dinner for a spot is a pretty brutal thing to do, but it happens.

As I said, in my case it was a false alarm, but up until the moment I got the offer my plan was to be myself. Still, pay attention to the obvious: manners, don't go into long monologues, don't interrupt people, etc. Other than that just try to be relaxed and spontaneous. And remember, if they are asking you for lunch is because they are already seriously considering hiring you.

Best of luck and report back!

I agree that it might be better to be overdressed (suit with tie). Worst case scenario you can take a restroom break and take it off and just joke about it. Btw, choose safe colors/combinations. My advice might be different if I knew the city where you are, the title of the people you are meeting with or the restaurant that you are likely to go to. If still in doubt, play it safe and go with the suit.

I thought an MBB (non-US) was going to do something similar with me after the final round. They had some HR intern call me and invite to have dinner with a partner and others. I was to go to the office to meet with them and then we would leave from there. When I pressed for the result of the interview he just said that I would hear back soon. On the morning of the big day a partner called me to extend an offer. That night I toured the office, was given a formal offer letter and taken to a nice dinner.

However, before I got the offer I reached out to mentors and other people that I thought could guide me. One of the responses I heard was that sometimes firms (the case I heard had to do with banks in NY) are on the fence and need to see you one more time. Sometimes they even invite a few candidates for dinner in order to see how they interact in a setting in which they might find themselves if they get the job (dinning with clients). In my opinion having a few finalists competing over dinner for a spot is a pretty brutal thing to do, but it happens.

As I said, in my case it was a false alarm, but up until the moment I got the offer my plan was to be myself. Still, pay attention to the obvious: manners, don't go into long monologues, don't interrupt people, etc. Other than that just try to be relaxed and spontaneous. And remember, if they are asking you for lunch is because they are already seriously considering hiring you.

Best of luck and report back!

Thanks for all the responses! This is for the UK, by the way. And the people who I would be meeting with are two guys from the level that I am interviewing for and one a bit more senior.

I suppose a suit with a tie is the way to go. I was wondering about business casual partly because I look better in it!

Argh, these social situations are what really get me nervous!

suit no tie

A quick follow-up. Should I send thank-you notes after the meeting? I wasn't given any business cards, but I have their names and could easily guess their email addresses. Just wondering if it made sense to send an email.

Always send a thank you note. Preferably within 24 hours and never after 48 (weekends could be an exception).