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I thought the interviews before the lunch went well. Several associates and I then went out for an early lunch. Most of my questions have been exhausted during the earlier interviews but I recycled many of them to keep the conversation going. Since it was an early lunch, around 11, the associates said they weren't really that hungry yet and only finished half of their food. I got a smaller plate so was able to finish my food around the same time they stopped eating. At this point they asked if I had any other questions. I asked a couple more before we left the restaurant. The lunch lasted for slightly less than an hour. When we left, they told me that I can walk directly back to my car and they will be going back to the office. [The restaurant and their office shared the same parking structure.]

Is it weird to have such a short lunch at a callback?

There's really no reason for me to walk back with them to the office since there was no one else I had to meet. But somehow the ending to this CB felt a little weird.

Anyone have a similar experience? Am I just reading too much into things? Thanks!

At the CBs I've been to, everyone went their separate ways after the concluding meal and it was no big deal. I wouldn't read too much into it.

Its tough to get dinged based off lunch. This is a chance to ask some questions that you wouldn't ask a partner/more senior associate. Also a chance to get some less filtered and more open answers.

Size of your plate/amount of food you eat is not going to affect your chances. Unless you ate like an absolute slob and inhaled your food.

As for going separate ways after your interview, that is standard practice. Occurred on every CB lunch I attended.

I'm guessing they had work to do. As above poster mentioned -- the lunches are really an opportunity to learn more about the firm in an informal setting. From what attorneys that I've had lunch with have said, it's VERY hard to affect your chances of getting an offer over lunch, either positively or negatively.