If you're really nervous about it and you're eating at your get together, plan something where everyone gets involved in the food preparation or cooking. It's an ice breaker and the conversation will just flow from there, but you'll probably find loads you have in common.
If you don't, well it's only one night and it'll have been an experience, you're out of your own little 'comfort zone' and it's good to do that once in a while.
It's not a test, it's supposed to be fun, enjoy it and if it doesn't work out so what? You'll have other friends that do work out in time because they like you for who you are not what's on offer at dinner, oh yes, you really will!
