If you don't want a big meal, then don't get one. Order the dinner sized salad. Many times even the fancier salads come in regular or big "entree" size. Order off the sides menu. A baked potato. Or baked potato and steamed veggies. Ask if you order a only sandwich without the fries is it a reduced price.

It says child's menu for a reason. It's for children. Not for tacky adults.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is such a tedious conversation. Unless you're a child or a senior, do not order from those menus! It's super tacky and rude.

A) Rude to whom?!

B) I don't give two Fs if you think I'm tacky, DCUM stranger.

Like a PP, I only order off the kids' menu if we are doing takeout.

A) rude to the restaurant owners (often family owned small businesses) and the waitstaff

B) ok but OP asked. And is not just me as a DCUM stranger. The actual human beings you stiff at the restaurants know it's rude and tacky. And the other clientele will snicker and roll their eyes at you.

I've only noticed and remember one person's meal while eating out. Most of the time I pay no attention to whatever the people around me are eating. Why would I? I'm there to enjoy the company of whoever else is at my table, not be a Nosy Nellie.

And that person I noticed and remember, they were just eating 3 baked potatoes once. And I do mean at once. They'd have a bite off of each. THAT gave me a giggle in a "how odd" sort of way.

Anonymous wrote:Of course you are being cheap. You are stiffing the staff. Most people won’t allow adults to order off the kids menu.

How are you stiffing the staff?

We do this often in our house. We are still not eating inside of restaurants, so we've only done takeout at places that don't offer outdoor seating. They never ask if the kid's meal I'm ordering is for a kid.

For example, it was my son's turn to pick our Saturday evening spot and he chose Texas Roadhouse. The one near us only has a pop-up tent with 4 tables outside and the wait for those tables is very long (usually 2 hrs!) so we always just do takeout. We ordered 4 normal adult meals, and my daughter (home from college) and & I each ordered their side salads and then we split the kid's menu sliders. Our total was around $79 and then with the tip it was around $94. So how exactly was any staff stiffed?

Sometimes we'll eat at a place that my picky eater teen doesn't really like. He does, however, like chicken tenders, which is on the menu at practically every type of restaurant. Even in person, a waiter or waitress has never said anything about him ordering off the kid's menu. And trust me, there's no mistaking him for a 12 and under kid. If you're paying for the food and tipping, how are you cheating them?

Anonymous wrote:I have never done this because as others have mentioned the kids menu is typically crap food that I have no desire to eat. Most typically specify under 12 or under 10. My kids have even reached the age where the kids menu no longer interests them.

Yes to kids menu being crap food. No one is forcing you to eat an adult portion and lick your place clean. Order what appeals to you on the adult menu, eat until you are full, box up the rest- or don't and toss. How is this even a problem or question?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course you are being cheap. You are stiffing the staff. Most people won’t allow adults to order off the kids menu.

This. I waited tables in high school and college and this was never allowed. Most places did not have senior menus, but if they did and you could visibly pass for 55+, probably no one would challenge you, but otherwise, no.

Kids’ meals are loss leaders to sell adult meals and drinks. We would be happy to sell you appetizer or box up your leftovers, but a 35 year old ordering a kiddie meal? Sorry, no. And no, we were not required to honor any cards from a bariatric surgeon, even if you whined that they were OMG DOCTOR’S ORDERS!!! The doctor has no authority over a privately owned restaurant.

OMG that is so heartless. I have a disease that makes it so that I can't eat fiber and it is so hard to find something off the adult menu that doesn't have any herbs or seeds or something. I'm so glad I have never encountered an outright refusal.

You can order a plain burger or plain noodles or whatever bland thing you want. Just ask. This doesn't mean you must order from the kids menu. One has nothing to do with the other.

I have never done this because as others have mentioned the kids menu is typically crap food that I have no desire to eat. Most typically specify under 12 or under 10. My kids have even reached the age where the kids menu no longer interests them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is such a tedious conversation. Unless you're a child or a senior, do not order from those menus! It's super tacky and rude.

A) Rude to whom?!

B) I don't give two Fs if you think I'm tacky, DCUM stranger.

Like a PP, I only order off the kids' menu if we are doing takeout.

A) rude to the restaurant owners (often family owned small businesses) and the waitstaff

B) ok but OP asked. And is not just me as a DCUM stranger. The actual human beings you stiff at the restaurants know it's rude and tacky. And the other clientele will snicker and roll their eyes at you.

You realize any order is better than no order. It’s not rude.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a normal/typical sized adult woman and I'm not satisfied with a 10 year old's portion, an 80 year old's portion, or an appetizer when I get a meal from a restaurant (which is not that often). I probably eat more than DH who is 2x my size.

If it is a place with truly enormous portions, I just order something I enjoy left over to avoid waste.

You must know that this is not typical.

I'm a normal/typical sized adult woman and I'm not satisfied with a 10 year old's portion, an 80 year old's portion, or an appetizer when I get a meal from a restaurant (which is not that often). I probably eat more than DH who is 2x my size.

If it is a place with truly enormous portions, I just order something I enjoy left over to avoid waste.

Anonymous wrote:Of course you are being cheap. You are stiffing the staff. Most people won’t allow adults to order off the kids menu.

Nobody knows in this take-out/Door Dash world.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is such a tedious conversation. Unless you're a child or a senior, do not order from those menus! It's super tacky and rude.

A) Rude to whom?!

B) I don't give two Fs if you think I'm tacky, DCUM stranger.

Like a PP, I only order off the kids' menu if we are doing takeout.

A) rude to the restaurant owners (often family owned small businesses) and the waitstaff

B) ok but OP asked. And is not just me as a DCUM stranger. The actual human beings you stiff at the restaurants know it's rude and tacky. And the other clientele will snicker and roll their eyes at you.

Anonymous wrote:i will if i am allowed. i am tired of restaurants offering meals fit for two or more people. i just want to eat a normal small amount of food and not have to take home half of it because it is doesn't really age that well.

This. It's not about cost...but I hate wasting food, and I'm not going to eat 2-3x what I need just because it's served to me. Today, DD and I shared a single adult meal...and it still felt like a huge meal for both of us. It was a counter-service place, so I don't think the cost was an issue (I did tip as well). But, in general, something's gotta give with enormous portions. It normalizes over-eating or wasting food, both of which are some of the worst things about American culture.

I don't order kids' meals, but I often do order appetizers as a meal. If half-orders are available, I'll order them...but they usually aren't. I don't want to take home leftovers (and all the packaging that comes with them). I want to eat a reasonable portion of food I don't have to prepare myself. Why is this so hard?

I would never do it dining in, but yup, definitely for takeout.

And they come with drinks!!

i will if i am allowed. i am tired of restaurants offering meals fit for two or more people. i just want to eat a normal small amount of food and not have to take home half of it because it is doesn't really age that well.

My under 10 is usually ordering the most expensive thing off the adult menu (he loves salmon, crab cakes, filet) so I could? If I really liked something? But it’s typically garbage food for a kid palate. Plus I love leftovers and am disciplined about just eating a half portion.