DS and I love leftovers. We order whatever we want with the idea there will be yummy source food in our frig. The initial bill isn't small; however, per meal not so bad. So yes, we like the big portions. Now we do order salad dressing on the side for any fresh greens. Carries better that way. I've also often stretched a leftover with a tasty sauce by adding more protein or vegetables at home.

Just the opposite for us...I'm paying $10 - $14 /pp at a mid tier restaurant you'd better not skimp on the chicken you put on my sandwich or fill up the soup/salad bowl just halfway.
I'm paying you good money, adding in a now 20% + tip, and food tax(es)...I'd better get something worth while before I part with my money.

Anonymous wrote:I take the uneaten portion home (100% low class here) and get another meal or two out of it.

I will whine about having to box things up myself more often than not, though. It's messy, often not enough space to do easily, and should really be done in the back.

It's being done by a waiter who does not have clean hands. They are picking up dirty dishes, credit cards, menus, on their cell phones...I'd rather do it myself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So just eat a portion of it and bring the rest home. Not hard.

A lot of food doesn’t travel very well especially appetizers, salad or desserts.

Which is why you share.

- one salad or app
- number of people at the table divided by two for entrees (three if you have a child)
- one dessert

My family all has very different tastes. That's why we go to restaurants in the first place - so we can eat what we want.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So just eat a portion of it and bring the rest home. Not hard.

A lot of food doesn’t travel very well especially appetizers, salad or desserts.

How far does it have to travel? Are you trekking the Karakoram mountains to get to the restaurant?

Living two blocks away is too far to take french fries or onion rings or even a dressed salad.

So leave it. It's perfectly acceptable not to eat everything and just leave it on the table. It's not an either or situation.

Anonymous wrote:Go to higher end restaurants. The portions tend to be smaller at fine dining

I think this is still largely true.
Or just order ravioli. They often just give you only 3 or 4 and I always want more.

Go to higher end restaurants. The portions tend to be smaller at fine dining

Anonymous wrote:I only eat 1/4. I do not "bring food home" from restaurants as that is low class behaviour.

Lol. No it isn't. Where did learn this? Are you just making it up? You sound like low class terrified that they aren't upper.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So just eat a portion of it and bring the rest home. Not hard.

A lot of food doesn’t travel very well especially appetizers, salad or desserts.

How far does it have to travel? Are you trekking the Karakoram mountains to get to the restaurant?

Living two blocks away is too far to take french fries or onion rings or even a dressed salad.

Anonymous wrote:I only eat 1/4. I do not "bring food home" from restaurants as that is low class behaviour.

How is it trashy to take home the food you have paid for? Looks like you’re trying too hard.

I think the business model changed. In the 70s/80s, you had 1. fast food/pizza , 2, diners and buffets and 3. Fancy restaurants requiring a jacket usually French, maybe a steakhouse or maybe Italian. If you lived an urban area you might have a Chinese restaurant .
The diners/buffets/ Chinese would serve more food than the fancy restaurants. If they needed to compete more they would advertise larger meals, more value. You didn’t have 100 different restaurants offering casual sit down dining like you do now.

Appetizers stopped being appetizers because restaurants could not afford to have some diners spending 1/3 or 1/4 if they weren’t as hungry. No one would make a reservation at the highest end restaurant and just order an appetizer but this was really common when casual, no jacket, restaurants exploded.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I take the uneaten portion home (100% low class here) and get another meal or two out of it.

I will whine about having to box things up myself more often than not, though. It's messy, often not enough space to do easily, and should really be done in the back.

When I moved to DC for college I remember going to dinner and telling the waitress I'd take the rest to go. I was confused when the waitress brought out boxes for the table, boxing up food yourself tableside was not a thing where I grew up. It should absolutely be packed up in the back.

I like packing my own. I pack up the bread. Fries can go in the airfryer. Take the condiments. Bring back the vessels later.

Anonymous wrote:I take the uneaten portion home (100% low class here) and get another meal or two out of it.

I will whine about having to box things up myself more often than not, though. It's messy, often not enough space to do easily, and should really be done in the back.

When I moved to DC for college I remember going to dinner and telling the waitress I'd take the rest to go. I was confused when the waitress brought out boxes for the table, boxing up food yourself tableside was not a thing where I grew up. It should absolutely be packed up in the back.

We couldn't afford to eat out in the 70s or 80s in my family growing up. So, no I don't remember those sizes, so I don't have some weird nostalgia holding me back. I order what I want and take the rest home. No waste here.

I take the uneaten portion home (100% low class here) and get another meal or two out of it.

I will whine about having to box things up myself more often than not, though. It's messy, often not enough space to do easily, and should really be done in the back.