Restaurant etiquette

My friend says it's rude to ask to take some of a restaurant meal home. With family it's no big deal, but what about a date or during a business meeting? If the portions are huge, it seems like such a waste to not take some home for tomorrow's lunch. What do you think?

With the size of the meals you get in most restaurants and the price that is paid -- sure, take it home.  Otherwise it goes in the trash -- so it's wasted food.

I don't think it's rude at all. If you can't eat it all they just throw it out so it seems more rude to leave it in my opinion.

I'm not sure that I would do it during an interview lunch or on a first date.

But other than that, definitely take half home - I do that for almost all the places I eat out now - I divide the meal in half, and eat the first, and have them box up the second. I used to work at a very fancy restaurant, and they always were making up "doggie bags" - nothing rude about it. If anything, it shows that the reason that you didn't finish your meal wasn't because it wasn't good, but because it was so good, you want to stretch it into a second meal!

I don't see what the problem is, why waste food? Even on a date or a business meeting. I can't see why anyone would think it's weird or rude. 

I'm with everyone else on this one...I do not think it is rude.

Also, like Amethyst said, probably not on an interview lunch or first date but a regular business lunch, sure, a regular date, sure, with friends or family...oh heck yeah!

I wouldn't hesitate with friends, but it's a first date tonight. I've looked at their online menu and it looks like huge portions. So out of politeness I shouldn't ask unless the server offers?

LOL maybe I'm socially uncouth, but I would still do it even on a first date. If the guy has a problem with it, then he's the weirdo, not me! I just don't see what the difference is between finishing the entire meal at the restaurant, or eating part of it there and taking the other part home to eat later. Either way, you're still paying for all of it. 

I can't think of any situation where it would be considered rude to take part of a meal home. It's both an appropriate and smart thing to do.

Advice was given in a post recently (can't remember where) to have the server put half of your meal in a box before serving it.  I believe that is inappropriate.  It affects the presentation of the meal, and the chef must revamp the dish for you ahead of time.  I believe the proper thing to do is eat what you want and then have the remainder boxed.  

Thanks guys! He's really slim, so maybe he doggy bags too!  :P

That'd be a new one on me.  Perhaps at an interview-for-a-job lunch I would try to eat light and not take anything with me, but other than that, I'm pretty much my old self.  If I like it and don't finish it, and it will heat up nice for another meal, it's going home.

I would ask, "Rude in what way?"  That's just a bizarre position, in my view. 

my opinion, the only time i would be hesitant would be in a business setting. my suggestion would be to take your cue from the others. i just think strolling out of a business lunch in a suit with a take-out container could be a little awkward when it comes time for hand shakes, card exchanges etc. guess it all depends on how formal a lunch it is!

as for on a date, i would definitely take it home! in fact, if i went on a date and my date left half his meal and didn't take it home, i'd think HE was a weirdo!!

I agree with all the others.  Why not take it home?  You paid for it.  I don't think it's a big deal on the first date considering what you're doing after dinner.  If you're going to the movies or something afterward, I might not take my food to go.  Occassionally, my husband and I will bring leftovers home but stop somewhere else first.  Often, the truck is filled with a food smell, and it doesn't always go away right away.  I've gotten into my truck two days later, and still could smell the food I'd brought home days before.  That said, I still don't think it's rude to take food home.  That's just silly!

I don't see why it's rude. If you decide not to take home the food he might think you didn't enjoy the food, which means he made a bad choice, which means he's stupid, which means you won't like him and he'll likely jump off a bridge. To avoid all this take the food home.

Ser, follow his lead then.  If he doggy bags his, then doggy bag yours. 

I don't see anything rude about it. I think maybe it was traditionally considered "low class." My grandma never wanted to do it because I guess it used to imply that you were poor. I don't think anyone worries about that anymore, and I always take home leftovers.

WOW...I never would have thought of it as rude. Also, if you are going on a first date with a guy you should bag some of it if you don't eat it all. I have been friends with boys/men all my life, more so than women, and every single one of them (even my husband) said they loved girls who eat and would make fun of girls who would only eat a salad, and usually not finish that, when on a date. Maybe it is just the guys around here, but from what I understand they would rather know that you are going to eat, whether you eat it all in front of them or if you do half and half. I personally think it is rude to eat when others arent or to not eat on a date where food is the date, such as to a dinner. That is not to say you should eat until you pop, but definetly eat what you are comfortable eatting and save the rest.

Not as if another person is needed to chime in and same the same thing, LOL, but maybe I can offer another perspective, too.  I agree with the others, a first date, I would not consider it rude or think twice about it.  Think about it.  On a first date, you're trying to get to know someone and decide if there's any potential there.  Do you want to pursue a relationship with someone who's going to get weirded out or offended over such a small, insignificant little thing, a thing that most ALL people do regularly and that is considered normal?  What's going to happen when you have to tackle something IMPORTANT together later?   

Second, assuming the guy is paying for the meal (only for the sake of argument, sorry if it's an incorrect assumption), wouldn't it be more rude to leave half of a meal that he just paid for sitting on the table to be thrown in the trash later?  Wouldn't it show more respect, courtesy, and consideration to say, "Hey, this meal was so great, I'd love to be able to finish it later!" and take it with you and do just that.  You don't have to stuff yourself silly to keep from offending anyone, wreck your cal budget, and there's no wasted money OR food.  My 2 cents . . . ;-)

Hope ya'll have a great time AND a great meal! 

Another option, depending on where you're going and what you order, is to get a half-order. This is much easier with a pasta dish, obviously. Or see if you can order off the lunch menu, since they tend to be smaller portions.

Or just get the box and take it with you. There is no reason not to.

I've asked to take home the remainder of my meals at some very fancy restaurants.  The fancier the place, the nicer they wrap it up for you!  You're flattering the chef - it's so good you can't bear to leave it!!

Original Post by ser25:

My friend says it's rude to ask to take some of a restaurant meal home. With family it's no big deal, but what about a date or during a business meeting? If the portions are huge, it seems like such a waste to not take some home for tomorrow's lunch. What do you think?

 

Hmmm... your friend seems to have an unusual sense of "rude."  There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking home leftovers... during a date, business meeting, or otherwise.

=^..^= MOLLY