They gave me a Doggy Bag !

I have the same problem Nankate I am tiny and have never managed huge portions. Having said that , in my twenties I could eat a three course meal when out but I do think portions have increased. Some places do actually offer a "small plate" and I always say how appreciative I am to the restaurant in the hope that it will become more acceptable. I hate leaving food as it looks as though you haven't enjoyed the meal. Actually, if the fish or whatever is falling off both ends of the plate or the chips etc are in a mountain , I don't enjoy it because I am aware that it is going to be too much.

I am a greedy mare and, when younger, I could outeat anyone. Hence the diabetes. However even I have noticed that my appetite has decreased as I have got older. Some of the restaurants near me still offer small plates.

Same here. I ask for a doggy bag, as I enjoy it more later at home. I don’t really enjoy eating out, especially if we are out with other people, another of my social phobias.

I can eat a lot less than I used to. One of our local restaurants has a lunchtime menu option for 'Seniors' - smaller portions and a bit cheaper.

Many places do “ light bites”, but not usually in the evening.

Kali good idea shame about the ‘Seniors’! They could just call them smaller portions!

I quite often have two starters instead of a starter and a main.

We had exactly the same experience NanKate today. We had a meal for two at our local rather upmarket Chinese restaurant. I was amazed when the waiter asked us if we would like to take the rest home.That's tomorrow sorted!

Will you be eating the Chinese meal cold ? Greenfinch

Glad we are not the only ones with small appetites. We used to eat the lot, prawn cocktail, chicken in the basket or steak and chips, followed by Black Forest gateau. Plus the wine. What piglets we were.

My appetite has decreased but unfortunately my weight hasn't! The Chinese waiter actually put the food in microwave containers so it's easy peasy

I wish mine had ( decreased I mean) I could still eat for England

I've never been able to eat restaurant sized portions and it amazes me where people put it all. Why do they give you such a mountain of chips for example? No wonder there's an obesity crisis. No-one needs that much food. I wish as a previous poster suggested that you could ask for small portions. I hate to see food wasted. Doggy bags are a great idea, but they don't do them everywhere.

I agree entirely. However, most restaurants do a "seniors" menu here in Germany. (There is also usually a kiddies menu) I think they avoid richer and spicier food, too. I have no compunction asking to take the rest home if I did order a normal-sized portion and they always oblige with a smile.

In America, they will offer you a "box" even before you ask. Some will even give you the box so that you can pick out which bits you want to take. I once had one that did me three further meals!

I find it very off-putting to plough through a huge plateful but apparently make no inroads into it. I actively avoid restaurants and cafes that offer huge helpings.

It`s strange how it tastes better in the comfort of your own home.

I do wish they weren't called 'doggy bags'. We use them to pick up the poo!

I went out for a meal on Saturday with my daughter and granddaughter. They both ordered pizzas which were huge, also a big bowl of beautiful chips. The restaurant gave them boxes, before they asked, to take the leftovers home. Most places will do this if you ask. We've even done it in Wetherspoons!

We’ve never been refused a ‘doggy bag’ one bag was literally for the dog, scraps of steak left on plates and they were very happy to do it, in one restaurant the foil bag was in the shape of a swan!

I cannot stand a massive plate of food put in front of me it puts me off straight away. If a gravy or sauce comes with a meal I like it served separately in a little jug not poured over it. I like banquet mezze or tapas small plates with lots of choice. It’s my preferred way to eat when we go out. The few restaurants we do eat at are very happy to wrap food to take away.

We usually buy from the seniors menu but it is only available at lunchtime not in the evening. Sometimes I get 2 entrees instead of a main meal.

I think calls have been made for takeaway boxes for leftovers to be available as a matter of course. It's very wasteful the way things are at present. I'm with Redhead a large plate of food is off putting for me, my husband always serves gravy in small jugs on the side. ( I love gravy ).
I don't see why smaller portions should be restricted to older people, there must be many people who prefer small meals. I really don't see a problem for kitchen staff, it's the same meal just less of it.
I always carry plastic bags with me and take home anything suitable for our dogs.

I rarely leave enough to bother with a doggy bag but I would have no problem with taking my left over food home. I was rather surprised when eating at a restaurant with a large group of people, some good friends but I did not know everyone. One lady I had not met before just picked at her food saying she had a very small appetite. She asked for some foil to wrap up her meat to take home but then proceeded to go round the table asking if she could also have their left overs. She was quite open that the food was for her, no pretence that it was for the dog! Not only that but she also left early leaving cash for her share - it wasn’t until the bill came that we realised that she had not paid for her drinks or for her desert!

What a cheapskate!

OH actually asked for a doggy bag recently. We had been to Cote and he foolishly had a pate starter, which was almost the size of a house brick! So when his Main course arrived - half a chicken - he asked for most of it in a doggy bag. They were happy to do this. He has recently had a hernia op a d it seems that he can’t eat as much as he used to. When we went out for lunch yesterday he had two starters and a pudding.

I don't see why we should have to do that Ladyleftfieldlover it is surely not beyond the wit of restaurant staff to prepare smaller plates of food. Seems the customer's wishes are not high on their agenda.