Doggy baggers unite!

Paula- It's definately not in poor taste, and it doesn't necessarily make you cheap. When we eat out I divide my overly large portions in half so that I can have half at another meal. The serving sizes at most restaurants are twice what you need to consume. So I get a doggy bag and take the other half home and eat it at my next meal. A lot of people are now suggesting people make this their regular habit as not to "over eat" when dining out. Namaste-Anora

nonsense! When my sister was in town, we went to a restaurant - as many diets suggest, we took our food and bagged it up ahead of time - I got the manicotti and there were 3 so I packed up 2 and ate the other one. Hey, I got 2 more meals outta that! not bad for 10 something - well, sure, I had to add veggies, but I had those!

I have no issues asking for a doggie bag! I paid for the meal, so if I can't finish it there and then I should be allowed to take it with me I reckon. More and more restaurants seem to be shying away from this these days though because of a fear of the food not being stored properly and then making the eater sick. It's a pretty common thing here in Cairo to ask them to bag up the leftovers.

To be honest it's been ages since I've been to a restaurant since to budget myself I do all home-cooking, but when I have gone, I see no problem in "doggy bagging" it...heck...one paid for that meal, why not take the leftovers home? Just why do they call it a doggy bag anyway? Maybe in our case we should call it a "kitty bag"?

Not at all you paid for the food. I do it all the time because I hardly ever eat everything that is on my plate because they give to much food. I ask for a doggy bag and that will be my lunch for tomorrow. Its not at all bad etiquette. If it was why would the restaurants have the containers to take the food home in.

Certainly not! With the portion sizes most resturaunts serve now days, can they really even expect a person with a normal appetite to be able to eat it all in one sitting? Especially if they are going to try and talk you into dessert as well! As you stated, obviously doggie bags are not appropriate (nor usually allowed) at an all you can eat buffet style resturaunt. It does make it seem unfair if you are a person with a very small appetite, but the reason they can't let you even take home what is left on your plate is because unfortunately there are those people out there who would then fill up their last plate with way more food than they know they can ever eat, just so they can take it home.

I have no problem in asking for a doggy bag..I mean I paid for the food..if I what I do with it thereafter is my business and right to do so. We always ask for a doggy bag since my little eight year old sister never finishes her food but within an hour usually wants her food..So they are helpful..and if all else..pets enjoy it as well..

I probably wouldn't ask, but my wife is president of the doggie bag community. This is common in Thailand, and she has carried on that tradition in Australia. It used to embarrass me slightly, but now I even ask, if the food is yummy.

I do it all the time especially when we have a sit down chinese dinner party. Normally one round table have a capacity of 10 people and when there are only 4 people in attendance in our table there will be a lot of extras. I would ask the waitress to pack the unfinished food for me. Normally, especially in 5 star hotels, they will not allow guests to pack leftovers. That is a kind of unfair rulings in some hotel restaurants here. They believe that cooked food not eaten within 4 hours will be contaminated and when someone gets food poisoning eating leftovers, the management will be hauled for explanation by the health authorities.

Not at all. Why waste the food if you can heat it up and eat it later? Or you might want to give it as a treat to one of your furry friends? After all, you paid for the meal, it's yours to do what ever you want with it so take it home if you want! Or leave it there to be thrown away..... I'd rather take it home.

I think the buffet is not allowed should be the case. This is unfair to businesses, in addition to a buffet outside the home when the dogs can eat.

Hi paula! I think doggy badding is fine. Sometimes the meals are to big to finish but to good to leave behind. It doesn't make you a cheapskate at all. I once over heard a server comment on how wasteful a family was once because they left so much food.

I always ask for doggy bag after I eat in the restuarant. I dont find it bad bacause I paid for my meal and besides what I am asking if for the left overs on my plate.:) My dog thinks its my back home gift for them... hehhe