Do You ask for part of your meal "to go" if you can't finish it?
By ShepherdSpy
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
Omagh, Northern Ireland
August 2, 2008 6:55pm CST
I'm involved in another discussion elsewhere about British attitudes towards taking food home that you couldn't finish off in a Restaurant..Some feel there's some stigma attached to asking for what we refer to as a "Doggy Bag",whether you're REALLY taking it home for the dog,or if that's just a euphemism for tomorrow's lunch! Do YOU ask for one when you eat out? Does it bother you to ask,or do you regard it as perfectly normal where you are?
thanks for responses!
10 people like this
31 responses
@SusanLee (1920)
• United States
3 Aug 08
I'll ask for a 'doggy bag' in a heartbeat. I'm not leaving a bunch of seafood on my plate for them to throw out lol.
That's one thing I like about a buffet, you can eat your fill and not have to worry about anything going to waste.
But for those rare times we eat off of a menu, and I can't eat all of it, I'll bring it home with me.
Not if it's a baked potato or fries, stuff like that I won't bother with.
Wonder why it's such a disgrace over there?
2 people like this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
21 Aug 08
I work in a Restaurant myself,and have no problem wrapping up excess food for someone to take away if someone's appetite isn't up to it...Some people don't like to ask..I've seen people wrapping food up in paper napkins and getting baggies out of their handbags to take stuff away,before they'd ask!
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
28 Dec 10
Coming from the Business and Health and safety legislation perspective,there are issues there where there could be a possibility of someone getting food poisoning from a leftover meal,and suing the business,even though there was nothing wrong with the meal at the time it was ordered and (partly) consumed on the premises..some places have stopped offering such takeout options as a result..I even heard of someplace that had the guest sign a waiver if they wanted to take leftover food out,absolving the management of any responsibility once the people had taken the food off the premises!
@Stiletto (4579)
•
3 Aug 08
I've never asked for a "doggy bag" and really it would never occur to me to do so. I don't think I've ever seen anyone else ask for one either, I've definitely never been in company with someone who has asked for one. If I saw someone doing it I would probably think it a bit odd, but I wouldn't think it "wrong" in any way. I guess it's just not something we British generally do, but there again our portions are usually smaller I believe.
2 people like this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
22 Aug 08
The restaurant I work in,we have people who come in often enough for Sunday lunch who will ask us to plate up a lunch to take with them when they leave -Presumably there's someone at home who couldn't make it out with them,and they've promised to bring something back..AFAIK,they'll return the plate at some point during the following week or so!
@frankiecesca (2489)
•
6 Aug 08
I WOULD ask to take it home as after all I've paid for it but here's my thing - I've never left anything on my plate when I've gone for a meal!! The only time is Pizza hut where they ask you if you want the rest to take home but thats only happened once! x
2 people like this
@mimico (3617)
• Philippines
3 Aug 08
Well I can usually finish the food I order. I'm very money conscious when I eat out, so I only order something that I know I can finish. Of course, there are time when I go all out, like in a party or dinner celebration. If there is a lot of left over, then I do ask for a doggie bag. I don't have a dog though so I end up eating the leftovers myself. A lot of times though I completely forget about the take out and it just goes to waste. :(
2 people like this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
22 Aug 08
Usually when I'd eat out,(Depending on the Cuisine) I'll have a Main course and a dessert 
that'll usually fill Me and there's never usually enough left over to want to take it with Me! I don't like having leftovers in the fridge long enough that I have to dump them 
that'll usually fill Me and there's never usually enough left over to want to take it with Me! I don't like having leftovers in the fridge long enough that I have to dump them 
@sk66rc (4250)
• United States
3 Aug 08
In most of the cases I do... There are times I've forgotten about it in the car & by the time I get back into my car the next day, I realize the food has been sitting in my car all night... My girl friend does, too... There were plenty of times we had dinner the next day from what we brought home from eating out the previous night...
2 people like this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
22 Aug 08
Restaurants take food poisoning very seriously,as a case can have the kitchens closed down with due cause.A food poisoning case brought by somebody who took food away with them and got ill from something that happened to it off the premises would worry management,being aware of the "Claim Culture"...I've heard of at least one place that asks the customer to sign a waiver that they won't claim against them if something happens to them with their "Takeout"!
@movicont (495)
• United States
3 Aug 08
It doesn't bother me to ask to take the leftovers home. Perhaps this is something that's often done in the U.S.--I've seen many people take their leftovers home unabashed. Restaurants also offer to give us take-home boxes, so there's even less of a stigma attached to it. Of course, for me, it feels kind of awkward to ask for a box if they don't offer it, but my parents do it all the time.
2 people like this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
22 Aug 08
I don't have a problem offering a "takeout" to somebody struggling to finish something,but the idea of purpose made containers for the job seems to have passed by some places,the one I work in included..Usually I'll wrap something up in Aluminium foil for someone.I DO like going to places that are prepared for this happening!
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
3 Aug 08
i sometimes do that especially when i was still living in the philippines. most of the time, i give it to street children waiting outside the restaurants and sometimes, it ends up just in my dog's bowl. i do eat it sometimes especially if it's really a favorite of mine.
i am not bothered asking for my leftovers in the restaurant to be wrapped for me. i paid for it anyway.
@alena824 (376)
• Philippines
3 Aug 08
This will depend on how much of the food is left. If it's quite substantial I will ask for it, because we've got to consider the rising cost of everything, and what a waste it would be. You paid for the food, anyway, so why not take it. Here in the Philippines we don't really call it a doggy bag so it's nothing to be embarrassed about.
2 people like this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
5 Aug 08
It does not bother me at all to ask for a take out box. I do it on a regular basis. I never eat all my meal. Lately, my husband and I have just been ordering one meal to split.
@fatragu (677)
• United States
3 Aug 08
I do. Usually because my little ones never finish all of their meal and then they have the next meal already prepared for them. Also I just read some diet advice that says to order your food like you normally would. Also ask for a take away box. Then put half of your meal in the box and take it home and then you have the next meal already prepared for you. Also it helps you from eating too much at one time.
2 people like this
@izathewzia (5134)
• Philippines
3 Aug 08
Yes, even a small portion. I take out my left over food because I know I can still eat it. Considering the hardship most of us are experiencing now. So wasting food is surely a no-no.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
3 Aug 08
I have never asked for a doggy bag, mainly because any food that is left gets consumed by my hubby! He is a thin as anything but my word can he eat!
My Mum always used to get a doggy bag, and hers was always for the dog! Spoilt thing he was.
The only time we ever got to take food home was a trip to pizza hut, there was loads of pizza left over so we just fetched it home.
2 people like this
@marina321 (4556)
•
3 Aug 08
I think it does depend on the restaurant as well. In Indian and Chinese restaurants where a lot of the meals are served seperately in bowls and in generous amounts and you eat some of it and there's plenty left over, it is only the natural thing to ask for a 'doggy bag' as you have already paid for the food anyway and you wouldn't want that to go to waste, the restaurant are aware of this and that's why they are very generous in helping you pack it away
, it's no problem and you've got tomorrow's lunch all sorted!
, it's no problem and you've got tomorrow's lunch all sorted!2 people like this
@iskayz (5420)
• Philippines
3 Aug 08
Hi there!
Well it depends. If my left over still looks untouched or still looks fine and are still a lot then I would have it "to go".
I think its just normal to ask for a doggy bag. Theres nothing wrong with it and the fact that you paid for the food you can do whatever you like with it. I think you have the right to take it home if you want to. Whether you give it your dog or not.
Here in the Philippines asking for a doggy bag is just as perfectly normal. Everyone does it if they have left overs.
Ciao!
Well it depends. If my left over still looks untouched or still looks fine and are still a lot then I would have it "to go".
I think its just normal to ask for a doggy bag. Theres nothing wrong with it and the fact that you paid for the food you can do whatever you like with it. I think you have the right to take it home if you want to. Whether you give it your dog or not.
Here in the Philippines asking for a doggy bag is just as perfectly normal. Everyone does it if they have left overs.
Ciao!
@SViswan (12051)
• India
3 Aug 08
I find it perfectly normal to ask for a doggy bag (though I have no dogs...lol)....but most of my friends are embarassed to ask for one....even if they've hardly had much of the food and thre's a lot of it left.
If what's leftover can feed me one time I will take a doggy bag...if it's less than that, I give the doggy bag a miss.
2 people like this
@AshleyHasan (1024)
• India
3 Aug 08
I ask for a part of my meal to go if I cant finish it but normall if the food is more I ask them to pack the food and give it me and I will give the food to any beggar on road. We should not waste the food but sometimes that happens with me.
@saivenkaat802003 (4823)
• India
3 Aug 08
It is the good practice, of Brits i am hearing now.
I would ask " Doggy bag" certainly.
In our Culture, Food is revered as GOD, BRAHAMA,(the creator the Mother earth) so to waste the food.. is to disrespect the GOD.
So, under any circumstance i won't waste any food..
And no one will waste,food, when the think of a moment..the starving people in many parts of the world.
2 people like this
@princessdian (506)
• United States
3 Aug 08
I always ask for a "doggy bag" when I eat out and don't finish my food. It doesn't bother me at all to ask for one because it's a common thing to do in Wisconsin and also I am usually offered a to go bag before I even ask for one. Being a college student I want to eat every cent I pay for. I love having leftovers around because then It takes away the trouble of making food and I can just reheat my leftovers in a microwave. I also like having my leftovers as a late night snack when I'm up really late getting things done.
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