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Original poster

Restaurant portion sizes are huge

800 replies

Paq · 31/07/2021 22:05

Does anyone else find this? Went to a pub/restaurant last night and the portion sizes were insane. I managed a third of my salad, brought the rest home and shared it with DH for lunch today. DD got through half her curry and 6'1" hollow legged DH just about managed to finish his risotto but then felt overstuffed all night.

OP posts:
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cherish123 · 02/08/2021 18:02

In pubs and steakhouses - portions can be quite huge. Not so much in nouvelle cuisine-style restaurants.

LauraFlashley · 02/08/2021 18:04

[quote Paq]@LauraFlashley mine was larger than the picture, it was served on the blue plate in the curry picture. It's not just about calories, eating non-calorie dense food also makes you feel full![/quote]
I would have to eat a lot of salad before I felt full!

What size portion would you normally have, a side plate?

BumCat · 02/08/2021 18:21

Oooh! You waif, you!

ohthatbloodycat · 02/08/2021 18:39

I'm greedy, so never think portion sizes are huge Blush
Maybe in America ...

moonfruitjo · 02/08/2021 19:12

Wtf is a salad?

annoyedofnorwich · 02/08/2021 19:12

Oh my mum is always wittering on about restaurant portion sizes. So huge, too much, I can't understand why they do it etc. Funny that she's always nicking other people's chips, you'd think she wouldn't have room. Nothing more boring than people whinging about portion sizes. Eat it all, dont eat it all, I really am not interested in hearing about it from people I'm eating with! Especially when it's basically a thinly veiled judgement on other people who may dare to eat all their "enormous" portion.

CauliflowerBalti · 02/08/2021 19:12

Inject this thread into my veins for it is LIFE. I only have to look at a lettuce leaf to bloat up… I can’t believe y’all ate some. Schoolgirl error.

frumpety · 02/08/2021 19:29

Its like when people say they couldn't eat a whole portion of normal sized fish and chips and would need to share it. I can happily eat a full sized portion to myself, but I wouldn't have breakfast or another big meal in the same day.

SallyWD · 02/08/2021 19:37

It really depends where you go. The other day I went to a restaurant and the portion was definitely big enough for 3 people (it was a gratin with fish, potatoes and vegetables). Believe me it really was that big - I have a huge appetite and always eat much more than my husband and most other men I know! Generally I find restaurant portions about right. I can easily eat everything on my plate (and could eat more than I've been given in most cases).

Bertiebiscuit · 02/08/2021 19:43

Apart from all the sarcastic nonsense from people who mistake sarcasm for humour - I find restaurant meals often too big for me, so I almost always have a starter and a pudding, or a couple of sides and a pudding - rarely if ever have a main especially if it's pasta based

Arsebucket · 02/08/2021 19:50

Never has a portion size in a restaurant bested me. I always find them too small. But then I am a greedy bastard.

Original poster
Paq · 02/08/2021 19:51

@frumpety

Its like when people say they couldn't eat a whole portion of normal sized fish and chips and would need to share it. I can happily eat a full sized portion to myself, but I wouldn't have breakfast or another big meal in the same day.

DH and I always share a F&C, usually with DD tucking in as well. But tbh I don't actually like F&C.

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 02/08/2021 19:55

@frumpety

Its like when people say they couldn't eat a whole portion of normal sized fish and chips and would need to share it. I can happily eat a full sized portion to myself, but I wouldn't have breakfast or another big meal in the same day.
But some of us like to eat little and often rather than one huge meal.

Plus the fish and chips here are really big, fish is longer than across a large dinner, and you can't get all the chips on the plate too, even DP who's a big eating manual worker struggles to eat them all.

RampantIvy · 02/08/2021 20:00

@Arsebucket

Never has a portion size in a restaurant bested me. I always find them too small. But then I am a greedy bastard.
Come to Yorkshire. Portions are hearty here.
EspressoDoubleShot · 02/08/2021 20:03

Yes,it may be the case that neither you nor your big eating man can eat portion fish & Chips @BarbaraofSeville but @frumpety is clearly telling you when hungry enough, she can and does. You don’t need to be a male manual labourer to eat fish & Chips.

grasstreeleaf · 02/08/2021 20:13

I think this thread has some competitive big appetite boasts rather than competitive undereating boasts.....

However, it only seems to be those with larger appetites that want to persuade everyone that having a choice of a smaller portion size is a bad idea. I still haven't got to the bottom of exactly why.

What is the concern if they still were able to order a large meal?

grasstreeleaf · 02/08/2021 20:14

You don’t need to be a male manual labourer to eat fish & Chips.

And you don't need to be a pensioner or a child to want smaller portions...

frumpety · 02/08/2021 20:15

@Paq I don't tend to enjoy them South of Sheffield to be fair , not sure what they do to them, but its just wrong, would just get some chips if on the South coast.

EspressoDoubleShot · 02/08/2021 20:17

You want the govt to impose mandatory menu options < 600 calories @grasstreeleaf
How is that promoting choice if it’s mandatory to offer low calorie meals
If an individual has a preference for small portions or low cal that’s ok but it needn’t be mandatory inclusion on a Menu

frumpety · 02/08/2021 20:19

@grasstreeleaf most of the chippys round here do a smaller sized portion. I think it would be good to have the option of main course size or starter size for most main meals, that way I could have a starter and a pudding too, so the establishment would get more money out of me as I usually only have a main.

Oblomov21 · 02/08/2021 20:31

Nope. Don't find restaurant portions that big.

grasstreeleaf · 02/08/2021 20:31

@EspressoDoubleShot

You want the govt to impose mandatory menu options *@grasstreeleaf* How is that promoting choice if it’s mandatory to offer low calorie meals If an individual has a preference for small portions or low cal that’s ok but it needn’t be mandatory inclusion on a Menu
Well, considering the response on here I still do. I think it is ridiculous not to offer a smaller portion. Making it mandatory to offer would set a line in the sand that it is not an unusual or bad way to want to eat. Doesn't mean you have to buy the smaller portion, you could buy the bigger portion if you wanted.🤷‍♀️
EspressoDoubleShot · 02/08/2021 20:34

In midst of all the things the govt can’t manage you want your foibles and calorie obsession imposed upon everyone because you have a preference for small portions.

grasstreeleaf · 02/08/2021 20:34

[quote frumpety]@grasstreeleaf most of the chippys round here do a smaller sized portion. I think it would be good to have the option of main course size or starter size for most main meals, that way I could have a starter and a pudding too, so the establishment would get more money out of me as I usually only have a main.[/quote]
That's how I feel. I love to eat a small dessert / starter as well as a main and think a variety of food stuffs is a good thing.Smile

grasstreeleaf · 02/08/2021 20:35

@EspressoDoubleShot

In midst of all the things the govt can’t manage you want your foibles and calorie obsession imposed upon everyone because you have a preference for small portions.
It's already in discussion.
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