Taking food home from a pub/restaurant

[storminabuttercup]

My grandma often does this, say for example she orders a roast beef baguette and she can't finish it, she wraps the other half and pops in in her handbag. Years ago this would have really embarrassed me, but she did it today and it didn't bother me, was I being unreasonable before to be embarrassed or now to not care I wonder?

Thought I'd pass it over to the mn jury! :-)

dreaming don't be embarrassed, you guys are clearly right on this one! I would feel very pleased if a guest said 'I can't finish this can I take it home?' what a lovely way of looking at it!

We have done this sometimes when we have taken my Mum out. She has a small appetite and can't always finish, but the pub we take her to are absolutely fine about it. When we ask they usually provide a little foil container for her to take home.

Yes, in the US it's absolutely expected, and they usually offer! I've found places in the UK are happy to do it but you have to ask.

I don't have a problem with doing it but I always ask for it to be wrapped for me to take away, rather than being surreptitious and stuffing it into my bag.

ive been to pizza places and they offer you food to take home same with an indian reasturant but im usually such a pig i finish it all

Thanks storm

I'm just fascinated by this thread! I had no idea about this cultural difference.

What exactly is the hesitation about asking to take food home? Does it seem greedy or something like that?

I've waitressed in both the US and UK and I always think it's flattering if people ask to take food home.

When we have been to florida the portions were so HOOGe nobody can finish them so i took alot home usually puddings , im not sure why we dont do it here , maybe it seems greedy or a bit iffy to take cold food home

dreaming, yes, it's definitely a cultural thing and I think it has to do with those two great British fears: of looking greedy/poor, and of 'being any trouble'. I think this attitude is changing though, and will continue to change, especially if Mumsnetters lead the charge.

When I lived in America, I would often order a meal and ask for half of it 'to go' as I ordered - I'd get half the meal on a plate and the other half neatly packaged in a carton. America is brilliant for that.

Since I've been back 'home' I'm much more up-front about asking to take leftovers home, only had the face at a couple of restaurants. Most of them are quite happy to wrap things up for you, even if it's only in a couple of sheets of foil.

My mum, however, won't dream of asking for her leftovers to be wrapped. She likes to sneakily wrap it in her napkin and a few hankies and stuff it into her handbag.

It's a generation thing, I'm sure.

Leading the charge here LCCM. On seeing other diners depart from the restaurant leaving a hefty quantity in their wine bottle, I have frequently reached over and taken it if close to hand, or asked the staff for it if further away. They usually look startled but do not refuse. After all it has been paid for so why should it be wasted?
Mind you, on a couple of occasions we were horrified when the original wine owners reappeared. Fortunately it was in search of forgotten gloves or similar not with the intent of glugging their unfinished wine so hideous embarrassment avoided.

Agree, in the USA it's the norm to take food home, and i do it here too if it's practical. After a girls night out at the curry house, all the husbands eagerly await us bringing home their 'leftovers takeaway'.

Thanks, this is really interesting, I always wonder why customers do or don't do things.

Was wondering if there are generational or regional differences in this?

Bream, that's hilarious!

yep, always do it if its something substantial and not just a bag of scraps. It often will serve as the kids dinner the next day!!

You would be unreasonable to be embarrassed by someone asking to take away food that they had ordered and found themselves unable to finish, yes.

Bream that's brilliant

Though I do wonder if the restaurant would have the right to refuse - after all, it's not something YOU have bought and paid for. And the restaurant will be missing out on a sale if you would have bought more wine but didn't because you got some 'for free'.

That's not a criticism, btw - just wondering.

It's only like when they stick the rest of your Pizza in a box at Pizza Hut when you have filled up on free salad and can't eat it all-oink.

We always take our leftover curry home and have it for lunch the next day. The portions the local Indian restaurant serves are ridiculous and you just couldn't eat it all in one go.

I once wrapped a beef cutlet in a bit of loo paper and took it home in my handbag . We were at a very expensive Italian restaurant and I had stupidly ordered a starter AND a pasta course. The main course was £30 and I wasn't prepared to leave it behind . I ate it cold later that evening with a nice cup of tea.

I don't mind asking for a box if the restaurant normally has a takeaway service (pizza, Chinese, Indian).

I'd take it if there was enough left, I despise waste and sometimes they give you too much.

Beef cutlet and a cup of tea.

Bream, just so you know, those waiters aren't 'startled', they're annoyed you've gotten the wine they were going to neck in the kitchen

Anyone else craving a nice bit of beef cutlet now? [hungry]

Only if I can dip it in my tea Lady.