Was this acceptable cafe behaviour or a big faux pas??

[AHardDaysWrite]

We're having lunch in a busy cafe (me, DH, two dcs). We ordered a main meal each plus two sides of chips to share. All the chips were soon polished off. On the next table was a woman and her son. She ordered chips for him, but when they arrived he only ate a couple and refused the rest. They left soon afterwards. My DS wanted more chips, so I gave him the (largely untouched) portion from that table. DH was aghast but my reasoning was that the waiter was only going to bin them anyway - why waste food? Was I BU?

Sounds ok to me so long as there was ketchup. Can't bear chips without ketchup.

Yes for me, the greed is an issue too.

He'd just eaten a main meal and half a portion of chips

He couldn't have been that hungry, so it's really not something I would encourage.

It's definitely not the done thing.
But actually, I kind of admire you for doing it. Because it makes sense not to waste the chips. And people who are worrying about germs, etc should never eat out!

"some stores crush it to prevent people taking the food."
What an awful waste. I really don't see why good food has to go in skips. I hate throwing out food and on the rare occasion I do, I remember how much must go from most restaurants and supermarkets every day :(

And yet I have nothing against, and even on occasion, freeganism.

I have to tell myself that the OP was merely preventing wastage.

And yet I still want to boke.

Single
She bought and Kit-Kat put it in her pocket and forgot. When she sat down at the table she was actually eating the Kit-Kat that the stranger opposite had bought and bollocked him for being rude.

The Kit-Kat in her pocket was hers that she had bought minutes earlier.....................it was funny when I heard it.......

I am just going to order a cup of tea and ask for an empty plate when I am in a cafe from now on. Quick sweep of the tables-feast fit for a king.

Oh! I see! Ha!

For me it's a no-no because of the germs; how many did that kid touch, and when was the last time he washed his hands? What if he doesn't regularly wash them after using the toilet? Yuck.

I know stealth, It is really sad.

The child will have had threadworm eggs under his nails 'cos kids are right scruffy little buggers. They'll have been transferred to the chips and.......well.........just watch out for an itchy bum

and at threadworms. Why did you have to say that???!

I hate food waste but I think YABU because it's just greedy. Nobody needs 'extra' chips. Are you overweight OP?

Slightly off topic but we went to the Toby Carvery one Sat night recently and at the end of the evening there were still 3 of the leftover joints of meat on the counter with lots of meat on them - I asked the manager what they did with them and he said they threw them out - health & safety meant they couldn't even give it to the local RSPCA . If I'd had some bin bags on me I'd have taken them!

Joolsy my mate works in a Toby Carvery and she and the rest of the staff get to take the leftovers home.

I would love to do it but would feel too embarrassed.

Agree

Not something I can get worked up about.

I've worked in a few restaurants waitressing when I was younger and if I'd seen the untouched basket of chips on the empty table still warm I would have cleared the table and cracked open some mayo in the kitchen and tucked in.

"I hate food waste but I think YABU because it's just greedy. Nobody needs 'extra' chips. Are you overweight OP?"

It wasn't for her, it was for her DS

Was that allowed HM? Bit unprofessional?

Not yours to take imo.

Not the best thing to show your children.

WorraLiberty - that's good to hear, I hate the thought of all that lovely meat going to waste!

I've worked in a few restaurants waitressing when I was younger and if I'd seen the untouched basket of chips on the empty table still warm I would have cleared the table and cracked open some mayo in the kitchen and tucked in.

That's different. Waitresses tend not to earn much and have to interface with Joe Public into the bargain. They can do pretty much what they like in my book, so long as it doesn't scare the horses.

OP next time you go to a cafe your DC will be eyeing everyone up to see what they leave then rush over and get it.