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?

Well if the people on the table next to me wanted my bowl of barely touched, unwanted chips, I would be more than happy to let them have them. Not mumbling to myself that they were grabby, skanky, and whatever other unpleasant names have been used on here. Who would have known some unwanted chips would cause so much angst.

Its different if the food was offered ,it wasnt.Im not some germ phobe but some things to me are ick.And taking leftover food from another table is up there.
If you are eating out and someone said there is a plate of chips to many nobody touched them would you like them is completely different to going over to someone elses table helping yourself to food left behind.

Ewwwee. Really? You took a random persons leftovers?
Can't explain why but it reminds me of a tramp taking a burger from a bin that he saw someone drop in there moments earlier. Yukkk!
Id be mortified if I saw my dc do what you did, you have demonstrated that this is ok to your dc.
How did you know the other person hadn't been picking their nose, or have worms!!!

I worked in restaurants for years and can honestly say I never, ever saw or heard of anyone doing this. I think I would be a bit "ugghhh" if I did see it. Yes, there is nothing wrong with the chips but I would class it as unacceptable café behaviour.

asking is not skanky

being genuinely in need of food makes it fine too

but this is just socially unacceptable, hence all the

Loving all the people on here who must never eat from a buffet or go to a BBQ at a friends house - what with "all those people near & breathing near the food".

I think it would be different if you'd nicked the tip, but food - fair game if you fancied it.....

Well done for your commitment to recycling

The starving children aren't being brought into it because they are ths same as the OP's son wanting more chips.

The are being mentioned in response to the hysterical action of 'omg germzzzzz'! Our visceral reaction to taking food from someone else's table is only possible due to the luxury we live in. It actually won't do us any harm.

The social unacceptability argument is different.

I don't eat from buffets.

BBQs-the meat is either burnt to a crisp or still alive, so I will only join in if DH is in charge. But TBH I prefer my salad indoors without bugs in.

I just think it's a bit scummy tbh

You've got a nerve - well done I say.

Sparkling, you don't eat from buffets? What, never?

(Love a buffet)

No, never if I can avoid it Puppy. I know it's probably weird. But it's ok, I don't go to many things where buffet eating is required.

See i have no problems with buffet or bbqs as they are communal.But eating leftovers that other people have eaten from is just wrong.

Taking other people's leftovers is not the done thing, really. I suppose you could have asked for a doggy bag but might have been refused.

My advice, in the circumstances, is always to take a plastic bag with you when you go to a restaurant. You can then take the leftovers surreptitiously home or back to the car where they can be eaten.

My advice, in the circumstances, is always to take a plastic bag with you when you go to a restaurant. You can then take the leftovers surreptitiously home or back to the car where they can be eaten.

You mean go round and clear the tables?

No, not clear the tables - just take the stuff you fancy