To ask how you feel about “doggy bags”

[MyKingdomForACaramel]

Went for a meal with Dh this evening. We had some super fancy mixed grill type thing (hours later am still stuffed), think around 7 cuts of meat plus a couple of sides.

We ate about half before we realised that our eyes were most definitely larger than our bellies and both agreed that with so much left we should ask if we could take the remai set home.

Thus ensued a ridiculous conversation over who should ask for the “doggy bag” - we both felt it was entirely reasonable to ask, but both felt a little embarrassed to ask.

So I guess my question is - is it unreasonable to ask to take left overs?

Of course it’s ok , you’ve paid for it and food waste is dreadful be it at home or when out . I often bring stuff home for the dog .

I'd never ask to take the leftovers home. I might buy a desert cake though to take away if a large meal.

The local Indian automatically bags left overs up and leaves them on the table for you to take or leave.

We actually both said “it’s for the dog” in tandem (and we don’t have a dog )

I think the chef would prefer would prefer to think you liked the food enough to take it home, rather than it got binned

I often ask for a doggy bag and in my experience restaurants are more than happy to pack up your leftovers for you.

Not unreasonable at all, it's food you've paid for. But I feel a bit embarrassed every time I ask too because society is fucking judgemental and has sneaked into my head

Some Restaurant portions are huge. I often ask for a doggy bag. It’s the norm in the US, isn’t it?

It was literally about two steaks, a chicken breast, and two large sausages left over, and I couldn’t bear to leave it. (On a side note though I’m loathe to ask for a doggy bad - had an ex who worked in a very welll known restaurant and was amazed to hear that an ex USA president asked for his chips to be bagged up- who eats cold chips!!)

Always ask to take it if it’s substantial enough. Or even if it’s just meat scraps actually for the dogs. I really don’t understand this reticence to ask for a doggy bag.

I always ask for a doggy bag as otherwise the food will be binned and I normally have it for lunch the next day. Never had a restaurant refuse to bag it up either.

I keep foil and sandwich bags in my hand bag for this purpose I hate wasting meat and will always eat it later.

As a vulgar American I always get a box for leftovers :-)

I never refer to it as a doggy bag though.

YANBU, I detest food waste so a doggy bag is good for breakfast and good for the world

Love them! Most restaurant meals are far too big for me, especially if I go along with everyone else and have starters, I'm full after about a third of my main, so I just ask for it to be wrapped for take away and they always happily oblige and I get to enjoy it again for lunch the next day.

I even tactically eat my main to leave whatever will save and reheat best, so if there is salad, I will eat that and leave meat/fish/potatoes etc.

A Turkish place we go to does a 2 course meal for two which is a mezze starter followed my grilled meats, rice and salads and honestly it could feed 4 and is excellent value and gives you a taste of everything, so we usually get that and take most of the main home with us.

I don't know why anyone would think there was anything wrong with doing this to be honest.

A doggy bag if its for the hound, otherwise I just ask to take it home.

It’s such a weird thing to feel embarrassed over isn’t it?

I try to carry foil and sandwich bags too Germs because sometimes the box you get is too big or awkwardly shaped to be carrying round and it would be much easier to wrap in foil - I often ask for things like pizza to be folded and wrapped in foil instead of being put in a big pizza box.

Apparently it’s becoming quite de rigeur to use doggy bags, OP.

You’re just ahead of the curve.

Last night I had the other half of the pizza I couldn't finish on Friday night. So did the other five people I was with.

I don't call it a doggie bag though. I just ask if they can "wrap this up, please". I imagine restaurants hate waste as much as I do.

Unless it's a really expensive restaurant then I think it's fine to ask, BBQ places and Indian restaurants don't generally mind IME

Tbf we didn’t say doggy bag - we just asked if we could take the food away (but then both said loudly “for the dog”) despite having no bloody dog at home 😊

I live in the states and it’s standard, even in very nice restaurants, for your server to offer to box up left overs.