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Subscribe to forums RSS#1 Tue 23 Oct 12 8:55pm
ReikiK8
- Member
- Member since Tue 23 Oct 12
Irresponsible restaurant shock
We recently moved back to the US after 12 years in Europe and the UK. Had to stay in a hotel in Tucson and eat out while we house hunted. What shockingly large, even obscene portions we were served. Breakfast at the Village Inn - my plate would have served three people. I joked with the waitress that I should have asked for the children's portion. She replied that they don't have one! When I asked her if she would really serve that to a child, she said she had, and had seen them eat it all. And they wonder why there is an obesity epidemic, childhood diabetes and heart disease. I am disgusted, I guess Tucson or all of Arizona is crazy, we got another shock when we learned that it is legal to drive and talk on a cell phone here.
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#2 Wed 24 Oct 12 12:58am
Kaitlyn
- Member Occupation Stuff and nonsense!
- From California
- Member since Mon 07 Sep 09
Re: Irresponsible restaurant shock
If it's not LARGE portions, it's SMALL portions. I've seen restaurant programs on TV where the portions were very small.
With the large portions, at least there is the option of taking half of the meal home.
Not all states allow cellphone use while driving. My home state (CA) does not allow this, unless you have a hands-free device (a Bluetooth). However, some people DO talk on the phone while driving. 
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#3 Wed 24 Oct 12 1:14am
koukouvagia
- From New York
- Member since Fri 12 Dec 08
Re: Irresponsible restaurant shock
It is most certainly not legal to talk on the phone while driving!
Yes it's obscene but this is America where the bigger is better. NY just passed a law to ban establishments from serving 36oz drinks and people were protesting in the streets.
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#4 Fri 26 Oct 12 1:06am
Kaitlyn
- Member Occupation Stuff and nonsense!
- From California
- Member since Mon 07 Sep 09
Re: Irresponsible restaurant shock
koukouvagia wrote:
It is most certainly not legal to talk on the phone while driving!
Yes, it's obscene, but this is America where the bigger is better. NY just passed a law to ban establishments from serving 36 oz drinks and people were protesting in the streets.
DC wants to do the same thing. There are lawsuits against the NYC law.
Talking on the phone while driving in my home state gets you a moving violation (meaning points on the driving record).
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#5 Fri 26 Oct 12 1:32am
mummza
Occupation avoiding housework
- From The land of song.
- Member since Tue 04 Oct 05
Re: Irresponsible restaurant shock
Yes portion sizes are bigger in America ... But ... I found most places happy to pack up what could not be managed as a takeout at no charge. In fact we found that many restaurants offered this without being asked .
At the end of the day , dispite the large portion sizes the person in control is the one that orders the food and if there is too much on the plate , dont eat it , have it boxed up or simply leave it .
Nobody makes people clear their plates of food.
I wish more British restaurants would box up foods for you , some simply refuse .
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#6 Fri 26 Oct 12 3:53am
Maree
- From Newcastle, Australia
- Member since Sat 10 Mar 07
Re: Irresponsible restaurant shock
Some do here, too, Mummza. Comes under "Health and Hygiene".
As someone who cooks for a living, my insurance company and my solicitor say that once the food is paid for and leaves my premises, it is the buyer's responsibility.
This may vary from place tp place.
Yes, couldn't believe portion sizes in the US but as Mummza said, no one is forcing you to clean/ clear the plate.
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#7 Fri 26 Oct 12 10:07am
beerforyorky
- Member Occupation Retired
- From Surin, N.E. Thailand
- Member since Mon 29 Dec 08
Re: Irresponsible restaurant shock
mummza wrote:
.... I found most places happy to pack up what could not be managed as a takeout at no charge.
My wife's parents were over here from Phayao a few years ago. We ate lunch in a restaurant at the base of Phnom Rung (a local Khmer temple). My wife would not allow her mother to ask for a doggy bag for the rice. That was all that was left and there was very little of it!
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#8 Fri 26 Oct 12 12:41pm
koukouvagia
- From New York
- Member since Fri 12 Dec 08
Re: Irresponsible restaurant shock
mummza wrote:
I wish more British restaurants would box up foods for you , some simply refuse .
Why would they refuse to let you take the food that you paid for?
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#9 Fri 26 Oct 12 1:23pm
mummza
-
Occupation avoiding housework
- From The land of song.
- Member since Tue 04 Oct 05
Re: Irresponsible restaurant shock
koukouvagia wrote:
mummza wrote:
I wish more British restaurants would box up foods for you , some simply refuse .
Why would they refuse to let you take the food that you paid for?
No idea but it sometimes happens
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#10 Sat 27 Oct 12 2:16am
JoyYamDaisy
- From Melbourne Australia
- Member since Sun 12 Apr 09
Re: Irresponsible restaurant shock
They worry that you wouldn't store it properly, then get food poisoning, and then blame the restaurant.
Luckily my favourite restaurant doesn't think like that! 
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