Restaurant etiquette - Portion size/When do you complain?

Primrose

Not sure where to post this but have any of you noticed restaurants & pubs are serving much smaller portions these days? We don't often eat out because we find cooking at home is much better value for money, but on the last two occasions we've eaten out (a pub, and our local Chinese who offer the usual Eat As Much as you Like for £xxx) the portions have been miniscule. Has anybody else noticed this? I know businesses are struggling like the rest of us as a result of the recession, but I wonder whether such practices are common-place and at what point one actually complains about it. (At the pub the portion size was so small that we were tempted to send the food back with the comment "Would you keep it hot for us while we pop back home to collect our microscope?"

Viper_7

Well of course eating at home is better value for money.
You are not paying for the chefs, the waiters, the building rent, the cleaning..etc etc etc

As for portion sizes, complain with your feet, don't go again.

If you believe you are not been offered value for money - mention it and see what they say.
if you're not satisfied, get up and walk out without touching it.

beemuzed

Must admit we've not noticed this around here. My usual problem is that helpings are too generous! (Sadly my appetite is anything but small too!)

zarazara

agood thing too. too many people are overweight or obese.

wigglebeena

I'm skin 'n' bones and I like a good feed. McDonalds is like this, like chocolate bars their portions have steadily shrunk over the years. (Yes, if stuck for time I will eat at McDonalds, let the snark begin).

Don't go back, as has been suggested, but tell 'em why. It's not going to do anything for their profitability if they're increasing margins but losing customers.

Sunnyday

Primrose wrote: »

Not sure where to post this but have any of you noticed restaurants & pubs are serving much smaller portions these days? We don't often eat out because we find cooking at home is much better value for money, but on the last two occasions we've eaten out (a pub, and our local Chinese who offer the usual Eat As Much as you Like for £xxx) the portions have been miniscule. Has anybody else noticed this? I know businesses are struggling like the rest of us as a result of the recession, but I wonder whether such practices are common-place and at what point one actually complains about it. (At the pub the portion size was so small that we were tempted to send the food back with the comment "Would you keep it hot for us while we pop back home to collect our microscope?"

We had a chinese from our local takeaway a few weeks ago.
It has always been great but when we came to unpack the food the containers were about 2/3 of the size that they have always been before.

We probably won`t bother in future, it`s a rare treat but it was so disappointing.

SD

diable

Some restaurants are packing out there meals with more chips or more pasta in there lasagnes for example must be to make you feel full and keep them in profit. If you are not happy then don't go back.

The girlfriends local Chinese is pretty good as when you scoop out a plateful of noodles it still looks full.

floyd

We noticed our local Indian was doing this with rice and curries for takeaway and eat in meals so we simply stopped going there. The new place we found does better food and because we are good customers the owner always makes sure we get some aloo gobi or onion bhaji free.

steveo3002

ive had a couple of lousey pub meals in the past few weeks , was also tempted to complain but didnt bother ...i simply wont return

funny how theyre prepared to send you away unimpressed over a few potatoes and a bit of veg that would fill the plate out for a few more pence

euterpe13

I went to an expensive restaurant in Camden recently, and was shocked and angry at the size of the portions - I was hungry and was presented with portions the sizes of snacks, at best - but at major prices: a total rip-off.
I asked to speak with the chef, who was also the owner, but he never appeared.
Of course will never return, but am also going to post on internet restaurant pages - suggest we all do the same when we are seriously disappointed!

PurpleElmo

I just wanted to add in response to Viper_7's comment. DO NOT just walk out of a restaurant. if you've not complained specifically about the food or the portion size to the manager and just walk out saying nothing, the waiter/waitress will be left to pay the bill and trust me the credit crunch is affecting us too and we can't afford to pay for your dinner!

In terms of portion sizes, this is not something I have noticed recently however I also plan where I'll meet people for lunch depending on what vouchers are available on this website!