Bring your own doggie bag?

I was browsing the iVillage site this evening and found this topic on there. Apparently some customers will bring their own re-useable plastic containers to take leftovers home in. I had never thought of this but it seems so common sense now that I think about it! Has anyone ever done this or had a customer do it?

Its not like the restaurant will buy 1 less doggie bag. Like most efforts of this kind,its more about letting people feel better about themselves than making a difference.

What kind of logic is that Bill?

Yes, if you bring your own in. The restaurant will use one less. One less, is still one less.

I find the whole idea very low class...Why would you order more food than you can eat at one sitting?

Unless you go a place where you know that Quantity is why you went there in the first place!

It's like asking for a to-go box at Golden Corral...Would you do that?

I have to amend my previous post...

I do go to places and order Way TOO Much just to try alot of different things...

Shalimar for example...(Sometimes I can't make the lunch buffet!)

While I applaud the effort, I for one feel that disposable containers are a small part of eating out.

If we got crazy with it, how would we ever get a pizza delivered to our home?...How many trees went into that box...

It keeps those last few people in the last remaining paper mills working...

I was browsing the iVillage site this evening and found this topic on there. Apparently some customers will bring their own re-useable plastic containers to take leftovers home in. I had never thought of this but it seems so common sense now that I think about it! Has anyone ever done this or had a customer do it?

In retrospect, I think "common sense" was the wrong term. I like to think I have a lot of sense and I would never think to do this, even now that I've heard that it's being done! I actually am not a person who likes to eat leftovers though and I typically clean my plate so getting a to-go box is something I never do.

Mom has been doing that for years. There is no way that she can eat all the food in one sitting, so she has a stash of ziplocks in her bag for just such an event.

I find the whole idea very low class...Why would you order more food than you can eat at one sitting?

Unless you go a place where you know that Quantity is why you went there in the first place!

It's like asking for a to-go box at Golden Corral...Would you do that?

Some of us don't have monster appetites, and some places serve huge amounts. Lou Lou's portions are ginormous. Hardly a "low class" place. Why SHOULDN'T I take my leftovers home? I can eat them for lunch the next day. How, exactly, is that low class? I think it's smart. It saves me the trouble of having to fix my lunch the next day. Besides, I think throwing away half of my meal is wasteful.

**Not that I'm complaining about Lou Lou's portion size. I LOVE having leftovers!

I'm with Michele, while I don't order extra food to be anle to take home, I frequently eat only half my entree and plan the rest for work lunch a following day. I see nothing low class or "off" about this. Besides the fact that I don't need/want all the calories and I paid for it, I'm more likely to have some extra courses (say salad or dessert ) if I'm only planning to eat half my entree. So it's good for the restaurant too. And in my case it's a compliment to the chef: In may case, the only time I leave leftovers is when the amount is not enough for a lunch, the food won't reheat well ( ie fried), or most importantly, if the food wasn't up to par. if the food's only "okay", it's not worth bothering with leftovers.

Deb

I find the whole idea very low class...Why would you order more food than you can eat at one sitting?

Unless you go a place where you know that Quantity is why you went there in the first place!

It's like asking for a to-go box at Golden Corral...Would you do that?

Some of us don't have monster appetites, and some places serve huge amounts. Lou Lou's portions are ginormous. Hardly a "low class" place. Why SHOULDN'T I take my leftovers home? I can eat them for lunch the next day. How, exactly, is that low class? I think it's smart. It saves me the trouble of having to fix my lunch the next day. Besides, I think throwing away half of my meal is wasteful.

I agree with you completely Michelle. Having said that, I have to say that I tend to avoid places with "ginormous" portions. I've never quite understood this approach to portions, although I've always assumed it started with chains (Chili's, Friday's, etc.). I really like eating at places where I know I am going to finish whatever is placed in front of me (Meridian Cafe, The Cafe, Sushi, Indian, etc.). I guess I just don't like having a huge portion placed in front of me. Also, I rarely eat and head straight home, so I'm less likely to ask for a to-go box, even if I have leftovers. Seems kind of wasteful in that context.

My gf is like you, though. Leftovers alot of the time. They tend to end up in my refrigerator for me to eat. I don't complain.

What kind of logic is that Bill?

Yes, if you bring your own in. The restaurant will use one less. One less, is still one less.

Well I was drink ALOT last night & i was feeling frisky (stirring the pot). This morning not so much. But seems some what of a liabilty issue. What if some gets sick after bring in their own not so clean container?

i saw this often when i worked at ramsi's (almost ten years ago!). specifically, a few customers would bring their own tupperware in when placing carryout orders.
i always admired them for being so well organized. seems like it saves both the restaurant and the environment. i don't know how that would be considered 'low-class.'

I've thought of that before, but thought it might come off as tacky to the restaurant. Maybe not? I almost always have leftovers, if for no other reason, because I eat so slow, and tend to be more of a nibbler. A guy I used to work with used to say when we all would go to lunch, "Kim, you should just order your lunch in a to-go box!" I would take the rest back to work, and nibble on it most of the afternoon. I'm still that way - it's just the way I eat.

I've thought of that before, but thought it might come off as tacky to the restaurant. Maybe not? I almost always have leftovers, if for no other reason, because I eat so slow, and tend to be more of a nibbler. A guy I used to work with used to say when we all would go to lunch, "Kim, you should just order your lunch in a to-go box!" I would take the rest back to work, and nibble on it most of the afternoon. I'm still that way - it's just the way I eat.

"Tacky" was my first reaction too.