have you noticed, getting less and paying more when dining

We're definitely seeing the same thing, in many of the same ways you are. There are also a couple other ways that we noticed this. It seems like a side salad is less often a part of the meal and has become a add on option, I wouldn't mind it except places are charging $2.99 or more for <50¢ worth of lettuce!

It does seem as you mention that Italian and Chinese Restaurants are some of the biggest offenders. One Italian place we visit on a regular basis has drastically shrunk there serving sizes, an order of spaghetti that we used to have take home leftovers from now is barely enough to fill us up. On the Chinese side, not only are fortune cookies missing but a dish that used to feed both of us now doesn't, and overall we're both eating less.

I'm sure part of it can be blamed on the economic conditions but I really wonder if that's the total answer. If restaurants don't keep their regular customers happy they're going to lose what business they have an I'm sure that's something they definitely don't want!

It is happening everywhere. We had KFC for a quick dinner last night and were both surprised when there was probably about 1/4 cup of coleslaw and mashed potatoes.
And heaven forbid! But they shrank my ice cream containers and kept the price the same! But on the bright side, I have less ice cream to eat, and less money to buy more, so maybe I'll lose some weight.

Let me be a voice for the restaurants on this one -
In a tight economy many businesses will opt for smaller serving sizes or losing expensive ingredients INSTEAD of raising prices.

I noticed though that no one has mentioned that retail grocery items have been decreasing in size for at least a decade. Reese's PB cups are smaller, cereal and chips contain less product, the magical shrinking ice cream containers, etc. If you're really observant, the only things that are not shrinking in size are dozens of eggs, butter, and milk (and those prices are rising every year).

Before, we all blame the restaurants for ripping us off and robbing us with these smaller portions; perhaps we should examine the larger picture. Inflation is a terrible part of our existence, but i'm not waiting around for candy bars to be fifty cents again or a movie ticket to be less than five bucks.

I would suggest mentioning the decreased size of your portions to these local establishments to ascertain why the portions appear to be smaller. There is usually a logical and acceptable reason for changing packaging sizes or portions. Also, these changes may have been made for the benefit of the customer, not just the bottom line.

Hypothetically, perhaps a restaurant notices that the extra portions of marinara/bread/butter/etc are being returned more than half full to the dish room after service and as a result they decreased the size of these portions to avoid unnecessary waste (perhaps they also reduced the carry out portions for these same items assuming they were wasted also).

just my two cents

shawn

Hypothetically, perhaps a restaurant notices that the extra portions of marinara/bread/butter/etc are being returned more than half full to the dish room after service and as a result they decreased the size of these portions to avoid unnecessary waste

Excellent point. I would love to see the stats of all the food Americans waste.

Given the increase in cost and the decrease in business, I guess these places are doing what they have to do to stay afloat.

I'm really happy to see businesses such as Heine Bros. that say, up front, that they've increased their prices. They don't try to hide it by decreasing cup sizes an ounce or skimping on the strength of their product. I'm more than willing to pay a few more cents to avoid a compromise in quality, and I'm glad that they are treating me like an adult by being up-front about it. However, I also understand that a few extra cents might mean more to others than it does to me, so I also can see the side of companies that are trying to cut corners any way they can.

Either way, I feel for these business owners.

On the retail side of food waste in this country, I am a vendor that delivers to both kroger and Wal-Mart. One would not believe the food that is thrown away. I see hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars in spoiled food tossed in the dumpster at these stores on a daily basis. I am in every Wal-Mart in Louisville and 18 Krogers 2 to 3 times a week, I see first hand the foodstuff that is tossed. On the other hand, for all you Wal-Mart haters out there, I also see them donate lots of food the the local dare to care food bank(Kroger too)

It's a very rare occasion when I'm able to "clean my plate" at any restaurant. On those occasions when I end up taking a "doggie bag" home it is just as rare that I actually get around to eating what I brought home. So I guess I'm OK with smaller portions.

If quantity is an issue, might I suggest Golden Corral.

LOL Mark!

I've mentioned the same thing to my BF about a couple of different restaurants. One was Cracker Barrel. Yes, Cracker Barrel. We went for dinner the other night, and I was amazed at how LITTLE my chicken tenders (grilled) were and how there were four instead of the six that there used to be. Honestly it was only about a HALF of a normal chicken breast for all four combined.
KFC does seem to be giving smaller portions of sides.
Our locally owned Chinese restuarant here in town seems to be giving you more rice and less entree with a take out order.
We see it happening in alot of restuarants.

We all realize prices are rising and the economy is not good however doing things that make the customers unhappy is not the way for a restaurant to stay in business. Perhaps a better alternative is to offer entrees in two sizes. A large one the same size it always has been at a cost reflecting off the rising cost of ingredients and a medium size which not only has less food but whose cost would be less than the dish was traditionally. That way the customer could decide what size portion they wanted in what they were willing to pay. Several local restaurants all ready do this, Cafe Lou Lou and some of the Chinese Restaurants come immediately to mind.

it's a matter of consistency. principle's here.

Food prices don't exist in a vacuum.

lol, funny thing the portions are shrinking while the price has gone up.

Basic inflation drives the costs up. An extra sour economy has shrunk the portions. But I'm not buying places are raising prices and shrinking portions outside of responding to basic inflation. Where's your evidence?

FWIW, I had dinner at a local fish place this weekend. Seemed like fewer fries than normal. Menu cost has remained the same. So same price, less food. I said, "that's the reality of the situation," and then ate my fries in peace.

I'm on the side of the businesses. What do you want them to do? If they're giving you less and/or raising prices, there must be a reason, right?

The reason is that they want to make a living AND stay in business.

Would you rather they go under? Or that they don't make a living?

Sure there are different strategies. They could cut prices, hoping to increase volume enough to make up for it. But customers are creatures of habit, so small tweaks on prices or portions will often not cost a customer. There are breaking points though. It comes down to the businesses trying to stay in business, which I'm sure you support.

Cheers....

-Nimbus (our prices -and portions- have remained stable for the past year. No discounting, no increases.)