Chicken bald back

[patsylabrador]

I find that the servings in restaurants are far too large for me. I don't eat starters or puddings but I still feel uncomfortable after eating out. At home I can control how much is on my plate but I don't know how to do that when I'm out. I wish you could order large or small size meals because it puts me off going out for meals.

I hate leaving food because a) I hate waste and b) I don't want to upset the chef

but food seems to come in such massive servings now and on huge plates and platters.

[Geoid]

Just ask for a smaller portion. Most places will happily oblige.

[Chucky Mama]

i have friends who order starters as a main course or have a starter for a starter and main course. It works well.

[Daphne]

You'd better not come to Portugal, the portions are enormous ; I think its a hangover from when so many people worked on the land and needed feeding up. Agriculture is still very manual. Although there are small ancient tractors, its not unusual to see using mules for ploughing and both old women and middle aged men are regularly seen wielding mattocks for breaking up clods of earth. We went out on Friday night and I had pork, which is a big favourite over here. I had 3 slices (ie enough to feed 3 of me) plus chips (they are the best in the world, the spuds have great flavour, and the chips are hand cut and tasting just like they used to when you made them at home in the chip pan, I have a great weakness and fondness for the old fashioned chip) and rice (this is usual in certain regions of Portugal - you will have potato, rice which is cooked in stock if you are lucky, and bread on the table at the same time, presumably to fill people up more cheaply than meat) and a big salad. It was way too much, not just for me, but for any normal person. Luckily there are 2 options - you either ask for a half portion, or you take the left overs home with you.

 

I think CM's advice is good - just have a starter, but ask for it at the same time as everyone else's main course.

[The Dogmother]

i have friends who order starters as a main course or have a starter for a starter and main course. It works well.

 

We do that a lot too; you get variety if there are a couple of you sharing (say) three starters, in portion sizes which you can manage.

[Grandmashazzie]

Me too I order starters as main or a starter and side.I agree portion sizes are far too big.We often get Chinese takeaway and get two main and sides for two adults and 3 kids and it's more than enough.My friends think I'm starving the children

[The Dogmother]

Just ask to take any leftovers home - we always do... that way you get more than one meal out of it.

[Grandmashazzie]

I have heard some people bring their own Tupperware and divide meal in half,taking half home.I thought restaurants had stopped giving home doggy bags in case you got ill and blamed them.

[clucker1]

Or a pub I go to where the food is delish, you can order a childrens' meal and it is a smaller size and delicious too.