Providing doggie bags lets grateful guests take a positive view of your restaurant to go

Nation's Restaurant News,  Jan 1, 2007  by Pamela Parseghian

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If most people are like me, then there are a lot of us who don't like asking for doggie bags. "Can I get my leftovers wrapped to go?" just sounds sort of pathetic.

But the day after I leave the remainder of my meal behind, I usually regret not asking for it. In fact, the nicer the restaurant, the more I wish for the scraps of my supper--and the less I feel comfortable asking for them.

For instance, after recently enjoying a feast at the opening of a fancy New York restaurant, a colleague and I had a ton of food left over. Both of us, a bit shy, froze when a server came to collect the dishes. I was waiting for the waiter to ask, "Would you like to take that steak, which could serve four people, home with you?" He never did. And off it went.

The next day my dining partner and I admitted that we both wished we were enjoying those leftovers for lunch. She shared her uncomfortable feelings about requesting doggie bags--especially at work functions.

But let's face it: Most diners eat best at business meals, thanks to expense accounts, and it is a shame when fantastic food gets tossed in the trash, as it often does.

At the very least, those meals can be handed off to hungry homeless people passed in a subway or on the way to a parking garage. Hopefully restaurants these days compost some waste. That way some nutrients return to the soil.

Back when I was working in restaurants, before composting was stylish, I recall a lot of leftovers being picked over by servers and dishwashers. That system works, since at least the food isn't wasted.

However, if the goal is to please guests and make them comfortable, perhaps waiters need to be told that they should ask diners if they want to-go packages. Many diners appreciate the question and want to be made more comfortable. Perhaps servers' ability to do so may even lead to bigger tips, and everyone appreciates cold hard cash.

Is it appropriate to ask guests at business dinners if they'd like doggie bags? Why not? Sure, some guests need to keep a professional air, but the stuffed shirts can simply turn the offer down. Of course, the condescending term "doggie bag" isn't always appropriate.

Once when eating lunch with a publishing executive and having three-fourths of a huge veal chop leftover, I chickened out asking for the leftovers. But as soon as the plate was gone, the VP noted that it was a big portion. I thought better of my shyness and asked the waiter, since he quickly returned, if I might keep what was on my plate.

He rushed off and returned with a closed container and looked embarrassed. Sure enough the package held less than half of what was left on my plate. Perhaps the dishwasher had a go at it?

These days, portions are so huge and people are so big that restaurants might do both diners and society a service by promoting doggie bags. Most folks are trying to eat less, but it sure isn't easy with mammoth portions placed in front of us. Of course, that mushrooming portion trend doesn't look to be losing popularity anytime soon.

For those of us raised in an eat-everything-on-your-plate kind of household, old habits can be hard to break. But when I know I can enjoy lovely leftovers and not have to make a big fuss to obtain a container, it is so much easier to eat less.

Plus I know I get to savor my delicious meal twice.

pparsegh@nrn.com

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