The weightloss thing made me think about my own eating habits. Restautants here give much bigger portions than back home, and this is probably why I find it hard to lose weight (not that I'm trying - I'm reasonably happy with 180lb (I try not to convert it to Stones)). I remember the first time I went to Lone Star Steak House and I gasped at the size of the 'complementary' salad - this was a full meal back at home (admittedly with a bit of cold cuts on the side).
Yet despite all this, I long for the perfect 'greasy spoon' - It was always a treat when my Dad drove me to a cheap shack/caravan/converted bus by the highway where I could pig-out on eggburgers and chips for a little over a £1. In fact I just recently mentioned a place in Sheffield that sold door stops and eggs etc for great prices. But alas I cannot find such places here - I know it's a cholosteral nightmare, but sometimes I just want to pig out without having to cook it.
What do you think about the big portions here? Do you eat it all, or take some home in a doggy bag (something I can't bring myself to do)? When you go back over there do you laugh at the small portions?
By the way, a point for anyone who knows the source of my title.
Yes I think the portions are very big over here, & depending on where we've been will depend on whether we get the doggy bag.
We tend to go to buffet places as we've got a very picky eater,& they usually will have spaghetti or ham which he will eat. It took a while getting used to being served a salad first. I'm usually hungry enough to polish that off & then get stuffed half way through the main course.
I love watching people walk past in these buffet places with their plates piled high. Then they go back for seconds & thirds & pile them high all over again. Seems like they musn't have eaten for a week. Maybe that's why they're 6ft wide too.
The portions back home suited me better as I could usually manage a dessert then.
Janet
doesnt your title come from Hale and Pace?
the taxi drivers?
I think there are bigger portions here too. I'm not complaining though!!! lol
my in laws usually have the doggy bags when they cant finish what they eat. I just wolf mine down!! smile
I just thought I'd ask if anyone has a restaurant anywhere else called Kahunaville?
I can't wait to see my familys reaction when they come over here in June - I'm sure it will be funny. It will also be interesting to see what salad dressing they ask for, "just Salad Cream please" lol
Yes, BoC - how did I know you would get the Hale and Pace reference?
One year when my Mum came over, we took her into some restaurant. She wasn't feeling that hungry so asked if she could just order a ham sandwich or something like that. She almost collapsed when the ham sandwich arrived. You know the type I mean, a whole french loaf with about 2-lbs of ham & a ton of salad on it, with crisps on the side. I think she was expecting 2 slices of bread with a slice of ham in the middle. Needless to say she asked for a doggy bag, I think she was eating it for a couple of days. lol
Janet
I found out Texans have about the highest rate of obesity (Houston being the worst), and there are a couple of theories about this. (1) buffets (I can't help but eating long past the point where I'm stuffed because it's there) (2) the portions in regular restaurants are so big and people don't take home doggie bags (3) we eat a lot of fat, like chicken fried steak and gravy. I work in an office with the majority of the people well over 200 lbs.(the women, 5'5" on average). I think they've just given up. I know they have to be putting back 5000 clories per day JUST TO MAINTAIN that kind of weight. I try to eat as many fresh fruits and veggies as possible. I have to think if I fill up on those, I won't feel deprived. By the way, there are greasy spoons all OVER the place. If you go into withdrawal, IHOP is the best. Melody lol
In Richmond IHOP is good, but the service there is abysmal. They never seem to have enough staff and you end up waiting forever to get anything.
The last time I was there they seemed to have 2 waitresses on duty - an older woman and a young girl. The older woman didn't appear to be doing anything except wander around the resturant. She was supposed to be serving us but I got fed up waiting and got the younger one to help instead. On leaving the older one rushed over to the till to take my money, so I told her to go and get the young girl who had served us instead and that I would only pay her. Then I made a point of paying for the meal with a visa and handing a $10 tip (in cash) over to the young waitress and thanking her for being so helpful and cheerful in the light of the conditions she had to work under.
On 2002-01-31 08:50, Beng wrote:
Yes, BoC - how did I know you would get the Hale and Pace reference?
sorry mate !!
I have no life!! :lol:
Hmmm - I had something similar happen in Waffle House. Actually it was much worse.
At 2pm our waitress came over and asked for her tip as they were changing shifts. My wife and I looked at each other in horror. I can't remember what I asked for but we ignored the tip comment and instead she just sat waiting. Meanwhile the waitress taking over gave us much better service for the rest of the meal (friendlier, faster and more attentive). When we left we put $1 on the table for the original waitress (should have left nothing - but we were still in disbelief that she asked for the tip) and gave the second waitress a nice tip when we paid for the food.
Talking of Greasy Spoons - we have a few around here - authentic old diners. Some of which have been going for fifty years or more.
Regarding portions we never leave a restaurant without a "to-go" box - or several.
Several years ago my sister visited and insisted we order some of everything at a Chinese restaurant. We ended up with so much food that we carried out two carrier bags full of boxes of leftovers! We were eating that "meal" for a week!
I went in IHOP once, and NEVER again!
My friend and I ordered two coffees and when they were brought to us, my friend decided she would have a piece of apple pie also.
We were sipping our coffee when the pie arrived, upside down and broken on the plate, looking as though it had been dropped and scraped back on to the plate!
As we looked on in disbelief the waitress dropped the plate on the table from a height of several inches, making the pie jump in the air as it landed.
My friend asked her to replace the pie, but she just scowled at us. We left paying for undrunk coffees and nothing else. And definately no tip!