Did anyone see the segment on Friday's restaurants? They are offering smaller portions and doing quite well by the customers. They haven't lost business, they are actually making money in the deal. They have now opened a whole new line of eating out to people who thought they couldn't because of portions, or didn't want to take food home. The price is equal to the amount of food you order. The CEO did admit that the 12 ounce ribs are still bigger than recommended...but they are working on that also.
It was a big leap for them to step out and try this experiment...but it's one that is proving to work well.

Good choice!

quote:

Originally posted by TriGirl:
I saw a news item on this earlier -- I really hope this is an idea that spreads to other restaurants.

The other night my husband and I went to a tapas restaurant -- a bunch of little plates instead of a big entree. That would be another model restaurants could follow -- creating dishes of veggies, lean protein, wholegrains as well as more traditional fare and letting customers pick and choose and create their own meal.

Tapas restaurants have been pretty popular here for awhile, and now I have noticed other restaurants offering an assortment of "small plates". I ate at one of them on Wednesday. That particular restaurant was pricy, but not all of them are.

Dawn

Carabba's does a good job of portion control. The one steak that bob and I always get is 9 oz and which is way better than some of the other places here. We are full when we finished but don't feel stuffed to the gills!

Yes I live in the fattest city in the US>

I wish we had one near enough to us to try it. As it is, we have an abundance of ethnic restaurants, and while I suspected our favorite Greek place had smaller-than-what's-expected servings, it was confirmed when the boyfriend's step-dad, upon receiving his gyro platter, said, "Is that it?"

(Seriously, it's a whole pita, about 8 oz of shaved lamb, onions, peppers, rice, and tzatziki. AFTER a big ol' salad! It's plenty!)

One of our favorite locally owned restaurants (owned by a good friend of ours) offers half sandwiches rather than a full sandwich (and the portion of their menu that offers that also includes burgers)...they give you a $1 discount for having half sandwich instead of a full. I have never taken that option as I LOVE their sandwiches and always bring half home to have for lunch the next day BUT for those that don't like that option, then the 1/2 sandwich is a great idea.

One of our locally owned chinese restaurants also offers brown rice.

I didn't see Nightline, but I ate at Friday's while in Delaware on St. Patty's Day and they had the new menu...we loved it...no food went home and the meals we had were just right size and also the right price.

I saw a news item on this earlier -- I really hope this is an idea that spreads to other restaurants.

The other night my husband and I went to a tapas restaurant -- a bunch of little plates instead of a big entree. That would be another model restaurants could follow -- creating dishes of veggies, lean protein, wholegrains as well as more traditional fare and letting customers pick and choose and create their own meal.