I hope this trend continues, but the framing here is odd. Restaurant meal portions in the US are huge compared to other countries. One doesn't need to be on a diet or taking diet drugs to benefit from smaller portions (especially paired with a smaller bill).
apothegm · 4h ago
True. Though if you’re paying for sit-down service anyway, the marginal cost of ingredients is relatively low, especially in places with pricey real estate or where tipped wage is higher than the federal minimum. Might as well pay a few extra bucks for the larger serving and have leftovers, IMO.
Last time I dined out, we noticed the smaller portions (mostly cutting out the potatoes or rice that always used to be served under each entree). What caused us to notice it? We had room for dessert afterward! (And yes, the restaurant made more money from us that way, too.)
isaacremuant · 4m ago
Fake correlation. Every time food manufacturers or sellers reduce portions there's a tendency to try and frame it as "for the users' health" when it's really an economic/profit reason.
Not like the general populace is taking ozempic to the level where this would influence menus yet.
g42gregory · 5h ago
I am guessing that price would be almost the same/slightly reduced?
ungreased0675 · 4h ago
Many restaurants could shrink portions to reasonable sizes, and that would be a good thing.
But when I spend a lot of money on a meal, and I’m considering stopping at a drive-through on my way home… it ruins the experience. I never go back because it feels like being scammed.
I wonder why expensive restaurants tend to have small portions? High quality ingredients are expensive, but that can’t be the whole reason.
john01dav · 2h ago
At an expensive restaurant you're not paying for food, but for experience. Smaller portions let you eat more types of food and thus get more experience. If you want to pay for food, not experience, a grocery store is a better option.
Last time I dined out, we noticed the smaller portions (mostly cutting out the potatoes or rice that always used to be served under each entree). What caused us to notice it? We had room for dessert afterward! (And yes, the restaurant made more money from us that way, too.)
Not like the general populace is taking ozempic to the level where this would influence menus yet.
But when I spend a lot of money on a meal, and I’m considering stopping at a drive-through on my way home… it ruins the experience. I never go back because it feels like being scammed.
I wonder why expensive restaurants tend to have small portions? High quality ingredients are expensive, but that can’t be the whole reason.