MovieChat Forums > Kitchen Nightmares (2007) Discussion > Doggie Bags?

Doggie Bags?

posted 10 years ago by jefgg
10 replies | jump to latest

Gordon didn't like the fact that most customers left with doggie bags from Campania in Fair Lawn, NJ. He thought it inflated the food costs. I don't care for doggie bags either. I want to pay for a moderately sized dinner. Americans are being supersized into obesity. Bigger is not always better when it comes to food portions. And I don't want leftovers sitting in my car for hours because I don't usually drive straight home after dining out. I have food at home so lunch for the next day is not an issue. But some people love doggie bags.

That episode was classic North Jersey. The customers aren't only rude to the servers. They are rude to each other.

[–] GraceFromSoCal 10 years ago

I'm watching "Campania" right now.

Regarding doggie bags, in general, I don't have a problem with them. I think it's better to take home part of a meal that's too big instead of eating it all. But that's from a customer's perspective; if I OWNED a restaurant, I think I'd adjust my portion sizes to eliminate the need to take home the excess.

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[–] scorpion-52 10 years ago

I don't mind leftovers, and I wouldn't blame restaurants super-sizing things for people getting obese, people make a conscious choice to eat more so I can't really feel too bad for them. Ricky Gervais did a routine on how being fat was not a "disease" like some people make it out to be and he really nailed it.

That said seeing EVERY customer in Campania leave with a takeout box was a bit much, and those plates were freaking huge, so I can see where Gordon was coming from on that one.

[–] morguebabe 10 years ago

Wasn't that an Italian place? Lots of Italian places in NJ are super sized like that. Their portions seemed normal to me.

[–] jefgg 10 years ago

Yes, that was an Italian restaurant.

[–] SVU14_1 10 years ago

The issue with the doggie bags in the Campania episode is that the restaurant's portions were tremendous. They were literally giving customers two meals for the price of one. The food costs were through the roof.

[–] CasseroleWorshipper 10 years ago

I don't own a restaurant or anything but if I did I'd sure let my customers leave with leftovers, it'd make me feel much better than just throwing all that uneaten food away, and I think it's completely reasonable. Depends on the restaurant though I guess, but with comfort food etc it seems fine to me.

[–] electricrat66 10 years ago

If your business is a success and you want to be generous, more power to you...but when you are on the verge of closing, and 150k in the hole, it's a dumb thing to do. Ingredients cost $.

I could have been at a barbecue!

[–] SkiesAreBlue 9 years ago

Only recently watching KN and a few episodes I have noticed customers leaving a restaurant with huge styrofoam boxes which I presume were "doggie bags". Some Italian restaurants do have big preportions and I feel guilty not able to finish my dish. The idea of small plates in one episode where the diners could share sounded pretty good to me. More likely if they are still hungry, they will order more. My favourite local Italian introduced tapas plates A great idea. I order two instead of a main and know I can finish.

SkiesAreBlue

[–] SkiesAreBlue 9 years ago

Watched another episode where styrofoam boxes were used to take home the excess. Styrofoam is not planet friendly and thankfully not caught up here in Oz. Our restaurants will offer recyclable plastic containers which they will bring to you to the table for you to fill them up. Against health regulations for the food to go back to the kitchen as there could be contamination. As mentioned the overall cost to the restaurant to overload the plates in the first place and then the cost of buying these containers for customers to take home is really bad management.

SkiesAreBlue

[–] The LA Baker (971) 8 years ago

Doggies bags are great. Sometimes I go out to eat because other people want to when I am not very hungry. I nibble a bit, take the rest home, and now I have another meal for later. Plus, its just going in the garbage if you don't eat it or take it home. Might as well.