Hey, is no one going to come to my defense? Is it really "vile" (as implied by m_kingdom2) to take left overs home from a casual restaurant in America? If so, why do the servers ask you several times if they can wrap it up for you? Although we're staying in condos and apartments when we go to Europe, I certainly won't ask to have my left overs wrapped. I wouldn't want my "vile" behavior to sicken everyone around me.

Of course not. That's just mk2 being...well...mk2.

Leftovers in US are common.
Leftovers in London and Paris are not (particularly Paris).

What's a "leftover?"

Once there was a wonderful cartoon on this subject in the New Yorker. Picture a waiter in the kitchen of a restaurant; the chef, with a quizical expression on his face, says "Qu'est-que c'est, ce sac de chien?"

Only a dozen or so (very intelligent) Fodorites know. Secret club and all.

I live in NYC and restaurants almost always ask me if I want my leftovers wrapped up. I've actually been in situations (in the US) where I've felt it would be rude *not* to bring home my leftovers. When asked, I have sometimes said yes to a doggie bag even if I didn't like the food very much, so that the people in the restaurant wouldn't feel insulted.

Most of the time, portions served in Paris are a reasonable size. American portions are ridiculously oversized. If you are not extremely hungry, just order 2 courses instead of 3. If you're only a little hungry, go to a cafe where you can just get salad or soup, etc, and save your restaurant meals for evenings where you are hungry enough to at least eat a couple of courses.

Never seen it done in Europe - ever.
Carolena

<<Never seen it done in Europe - ever.>>

Europe is a pretty big place and certainly in Munich, Germany, my local Italian does doggie bags.