We’re all about small plates and shared plates (and every other kind of plate!) at OpenTable. When you’re splitting a regular order of something, though, do you think the folks in the kitchen should portion it for you? Weigh in below!
Dining Poll: Who Should Split the Dish — You or the Chef?
13 Responses to “Dining Poll: Who Should Split the Dish — You or the Chef?”
Leave a Reply
I would think it more an insult to the chef to ask that a dish be halved. I’m sure they are serving what they feel are single servings; why make it complicated, or to a point where they start to serve less to other customers? If you’re going to halve a dish, just ask for an additional plate/saucer and halve it yourself.
No Chef is going to be insulted by the request to split the plate. There are all kinds of reasons a couple might split a plate. The restaurant is in the business of service – and if the customer wants the plate split, it will be.
I work at restaurant and some of our plates are already offered with halve options (for example half salad or full salad etc.). Pretty much asking the kitchen to split a plate is an insult to the Chef and makes the kitchen kooky specially when they have everything practiced and in rythim to put out all the dishes together and fast. So just don’t do it! If you don’t finish a dish or don’t think you’re going to finish it just ask fo a to-go container. P.S. Where the hostess seats you thats where you need to stay! Please don’t make it hard because for us it messes up the floor plan and causes delays for others!!
We all know that american restaurants all over have bigger portions than what you would noramlly eat at home. When you plan to go eat at a restaurant you should aware of this. Overall it’s not very good restaurant manners to do it. Always remember: CUSTOMER SERVICE GOES TWO WAYS, WE DO OUR PART AND YOU DO YOURS so both parties can have an excellent exprerince!
We all know that american restaurants all over have bigger portions than what you would noramlly eat at home. When you plan to go eat at a restaurant you should aware of this. Overall it’s not very good restaurant manners to do it. Always remember: CUSTOMER SERVICE GOES TWO WAYS, WE DO OUR PART AND YOU DO YOURS so both parties can have an excellent experience!
Michael you obviously never worked in the restaurant industry. You should do it a year and see if your opinion changes.
J B sounds a bit cranky….maybe he should be in a different line of business. Splitting plates is simple practical for many diners. My practice is to indicate if we’re going to split the dish, but let the policy of the restaurant rule. Many will split it and some do not. I’m happy to split the dish either way, but find the restaurant who splits the dish for me will usually get a higher tip. As Michael said, restaurants are a service industry.
I work in a restaurant and when people choose to split an entree I really take into consideration what the dish is. I have no problem asking the kitchen to split pastas, salads, sandwiches or anything that comes in ‘splittable’ form. For things like steak or other large cuts of meat, fish, or some baked entrees, I feel like it is the responsibility of the diner. There are definately some things that are better left to the descretion of the people who order them and the opinion of the kitchen staff often differs from the opinion of the diner.
JB, thanks for your comments. They are very insightful. I respectfully will have to disagree with the one you made on April 9, 2011, 10:47 am. It is courtesy that goes two ways, not customer service. The patron is the customer, not the chef or the server. It is important to remember that the customer is paying for the service to have food prepared safely and delivered in an efficient manner. This system includes the chef, the server, food quality, preparation times, and numerous other factors that ensure a positive experience.
I have worked in the restaurant business from catering to fine dining. As a restaurant owner, the number one goal is and was always to provide the customer an excellent dining experience. If that meant splitting the servings in half, that is easily accomplished when the order is plated and takes very little extra time.
JB – Restaurants need to cut their portions AND the price if they don’t want to split plates. I don’t want leftovers and I don’t want to pay for the extra food. I have a ‘lunch’ buddy and we always split, saving us money and calories. One of my favoirite eateries offers some smaller plates -THAT is good service.
your professional wait staff should expertly — and tactfully — guide you with this request: some dishes are more suitable than others.
@DMOORE pretty much summed it up. But also keep in mind that most dishes aren’t splittable. Also if you split the dish you pretty much stiff the server of their sales and yes SOME customers understand that if we do the FAVOR of splitting it when it goes against restaurant policy they should get a bigger tip but a lot of people just don’t care and leave you with 5 bucks on a 83.00 dollar tab.
@JH yes you’re also right but you can please a customer so much that at the end everytime they walk in they feel like they own the place. Give the customer what they need but between the policy and rules of the restaurant.
@BY REALLY!!? so if you only ate half the dish you tell the derver you’re only paying halve?!!! Well. lunch is one thing but if you do that at dinner hours you’re pissing people off. If you want to save money make your luch at home!
In conclusion= EVERYONE needs to put in their part in petition restaurants for smaller portions and healthier choices too!! Specially for kids.
PS. I love my job.
The people you meet all over the country is awesome. It’s that 25% of igorant and dumb people that ruin it for everyone else.
If the sign says no out side food or drinks you don’t come in with a 6 pack cokes!