New York City Travel Forum

My beloved has realised that portions in New York are, very often, enormous and much bigger than she can manage. She's now concerned that when we go to an upmarket restaurant she will be paying anything up to $150 for a meal but may well only eat a quarter of it before she is full. Our question is, how easy is it to go into a fairly well to do restaurant and ask to say share one main course? Are there some restaurants that will do this as a matter of course or is it something that is frowned upon? We don't want to end up looking like cheapskates but, at the same time, we'd prefer not to waste money if at all possible.

Portions in US restaurants *in general* are large, but in New York, especially at an upscale restaurant, the opposite is true. I myself am a small person who can't fit in more than two courses at any restaurant, but the more expensive the place, the better chance that the portions will be small!

Sharing a main course is not that much of a big deal, but if you're going to an expensive place, she probably won't have a problem finishing it solo. Or do what I do: order two courses (a starter and a main course, or a main course and a dessert), and then eat off your partner's plate for the third. :-)

some restaurants will have a sharing charge, anywhere from $4 or 5 dollars on up. but many restaurants, particularly at off peak, will not have any problem with 2 appetizers, a split main, and one or two desserts. and occasionally, to his or her own benefit, the server will "forget" the sharing charge expecting to see a partial rebate in the tip.

Travelmad is correct. It depends on what type of restaurants you're going to as well. There are a few Italian that are "family style", some steak house are a la carte.... I don't think sharing will be an issue anywhere in my opinion. The service is excellent in most places. Have fun!!

Thanks everyone for your answers. That sounds absolutely fine to me. Does anyone know whether the River Cafe would be happy for us to share a main course?

Yes on the portions...as the price goes up, the portions go down...for example, when we went to Felidia (one of Lidia Bastianich's restaurants on the Upper East Side - see http://www.lidiasitaly.com/restaurants ), I was quite surprised to see such small portions in any Italian restaurant ;-)

On the other hand, we had a great time after the meal...we wandered into the bar for an after-dinner drink, had small talk with the bartender, and he ended up giving us free samples of a number of liqueurs, including the reputed ancestor of Jaegermeister...take my advice, stick with Jaegermeister...the original stuff was so bitter, you'd get well just to avoid drinking the stuff (originally, many liqueurs were medicinal in nature)...

Bill

i'd agree that, generally, the more expensive the restaurant, the smaller the portions are.

I've eaten at the River Cafe, and the portions are not overly large. I would say they are just right.

And it is true about the more expensive the restaurant the smaller the portions. We had the tasting menu with 6 or 7 courses at Bouley and we were not overstuffed at all.

just order 3 appetizers.. or an app and a main course.. this way they can't get you on a sharing charge.

as for looking like cheapskates.. they call all go make love to themselves.. take their egos and either bring it back to whereever they came from (80% of people in Manhattan are not from NY, and 95% of snobs are'nt) or they can shove it where the sun does'nt shine.
Your money is just as green as everybody else's.. so if you don't want to order big, then don't order big.. and no one should be able to push or pull you in an otherwise direction. Come on now. Billionaires can't finish plates either.

LEt me also add that ordering numerous appetizers as your meal gives you a more diverse sampling of the restaurants menu.
The one main dish and one appetizer is usually my move though~

Andrew, I like your thinking! Appetisers it is then. And thanks everybody for your thoughts. That should put her mind at rest.