Too much food

Off to NY in 3 weeks for our first trip there (in fact first trip to US so please be kind!) I%26#39;ve heard about the size of portions of food compared to Europe. I love food but have quite a small appetite so am concerned. Would it be acceptable to order two starters (appetizers?) to have the second one as my main course while my husband has his main course/entree? I often do this in Spain where I often find the portions too large for me. Sorry if this is a silly question. Can you help please? Tabby.

Too much food

From my experience even the starter portions are big!

I think I could order an appetizer and just have the one as my main. I%26#39;ve learnt this the hard way and ordered an appetizer and main and been full by the time the main has come around.

I would probably just order only a main or just an appetizer, although some places had minimum orders, for example $15 per person.

Too much food

Yes, it%26#39;s common (esp. for women who are always dieting) to order 2 starters. This may not go over well at a very fancy place or a place with a prix fixe menu where you%26#39;re supposed to pick one from each course, but otherwise, not a problem.

Since you have a small appetite and you mentioning eating in Spain, you might think about trying some of the great tapas places here. Below is a link to a recent thread that mentions a few (just ignore the part about gift cards):

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k1122618鈥?/a>

Hi Tabby

welcome to the NYC forum. you%26#39;ve been given some great advice - aside from very high-end establishments, it shouldn%26#39;t be a problem. just remember to save room for the prosecco! (sorry, couldn%26#39;t resist, based on the Rome chat). hope you have a great trip.

Thank you very much to everybody. Not so much concerned about the money but don%26#39;t like wasting food (always think of those who would like it but can%26#39;t) %26amp; also don%26#39;t like sending well-cooked food back, seems rude. The tapas is one of my favourite ways of eating so will look into that but husband is keen to have a real US steak too! Tabby.

Brookie, nice to see you %26amp; hear a familiar voice on here! Won;t be able to fit Rome in again this year although we were there in January %26amp; have a week in Florence later on so all is not lost. Looking forward to NY although feel like a real novice! Tabby

Don%26#39;t forget that it is quite acceptable to ask for any remaining food on your plate to be wrapped up %26#39;to go%26#39;. Most restaurants are happy to do this and will have some sort of packaging handy - you won%26#39;t be met with the blank look and makeshift attempts that you%26#39;d find here in the UK. Then you can finish off your dinner later - or let your husband eat it!

We%26#39;ve also found that more and more restaurants have a section of the menu offering smaller portions for light eaters.

Don%26#39;t worry about it too much - where ever we%26#39;ve been we%26#39;ve always found waiting staff to be really friendly and helpful - they will often go out of their way to make sure you%26#39;re happy.

Many people have food wrapped and give it to a homeless person. If you do, two things to remember. First, ask the server to include napkins and plastic utensils, and don%26#39;t include ';pickings'; from your own plate, only from serving plates or food that you%26#39;ve set aside before you eat.

That%26#39;s a really great generous idea Bettina I%26#39;m always feeling bad that a meal is too much when in the the US. I%26#39;ll remember that when I%26#39;m in NYC in June.

Tabby,

The Breakfast%26#39;s are enough to last you all day, but were rather nice,

Hi Tabby,

Does the Rome forum know that you are cheating on it?

Welcome to NYC!

I agree with the others it is perfectly acceptable to order two appitizers. You can also just order an entree with no appitizer if you think both would be too much for you.

If you are thinking of Tapas try Pipa on 19th st between Broadway and Park ave. South. I had a really good and fun meal here recently.

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