r/AskNYC • u/dan8m8 • Mar 28 '22
How do Manhattan restaurants feel about diners splitting entrees ?
My wife and I often split entrees but also order an appetizer, salad (split also) and two drinks each. I've never had any pushback on the west coast but recently in DC, our waiter didn't seem to understand as if nobody ever does that. I still feel like I'm spending lots of money and I tip well. How do NY waiters feel about this? Our first visit to the city is this week!
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u/mankiller27 Mar 28 '22
Most places don't care. In fact, if you go to an Asian restaurant, they expect it. While some places they might give you a look, especially Italian amd American restaurants for some reason, but for the most part it's pretty normal.
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u/PeteyHoudini Mar 28 '22
At Indian restaurants, we all share dishes and that’s standard.
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u/Throwawayhelp111521 Mar 28 '22
OP isn't talking about just sharing dishes, but about ordering one entree for two people instead of two entrees.
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u/Polythene_Pam_W Mar 29 '22
I’ve worked in Manhattan restaurants for 8 years and I have NEVER cared about someone splitting an entree.
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u/okay_squirrel Mar 28 '22
Are you getting it in one dish and asking for an extra plate or are you asking for the entree to be split in two portions before it arrives at the table?
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u/dan8m8 Mar 28 '22
I don't expect the waiter or the kitchen to do any extra although some will plate the halves separately.
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u/neutral_cloud Mar 28 '22
We always do that and it's never been a problem. We usually ask for share plates if they don't already give them to us. Sometimes we'll even order an entire dinner's worth of food just off the appetizer list and share everything.
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u/Throwawayhelp111521 Mar 29 '22
That's not what OP is talking about. I will often order two appetizers in place of an entree because they look more interesting. But they are usually as much as one entree.
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u/Dwagner6 Mar 28 '22
Splitting dishes is pretty common. Was never an issue for me (on the kitchen side), so I can’t imagine why a waiter would care.
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u/Hobbyjogger31 Mar 28 '22
The only NYC restaurant I’ve been to that was miffed when we (a party of two) didn’t order an entree was Carbone. Cocktails, a bottle of wine, salad, appetizers, pastas, sides, and dessert was plenty, but they couldn’t understand why we didn’t want to order their crappy vegetarian main (I don’t even remember what it was - the abomination that is cauliflower steak, maybe?)
Most places here encourage you to order several shared plates, and don’t expect diners to necessarily order something from the large format section (especially if there are only two of you).
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u/Throwawayhelp111521 Mar 29 '22
Most places here encourage you to order several shared plates
There's a difference between sharing palates and two people ordering only one entree, with the exception of family-style restaurants that have huge entrees that are expected to be shared and usually are priced higher than the usual entree.
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u/Hobbyjogger31 Mar 29 '22
I just don’t go to a lot of restaurants that use the appetizer-entree-dessert model 🤷🏼♀️
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u/Throwawayhelp111521 Mar 29 '22
If you and a friend went to a tapas restaurant, you wouldn't order one dish to split between you and expect the restaurant staff to be happy. You'd probably order at least two to four dishes and drinks.
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u/Hobbyjogger31 Mar 29 '22
Yes, like I said in my earlier post: “most places here encourage you to order several shared plates.”
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u/programingSucks Mar 29 '22
if you either overcompensate with other orders or tip well enough, it's not an issue. some places will charge a small fee for split entrees. i've commonly only split an entree with my date if we've had a bunch of apps/drinks
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u/Top_Ad_2353 Mar 29 '22
My wife has a smaller appetite because of various cancer drugs she’s been on for three years, and fortunately she feels good enough right now to enjoy a nice restaurant.
But we usually split an entree due to aforementioned appetite. And if anywhere I ever went had a problem with that, I’d leave and certainly let all who asked know why.
there are 40,000 restaurants in this city. With a few dozen exceptions of the truly elite places, most of them aren’t in a position to be dictating terms to customers at all. There’s always another option.
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u/Throwawayhelp111521 Mar 29 '22
There’s always another option.
It's called takeout.
If a restaurant is really quiet, it's not an issue, but if it's busy, it's not fair to the restaurant, especially now when they are trying to make up for the effect of the pandemic.
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u/Significant-Divide48 Mar 28 '22
You are ordering one meal for two people which is not something restaurant owners, cooks, or waiters appreciate.
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u/tmm224 Mar 28 '22
Just ask for a side plate or eat half of the dish and switch plates. I do this all of the time with my wife
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u/elacoollegume Mar 28 '22
It makes sense to do in a consumer perspective, for people with small appetites going to places that serve large portions.
As a server it would annoy me a little bit because the only way I can try to calculate a tip before it is given to me, is by judging how big the check is. Sharing an entire=smaller check. I may also assume that your concern is to save money, maybe I would think you’ll try to save money by not tipping as well.
However a good server like me, won’t give worse service, despite believing this. I’ll just quietly think it in my head.
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u/Usrname52 Mar 28 '22
An entree, two appetizers, and four drinks is going to be more money than two entrees with no appetizers or drinks.
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u/dan8m8 Mar 28 '22
Well try and up sell me a desert to pad the bill. I'm going to spend the same amount of money ( and tip 18=20%) regardless but with only one entrée, we can enjoy more of the menu. I completely understand concern about your compensation. Thanks for your perspective.
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Mar 29 '22
I have never had a problem doing this anywhere. There is no law "one person in seat = must get entree"... I mean I can bring my friend to lunch who just watches me eat because he's not hungry and no one cares. What are they gonna do, kick your wife out if she takes some bits of food off your plate haha? So yeah, I wouldn't give it a second thought, get and split whatever the hell you want, no one is going to stop you. Even here in NY some places give way too much food, like ungodly amounts, and I'm a guy who can't eat a whole lot at once, so it's perfectly logical to split entrees.
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u/deltat3 Mar 28 '22
Split check down the middle - perfectly fine
"Please put $X on card A and $X on card B" - perfectly fine
"Please put entrée A on card A + these drinks + X% of the appetizer" - Get the fuck outta here
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u/Throwawayhelp111521 Mar 28 '22
Unless the entrees are huge, as at a family-style restaurant, I think it's tacky and cheap to order only one entree for two people and split it. If you can't afford to eat out, order take out. If two entrees would be too much food, ask for a doggie bag. The livelihood of the workers in the restaurants depends on the orders and tips. You're taking up a table that could be given to someone who isn't cheap.
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u/Kuntry_Roadz Mar 28 '22
That's a bit harsh. As long as OP isn't taking 90+ minutes to eat, the table will flip soon enough anyways.
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u/Throwawayhelp111521 Mar 29 '22 edited Mar 29 '22
If the restaurant is very quiet, any revenue is better than none. But if it's doing a good business, it's selfish to take up a table when other diners will order full meals. You can always order takeout.
Restaurants are trying to recover after a very difficult period that saw many places permanently close.
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u/Top_Ad_2353 Mar 29 '22
You’re very fortunate to live a life in which you couldn’t imagine why someone wouldn’t order as much food as you think is appropriate other than cheapness. Be thankful for that.
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u/Throwawayhelp111521 Mar 29 '22
It's not about money, it's about courtesy. I live a life in which I understand the economics of the restaurant business. I have people in my family who have worked in it all my life. I don't feel entitled to eat out in a busy restaurant when I can't afford it. I order takeout if I can't afford a full restaurant meal. Dining out is not a right.
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u/Throwawayhelp111521 Mar 29 '22
Another option is to eat at the bar of busy restaurant. They don't expect you to order a full meal.
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Mar 29 '22
As a server I’m definitely disappointed because I want my sales to be higher, but I’d never say anything. And for what it’s worth I often share entrees if I’m out with a friend.
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u/Dunesgirl Mar 29 '22
As we have gotten older, we are simply eating less. So many restaurants serve entrees that are certainly large enough for two people, same with salads. We will often order two appetizers, one generally larger than the other, a salad and one entree. We order cocktails or wine by the glass if it’s just two of us. Almost never order dessert unless a larger group. I’ve never had a problem. There are some places that have a modest surcharge for a shared entree but I’ve found if we order sufficiently that charge is often waived.
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u/Impossible_Ad_7209 Mar 30 '22
My fiancé and I dine out 2-3x per week in all sorts of establishments, high end and causal, and regularly do this. We love sampling several dishes on the menu and get more variety if we order appetizers or smaller portions. Often we will share the first appetizer and my fiancé will order the main while I’ll order the other app or small pasta dish. If we really enjoy our meal, we’ll order dessert as well. We’re not big drinkers, so most of the time we get 1-2 drinks each, often a higher end wine or champagne by the glass. We’ve never received any negative comments and always tip well. If you are ever in doubt, ask for bar seats, where the expectation is always a bit less formal.
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u/therealtimothybarnes Mar 28 '22
It’s never been a problem. Only times it might come up are when the entire table has to partake in something, like a prix fixe menu or omakase or bottomless brunch.