The Outback in Holbrook

We went there tonight for dinner. Funny thing happened. We had some leftovers we wanted to take home and the waitress asked how many boxes we wanted. Ok, meaning I'm going to pack up my own take home bags?

I asked her if she would do it and she said she would but she wouldn't want anyone else packing her take home bags. I said, well, if food gets on my clothes then I'm going to be pizzed, so I would rather you do it.

Is this the norm? I have been to maybe one or two places that has done this and never at the Outback before.

Was she just projecting her beliefs about her own take home doggie bags?

She did it no problem, but she was also pretty busy even though it was not even close to busy tonight.

Re: The Outback in Holbrook

I am noticing more and more places do this. They do it at Chili's.

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I think a lot of places do it that way now.

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It's not cool with me. My dining experience should not involve packing my own doggie bags. I paid $100 for 4 of us to eat...the tip would reflect it if I had to pack my own doggie bag.

Re: The Outback in Holbrook

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Yep, becoming more standard... I actually like packing up what I want to take home, knowing only my hands are on it and taking what I want, etc.

Re: The Outback in Holbrook

I have had that happen a couple of times. At first I thought it was odd but I don't really mind it - I only pack up what I want instead of getting stuff I won't eat.

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I think that some restaurants require this w/ all of the things going on in the world today (ie: ppl spitting in your food, etc...)
I think it depends on the management or the chain though- though in her case it sounds like it was HER choice- though that may not be the real reason.

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I PREFER to pack my own take home bag and am not happy when they take it from me.

One time they took it from me and forgot to give it to me. We waited abouit 20 mins and they wound up giving me a free meal to take home. Aparrently something happened to it.

I don't like people touching my food any more than they need to. And I have seen a lot of places do this.

Re: The Outback in Holbrook

I don't really mind that they bring me the boxes.I'd rather do it myself I know what i'm taking and that only my hands were all over the food also I can steal the rammekin of honey mustard.

Re: The Outback in Holbrook

I notice this is becoming standard practice in alot of places as well

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I prefer it. I got that from my mom who insisted before it became the norm.

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I think a lot of places do this now.

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This is the norm outside of New York state I believe. Anywhere else you go, you ask for the container, not ask for it to be wrapped.
I don't mind either way....

Re: The Outback in Holbrook

Message edited 12/8/2007 9:29:19 AM.

Re: The Outback in Holbrook

she should have packed it for you at your table.

i was a waitress in college. I will admit that once I accidentally threw out someones food, realized that they wanted to take it home, and picked it out of the garbage (in my defense it was at applebees, and we use the paper under the food, so the food never "touched" the garbage, just the paper, and i changed the paper AND these people were INCREDIBLY rude to me all night).

therefore, I ALWAYS pack my own doggie bag.

Message edited 12/8/2007 9:59:08 AM.

Re: The Outback in Holbrook

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It is becomin the standard practice I think. It annoys me and I am so lazy that I will not take stuff home b/c I have to pack it myself.

That being said, I don't think it was teh waitresses fault, and it isn't even that particular's restaurant's policy, it is just a corporate policy that seems to be very popular lately.

Re: The Outback in Holbrook

i agree.. it could just be outbacks policy, not neccessarily the waitresses fault.
i actually like packing it up myself and packing up only the stuff i want to take home and i know will reheat ok...

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I think it's a breakdown of service. It's not the policy of the Outback. I went to the Outback in Westbury and they packed it uo for me in the kitchen.

5 people already have touched your food before you eat it. I would think that in the kitchen if something splatters they can clean it up while if it splatters on me, then I would be annoyed.

All food prep including take home bags should be done in the kitchen with utensils.

I was a waitress in several places years ago and it was never the customer's job to pack up the doggie bags. I'm paying for the service and I tip well, it's their job. I was really appalled.

My parents who just came from AZ and who frequent a lot of casual dining restaurants told me this would never happen in AZ.

PS..the waitress did it, was fine with it and she got a nice tip. TIPS-To Insure Proper/Prompt Service.

Re: The Outback in Holbrook

I prefer to pack my own. We were at the Cooperage recently and I wanted the whole meal packed up but they only gave me my fish. I wanted the potatos to feed the baby and my DH's bone from his steak to give to the dog. I just got a lump of flounder, a delicious lump, but still.

Re: The Outback in Holbrook

i think a lot of places are doing the 'pack your own' doggie bags. honestly--doesn't really bother me much...if they do it--great--if i have to do it--no big deal.