Not so WLS friendly restaurant!!

As the saying goes: "You Go Girl!" You're awesome.

I have mixed emotions-I'll just share them.

For one-the food is the lowest cost item for food service-labor and facilities probably are the highest-so the fact that you eat 3 oz of steak vs. 8 isn't that big of a difference for the restaurant.  That's part of the reason why children's menus are full of low cost items like pasta.

The other thing in defense of the restaurant is that it's a business, free enterprise and all that.  Do you walk into the cleaners and try to negotiate a price?  No, you pay what is on the menu or billboard.

On the other hand-it does gritch me to have to pay for something that I can't finish-and if I'm not going home I can't save.  But again-it's my choice to be there and I can go somewhere else-or just enjoy the experience and what I CAN eat or what I CHOOSE to eat.

I do wish portion size was taken into consideration-I think it would encourage Non WLS people to choose smaller portions too.   But, my decision to eat smaller portions is NOT the restaurant's problem and I'm not sure they should have to make allowances for it.  If I were simply dieting and wanted 2-3 oz of steak-I wouldn't expect them to serve it to me for a discount-so I'm not sure the altered tummy makes that much difference. 

The original poster noted the waiter was polite when he had to show the card-it's not his fault he'd never seen one and simply didn't know what to do.  Maybe he was new.  Remember, not everything that embarrasses us is a direct attack on us.

I know I'm out numbered in this one-but I did want to share my thoughts. 

I agree with you Debra.   

  Thanks for the replies everyone, sometimes it's nice to rant to people who understand.  I will try some of the suggested restaurants, I don't really enjoy going out to eat any longer, but sometimes you don't have a choice. 

It's kind of a tough adjustment but I just try to order what I want and see where that gets me.  The last time I went to Johnny Carino's I ordered 2 meatballs and a side of steamed veggies.  The waiter looked at me strange but said "no problem" and went on his way.  If there is something WLS friendly on the kids menu then I will go for that (thanks for the Charleston's kid menu suggestion!) if not, I just suck it up and immediately get a to-go box.  It's sometimes easier than trying to explain your situation to people.

I did go to a restaurant in Dallas a couple of weekends ago.  We went for breakfast so I ordered a cheese omelet which was by far way too much food to begin with...of course it comes with every carb item known to man.  I asked the waitress if she could substitute ALL of the sides for a couple pieces of bacon OR some fruit...I was then informed that the owner did NOT like to substitute so I gently explained to her that it wasn't that I didn't like the carbs, I just couldn't eat them.  She made this big dramatic production about asking the owner and then told me that no, there were no substitutions.  I told her that was fine, scrap all the sides and just bring me the omelet.  She wrapped it up by asking me if I still wanted to order the side of bacon and fruit.  Some people just don't get it no matter how you spin the story to them!!!

Luckily my mom just had the surgery so the majority of the time that I actually go out to eat I have a built in sharing buddy!!!!