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Being ripped off by Takeaways


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Old 20-07-2015, 13:31
Mountain_Runner
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Should takeaways display the quantity of each meal on their menus?

My favourite takeaway is Indian. However there is one Indian takeaway I have gone to whose portion sizes vary. I use this one because their lamb madras curry tastes phenomenal When I first started going a few years ago the curry when poured on the rice would almost spill over the side of my plate.

I went recently and paid the same amount for the same meal and the amount of curry was less than half what it normally is when poured onto the rice it barely filled the centre of the plate. About the diameter of a tea mug. It was barely a child's portion. I was still hungry afterwards

The problem is that without stating the amount on the menu they can get away with giving you as little as possible, there's nothing to stop them just giving you a few spoon fulls in a container!

I mean when you buy a ready meal in the supermarket it says 350g or whatever so you can be sure how much you're getting.

Should trading standards require that takeaways display the quantity in grams on their menus to ensure people always get standard amounts and are not given short measures?

I know its difficult to get it accurate but a good chef should be able to judge a standard size portion weighing x amount. Maybe the requirement that its plus or minus 10 grams. Or maybe they could have scales to weight the filled container.
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Old 20-07-2015, 19:46
degsyhufc
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If you're not happy with their service then complain or stop using them.

If they're giving smaller portions it's probably down to cost management.
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Old 20-07-2015, 22:15
Toby LaRhone
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If you're not happy with their service then complain or stop using them.

If they're giving smaller portions it's probably down to cost management.
Don't get him started on Wagon Wheels!
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Old 21-07-2015, 13:08
walterwhite
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Don't get him started on Wagon Wheels!
Oh please, I love that debate.
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Old 21-07-2015, 13:36
Miss C. DeVille
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Don't get him started on Wagon Wheels!
What about creme eggs?
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Old 21-07-2015, 13:40
silentNate
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Mars Bars are smaller than they used to be also

I agree with the OP on this btw; the restaurant should change the menu and have large and small portion sizes with respective pricing.
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Old 21-07-2015, 13:53
Mountain_Runner
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Mars Bars are smaller than they used to be also

I agree with the OP on this btw; the restaurant should change the menu and have large and small portion sizes with respective pricing.
I agree there should be a choice of portion sizes, with the different sized containers displayed on the counter and a pen mark showing how deep the containers are filled then nobody can complain of short measures.
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Old 21-07-2015, 14:01
wampa1
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There's a lady at work who gives the smallest portions in the work canteen. The person before used to pile it high but this one is meticulous and will even put some back if she thinks you have too much.

On top of that, as a vegetarian, I then get charged the same as those who get meat with their meals and if I query it I'm told I got extra chips, peas etc! Like hell did! >: (
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Old 21-07-2015, 14:09
Mountain_Runner
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There's a lady at work who gives the smallest portions in the work canteen. The person before used to pile it high but this one is meticulous and will even put some back from if she thinks you have too much.

On top of that, as a vegetarian, I then get charged the same as those who get meat with their meals and if I query I'm told I got extra chips, peas etc! Like hell did! >: (
I've noticed when I used to get a pizza made up at my local Asda, they used to pile it high with chilli beef, jalapeños, peppers and about 15 slices of pepperoni. After about 6 weeks of going the topping got less and less each time.

Last time I went there were about 3 slices of pepperoni, 2 jalapeños, a few peppers sprinkled on and just a little chilli beef. I asked why so little and was told that was the regular amount of topping. Without any stated minimum for topping I couldn't argue
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Old 22-07-2015, 01:02
Toby LaRhone
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I've noticed when I used to get a pizza made up at my local Asda, they used to pile it high with chilli beef, jalapeños, peppers and about 15 slices of pepperoni. After about 6 weeks of going the topping got less and less each time.

Last time I went there were about 3 slices of pepperoni, 2 jalapeños, a few peppers sprinkled on and just a little chilli beef. I asked why so little and was told that was the regular amount of topping. Without any stated minimum for topping I couldn't argue
When you're hanging with your shirtless homies in the flat roof pub do you call out the landlord, and his doberman, when the head on your pint is a bit OTT?
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Old 22-07-2015, 01:25
Welsh-lad
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Should takeaways display the quantity of each meal on their menus?

My favourite takeaway is Indian. However there is one Indian takeaway I have gone to whose portion sizes vary. I use this one because their lamb madras curry tastes phenomenal When I first started going a few years ago the curry when poured on the rice would almost spill over the side of my plate.
Doesn't takeaway come in those sturdy little plastic containers?

Just check that upon purchase and if it's not full to the brim tell them you want it filled for your money.
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Old 22-07-2015, 09:15
Jellied Eel
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Isn't there a plan to make restaurants provide nutritional information for their meals? Ignoring the PITA this would be, presumably that would have to show typical portion size to show calories etc.
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Old 22-07-2015, 13:08
walterwhite
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Isn't there a plan to make restaurants provide nutritional information for their meals? Ignoring the PITA this would be, presumably that would have to show typical portion size to show calories etc.
It was proposed but it's a fairly ridiculous idea. The cost of doing it would be prohibitive to thousands of small restaurants and takeaways.
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Old 22-07-2015, 13:17
burton07
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Of course takeaways are a rip off. £9.95 for a pizza? A PIZZA? £9.95 for some bread and cheese. £9.95????? £7.95 for 4 bits of tasteless chicken in a curry sauce? £3.95 for a bowl of boiled rice?
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Old 22-07-2015, 13:27
walterwhite
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Of course takeaways are a rip off. £9.95 for a pizza? A PIZZA? £9.95 for some bread and cheese. £9.95????? £7.95 for 4 bits of tasteless chicken in a curry sauce? £3.95 for a bowl of boiled rice?
I automatically stop reading any post that describes a pizza as 'bread and cheese'.
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Old 22-07-2015, 18:53
Toby LaRhone
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I automatically stop reading any post that describes a pizza as 'bread and cheese'.
I think he meant a cheese sandwich, walter
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Old 22-07-2015, 22:55
Isambard Brunel
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Just tell them you're Anne Robinson from Watchdog when you order your food.
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Old 23-07-2015, 08:49
Jambo_c
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Of course takeaways are a rip off. £9.95 for a pizza? A PIZZA? £9.95 for some bread and cheese. £9.95????? £7.95 for 4 bits of tasteless chicken in a curry sauce? £3.95 for a bowl of boiled rice?
You're obviously going to the wrong places. Our local Indian restaurant does lovely takeaway.

Also if I asked for pizza and someone gave me bread and cheese I'd take it back and ask for an actual pizza.
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Old 23-07-2015, 17:17
fast left
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pizza is the number 1 rip off food ! how so many buy it amazes me too ! it's bread and cheese mostly walterwhite
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Old 24-07-2015, 00:08
soap-lea
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I've noticed when I used to get a pizza made up at my local Asda, they used to pile it high with chilli beef, jalapeños, peppers and about 15 slices of pepperoni. After about 6 weeks of going the topping got less and less each time.

Last time I went there were about 3 slices of pepperoni, 2 jalapeños, a few peppers sprinkled on and just a little chilli beef. I asked why so little and was told that was the regular amount of topping. Without any stated minimum for topping I couldn't argue
I noticed it depends on the time of day you go buy the pizza at Asda depends on how generous or not they are with the toppings. that being said I no longer buy them as I object to them advertising them as fresh when the bases are frozen not fresh
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Old 24-07-2015, 08:45
walterwhite
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pizza is the number 1 rip off food ! how so many buy it amazes me too ! it's bread and cheese mostly walterwhite
Yes it's exactly that.

I can have an amazing pizza from a restaurant near me cooked in a wood fired oven for less than a tenner. Don't see how that is a rip off personally.
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Old 24-07-2015, 10:24
burton07
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Yes it's exactly that.

I can have an amazing pizza from a restaurant near me cooked in a wood fired oven for less than a tenner. Don't see how that is a rip off personally.
Considering I can buy an excellent deep pan pizza from Tesco for £1.50 that just needs 25 minutes in the oven, how is £9.95 not a rip-off?
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Old 24-07-2015, 10:58
howard h
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Mars Bars are smaller than they used to be also
And the parties seem to be over much quicker too.....
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Old 24-07-2015, 11:07
John_Smith86
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Doesn't takeaway come in those sturdy little plastic containers?

Just check that upon purchase and if it's not full to the brim tell them you want it filled for your money.
Would you demand a bag of crisps to be "full to the brim"? A pack of sweets?

It was proposed but it's a fairly ridiculous idea. The cost of doing it would be prohibitive to thousands of small restaurants and takeaways.
Why would printing nutritional information on their menus be so expensive?

Considering I can buy an excellent deep pan pizza from Tesco for £1.50 that just needs 25 minutes in the oven, how is £9.95 not a rip-off?
How low are your standards? An excellent deep pan pizza for £1.50?? Really?
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Old 24-07-2015, 13:04
walterwhite
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Why would printing nutritional information on their menus be so expensive?


Depends how they did it. If they required it to be done properly then it costs a lot of money. The alternative is for each takeaway to calculate exact calorific values for all their menu items, well over a hundred in many cases.
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