If a restaurant serves complimentary chips and salsa, is it rude to ask for a "to go container"?

Question

Should I leave a extra amount besides the tip to pay for the "to go container and cup"?

Answer 1

i think your pregnant

Answer 2

no, they gave it to you, and if you don't take it with you they just throw it away

Answer 3

I don't know if I would call it rude, but it is definitely classless.

Answer 4

If it's the only thing you ate, then I would consider it rude - but if you went in, and ordered food, but really enjoyed the chips and salsa.. asking for a to-go container isn't rude in the least. You were a paying customer - and you should be able to get "to go" for whatever you were eating.

Several Mexican restaurants in my neighborhood serve the same thing as a complimentary "beginning" course while you're waiting on your food. They come and ask quite often if you'd like extra, etc.

Answer 5

Yep, it is!

Answer 6

I could find that odd if that was the only food you consumed... but if you do have left-over food that you ordered, I would just ask for an extra box and pack it up.

But the bottom line is you shouldn't feel embarrassed, or that you're doing something wrong. The restaurant serves you, if you want to take home the salsa that they put on the table, then you have every right to do so.

It's not like they keep that salsa, anyway, once it's set out on a table, you either eat it all or they throw it away. You might as well take it home.

Answer 7

It is rude. If you look at the costs for most restaurants, the most expensive things are the things they give out for free, bread, sauces, chips, lemons, etc.

Answer 8

Yes, it's rude.

The Muse

Answer 9

Why would you feel obligated to leave extra money on the table for something you've paid for already?  I personally have no bad feelings about asking for a carryout container for food that I or one of my family members simply couldn't completely finish.  I simply tell waiters and waitresses alike, that we may want to finish eating the item at home in front of a movie, especially if the items happen to be chips and dips.  Hasn't failed me yet.

Answer 10

No. Why would it be rude. They gave it to you.

Also, You dont have to pay extra to go.

Answer 11

Here's the thing you probably paid for something, so you are a customer.  If you don't take the chips and salsa home, it'll get thrown away.  Leave a nice tip, and don't waste the food if you'll eat it later.

Answer 12

No its not rude thats why they have to go boxes, also you paid for your meal, and most of the time if you get a to go box, then you are going to be putting some of the meal you paid for in the box.

Its not rude, and why would anyone think it is?

Answer 13

I'd say, it depends on the situation and the restaurant. We eat out a lot and I have friends and relatives who used to work in restaurants as servers.

If I was in there to visit with others but didn't particularly order any food, was just snacking on the free stuff and there was some left over, I'd take it with me if I wanted. Once the salsa and chips is on your table, they can't reuse it (legally) - it would just be thrown away (of course, that's in my state. Other states with high homelessness problems may have different laws in effect.). But I would think it would be rude to ask for a togo and MORE chips and salsa on top of what was left over at my table, unless I offered to pay some for it.

If I've ordered a big meal and of course, stuffed my face and I'm taking my meal home, then sometimes I'll ask for some additional chips and salsa to plump up what was left after dinner and take it home....but that's generally only at restaurants where I've been there many times and the people know me (and there are a few like that where they just voluntarily go bring more stuff to fill up my togo box, and I tip them extra and they know it.).

But I think I'd personally think it was odd to do that at a restaurant I was going to for the very first time...to not order anything and just eat the free chips and salsa, and then ask for more "to go" - that does seem to be a bit much to ask for.

However, I'm not really certain the backstory on your question so please don't think I'm accusing you of doing this last scenerio - it's just that I could see enough variables on it not to know exactly what to do in all situations and I just try to be fair about answering this.