Why do restaurants serve small portions?

Question

I recently ate at Olive Garden and ordered Venetian Apricot Chicken which was fine, although the quantity served was pitiful. There were 2 pieces of chicken that I finished in like 5 minutes tops. Given I was hungry, although that's the point of me wanting to eat food. I've also ate the Chicken Parmigiana a few times there and also think that the serving is small.

I've had the same opinion in other restuarants, although I don't bother ordering two entrees.

For the record though I'm nowhere near obese. I'm a 19 year old male that is fit and has an apetite.

I usually just make myself food at home where I can pig out on all the seafood and chicken I desire.

Answer 1

Many restaurants are strapped to keep the price of their menu items down.  With the economy, people are hesitant to eat out in the first place and raising prices in todays climate is financial suicide.  Their only choice is to reduce expenses and they can either reduce the cost of the food served or reduce staff.  At Olive Garden (and actually many other restaurants), you can pig out on as much of their salad as you want, which is actually rather healthy.

Answer 2

I can believe you.  If you go grocery shopping, you would see most things are packaged smaller, but you pay the regular price or more.  However, resturants should not cut back on portions, but increase the price.  I think it's better to increase rather than ruining its reputation. Lay offs and poor service is in the mix.  This is called the OIL BOOM!!!

At 19 years old, best you order two meals.  

Answer 3

That is Garden Fare for those who do not want to eat a lot. That was 2 pieces of chicken though and you can have all of the soup or salad and bread sticks you want. I never leave there hungry. I think that it is your appetite and age, because I worked there and the portions are way big.  

Answer 4

I think the portions are too big.  I have had the chicken parm at the olive garden, and thought it was quite large actually.  You got a lot of chicken(supposedly, lol).

Answer 5

Same with me, i always find the portions too small. However, my appetite may be a little too big. i am 13 and usually my snack is 2 cheeseburgers. I'm not anywhere near fat and work out every day, and i really know how you feel.

Anyway, i agree the portions are too small

Answer 6

Actually portions should be smaller.  Like a steak should only be about the size of a deck of cards.  In this country where so many things are super sized, we need to downsize our portions more than anything.  Too much of a good thing is still too much.

Answer 7

Lol yeah the venitian apricot chicken in my opinion is pretty small. But at Olive garden I always leave full lol because I always pig out on the unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks along with my main course.

Answer 8

Just so you know, the Venetian Apricot Chicken is one of their "low fat selections". It's only 380 calories (lunch portion is only 280), which would explain why you got such a small amount and were still starving.

I don't know...I think our country has WAY bigger portions than anywhere else. I've never been able to finish an entire plate of food while out to eat.