take out in the following cities.. ok or no

The answer is a definite no for Paris and Italy. Portions are traditionally smaller in Europe. They don't do doggie bags. Either buy your dinner fixings at a supermarket and make your meal in your apartment or enjoy it at a cafe, restaurant, pub. Cultures, customs, traditions are different. I would hope that's why you are traveling to experience and embrace. Don't expect Starbucks in Italy but you can do take out and delivery in London. http://www.meal2go.com/All-Takeaway-Delivery-London and sadly you'll find Pizza Hut, Burger King, McDonalds AND Starbucks there as well.

I've been to every city you list but Lauterbrunnen, and I've never, ever seen a "doggie" bag for the purpose of taking home food you did not finish. You will get puzzled looks if you ask. Generally, portions are smaller. Consider splitting a main course, share a pasta dish, or order smaller than usual so you don't have extra. There are "take out" places that you order and take away (but do not eat there), such as sandwich shop, and of course grocery stores.

In Venice rec the Rosticceria San Bartolomeo for reasonably priced eat in or take out food. (If you eat in sit at the tables downstairs because it is cheaper than doing so in their upstairs dining room) http://guidepal.com/venice/restaurants/rosticceria-san-bartolomeo Proper Pizza restos ie those with their own pizza ovens, will do takeaway. In London shop in the food hall of Marks and Spencer stores or their baby brother M&S Simply Food. Good quality chilled ready meals/snacks/salads/desserts/fruit/deli counter etc etc to take back to your apt. The other supermarkets eg Waitrose, Sainsburys and Tesco do similar but M&S is our first choice.

Doggie bags and take out from regular restaurants in Paris, no, BUT there are many options for take out food,, food floor at several department stores have amazing stuff,, really. Frozen food from Picards in Paris, nothing like what you expect frozen to be,, delicous,, not Swansons,, lol Take out roast chickens and potatoes from a few places.
Look for sign " a emporter " means take out available.. often seen on windows where it is offered.

Well it's about to snow in July or hell is freezing over because good friends were just in Paris last week and guess what happened. Two restaurants offered to bag it up for them. Yep. Globalization.One was Chez Paul in the 11th and the other was a little Lebanese joint in the Latin Quarter. These are worldly foodies, native French speakers who did not ask to take the food; these two restaurants offered. So they asked about this change in custom and were told at Chez Paul that offering to bag up the food is now done in restaurants where tourists go. I almost fell off my chair when I read their FB post about this. They confirmed it in person to me. So it's time for me to climb off my "oh no never, how uncouth you American" high horse and embrace change.

@Bets, there goes the neighborhood. Much like the importing of Budweiser in Ireland. We have met the enemy and they are US.

Barbara, used to be no doggie bags in Rome or other parts of Italy, but last year I noticed people taking food home, and on several occasions the waitperson asked if I wanted to take leftovers home. Up until a few years ago, eat-in restaurants didn't even have take-out containers. I think the no-doggie-bag thing goes back to ancient Rome, when during festivals and games, the poor would bring sacks from home to take back food - until the next round of festivities. There goes the neighborhood, indeed.

I don't think its such a bad thing at all.. I grew up with parents who went through the depression and you just did not waste anything.. I hate seeing good food go to waste and I don't think i should have to stuff myself to finish just becuase if I don't it will get thrown out.. I am glad to see that they are accoommodating that in other places. I don't usually order much but I am a grazer:) and my system prefers small meals througout the day.. so generally I can never finish a big meal.. and if the food is good I want to take it with me and enjoy it the next day I just wonder why some of you feel its a negative thing? I realize customs are different in other countries and so glad I asked :)
Thanks for all the info on the take out places we will check them out for sure!

I have not tried to take home food from cities you list...but the general consensus is that "it isn't done" in Europe and YET...some places will. In my experience, it depends if the restaurant even HAS to-go containers (a big problem, most sit-down restaurants don't) and the cultural aspect. And yet, just last night, I asked a traditional local Restaurant here in Stuttgart if they could put the rest of my half-eaten portion of goulash in a to-go container and they understood immediately and the tasty leftovers are in my fridge. I've asked before at other places with no success, at one place, known for it's huge portions (XXL schnitzel joint) they actually offered. So my advice is ask, but don't count on it. In Germany and the parts of France I've been to, "to-go" as said in English is a recognized phrase (used for coffee to go, or even alcoholic drinks to go!) I try to make a big show of having enjoyed my meal and plead that I'm just too stuffed to finish, but really loved the food and would like to eat the rest of later. This seems to head off any offense (as not finishing your plate seems to indicate to a lot of people that you didn't like the food!) But yes, in general, your friend is right - but it doesn't hurt to ask!

Also I think that this is becoming more common in Europe is a GREAT development. Why should food go to waste? People say "portions are smaller in Europe" and maybe that's true if you dine exclusively at Chilis and other chains and midwestern diners but I actually that portion sizes vary by country and that sit-down eateries in France have portions of what I'm accustomed to in California, which is generous to me (and I like to eat!) Portions in Germany are ridiculous. I also try to negotiate splitting dishes, which is less common here too, but I hate wasting food (and money) so why not try? It's an area in which I think the American system is a distinct improvement.

Do you have an apartment in lauterbrunnen? You can get Chinese take-out at the little Asian restaurant iin Mürren if you are going to visit there. The food is quite good.

My point is and will ALWAYS be that Americanization of the globe isn't always a good thing. I travel to see differences, learn about how other people live and to experience a different way of life. I'm not there to see something I can find in the states, or expecting something I am accustom to. Viva La difference! If you want to ask for a doggie bag do so and please report back what happened in each country you did so. Just don't expect ketchup with your pomme frites or with anything else, pizza to taste anything like what is available here, coffee to taste the same, dessert to be apple pie, etc. I am reminded of a couple who once traveled to Rio but came home early because the wife couldn't find Cheetos. I kid you not.

Based on my personal experience both at home and as a restaurant worker in years past, I can tell you the the pie chart of leftovers would reveal that: 25% of containers are left at the restaurant table 25% are left in the car 15% are thrown out when they arrive home 15% are left in the fridge for at least a week, then pitched 10% are opened up the next day, deemed unappetizing
10% are actually eaten

Thank you for your suggestions And feedBack We will have to see how things go I will report back I am totally not looking for america when I go to europe but it's helpful and I think important to know the customs
and it works out good some are the same as yours that's okay too

I don't think "Americanization" or globalization is always a good thing, in fact, it's often a bad thing. I think it's a real shame that I'm subjected to worse American music in Germany than I would be at home, or that the vast majority of the cinemas only show major Hollywood films dubbed into German. But I don't really think to-go containers of leftovers at restaurants is detracting from the cultural heritage of Europe in any way that matters whatsoever. It seems a strange hill to die on.

It's not that uncommon to do take out here, we do it all the time as I have a 4 year old who tends to get a bit unruly in restaurants and we prefer eating at home sometimes. I would say that the "fancier" the restaurant in places like Venice or Rome, the less likely they will be to offer take out but there's no harm in asking. Just ask "Posso portar via?". What I've found is that in the current economy restaurants are fighting for every euro so they are happy to provide the take out service. Asking for a doggy bag is also very common however I'll provide the following warning because this happened to me once; when finished eating, if you'd like to take the rest home with you, you should say "Mangia portar via per favore...". The reason for this is because if you simply ask "Portar via", there is a good chance the server thinks you are asking them to take your food away because you're finished with it. I made this mistake once when the wife ordered a plate of pasta and ended up not touching it because she was full. I told the sever "Portar via" and she took it away and disposed of it. When I asked her about it on our way out, she got confused and said she thought I was telling to take it away because I was finished. Don't let this happen to you...

I think taking leftovers from a restaurant is nasty! There - I said it! My husband was raised where this is the norm, I wasn't. I have witnessed my dad "fighting off" a waitress who was hounding him to take his leftovers. Growing up if we had "old food" in the frig it would be tossed immediately. In general "take out" isn't my thing. I'd rather cool at home (though I hate to cook) or go out to eat.

"I think it's a real shame that I'm subjected to worse American music in Germany than I would be at home," If you want to be subjected to bad German music, you can always tune the radio to SWR4 for "Die Schönste Schlager". PS- I actually love Schlager, but it clearly isn't to everyone's taste. Probably not what people have in mind when they ask for "authentic" German music either.

Yes, the Schlager...those were the great popular hits by the artists (and chanteuses) of the '60s and '70s in West Germany and Austria. By the 1980s it began to change...

There is an entire station devoted to schlager? Do they play all the rejected eurovision songs?

"There is an entire station devoted to schlager?" Several. From where I live, I can pick up SWR4 Baden-Württemberg, SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, and HR4 Darmstadt. I'm guessing that every regional ARD affiliate must have their own version. I don't know about Eurovision rejects, but I heard "Poupee de sire, poupee de son" on the radio yesterday. Best Eurovision winner ever! Schlager is also still popular and Belgium and the Netherlands. Hasselt hosts the giant "Schlagerfest" every year.

Well this has gotten way off topic, but ... In Sweden they often use the term "schlagerfestivalen" interchangeably with "melodifestivalen". Melodifestivalen is how Sweden chooses its Eurovision entry. The Melodifestival takes place over many months with various heats, semifinals, etc. It is really quite a cultural phenomenon and something like half the country watches it. This year's entry definitely falls in the "schlager" category. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4PMQB5zmAU I'm totally crushed because I'm going to be in Europe during the time of Eurovision, but I will be in Poland. I just learned that Poland has withdrawn this year and thus won't be broadcasting it. I can't believe it. Some weak excuse about not having enough resources because they are hosting Euro 2012. I'll be in Germany the following week, so will have to flip through the stations looking for my schlager fix.

Back to Barbara's question ... both London and Paris have good "take out" options although not necessarily from restaurants. In London, I highly recommend Ottolenghi (www.ottolenghi.co.uk), a store with the most beautiful and delicious mediterranean dishes for takeaway. It is one of my favorites. Also, you will find tons of options at M&S Simply Food, any of the sandwich shops like Pret or EAT, or any of the food halls at the big department stores. In Paris, look for rotisserie chicken, great quiches and other things at bakeries, prepared foods at markets, charcouterie, etc. I'm perfectly happy with some great cheeses from the fromagerie, a good baguette, and some wine.

Thanks Laura .. that is very helpful and yes perfect for us:) Not being big eaters sometime the restaurants are way too muchf for dinner and so being able to buy some light dishes for the evening to bring back to the apt or hotel..
We generally eat lunch out as options are lighter..

Well in that case Barbara you should have no problem in Venice; I've always said that the best food in Venice is the takeaway stuff like the paninis (sandwiches), pizza and kebabs. Restaurants in Venice are really hit or miss (mostly miss) but the takeaway stuff - which you will see everywhere - is cheap, filling and delicious. Best food in Venice.

Not familiar with this Schlager, but I do enjoy Udo Juergens more than I have any right to... Sorry for the thread hijack!