Before getting to the "perfect size portion", US restaurants can start by cutting the portion size in half. Really, you guys servings size are really crazy.

Maybe offer free refill for customers really hungry (AFTER they're done with their initial serving).

>you guys servings size are really crazy

Maybe it depends where one eats. I hear people saying this and I eat out all over the US and Europe and I guess I don't see this large and systematic difference in portion sizes that people claim--especially of the main/protein ingredient.

Most restaurants I've been to (in the US) serve me approximately twice as much food as a actually want. It's so wasteful, as it means that I'm throwing away half of the food each time.

this is key insight - large portions tend to be mostly massive quantities of cheap carbs like rice and potatoes. the expensive proteins tend to be very "sensible" portions lol.

Mainly because Europe has caught up, as evidenced by many peoples' waistlines this side of the pond.

i might be confused, but are you suggesting ala carte restaurants all convert to some form of AYCE system? or would it be a single free refill for the REALLY HUNGRY? cause i'm a big boy and can eat quite a bit, but more so than that, i'm a HUGE value guy. if you tell me i pay the same price and get two plates of food IF i'm hungry versus one plate if i'm not, you better bet i'm only going when i'm hungry and can eat two plates.

i honestly don't see how anyone can possibly see your suggestion as a sensible one. by the way, if you cut my portion size in half, you better cut the price in half too, otherwise i'm not coming back. i'm going to that NEW restaurant across the street who offers what you used to. i love big portions because i can bring leftovers home - i don't care that other people who cannot control their appetites finish the whole plate instead and get obese, that's their own problem not mine.

Look at it the other way around... maybe they could have "half portion" options for those of us who would be tossing the extra food in the trash.

I'd take that every time -- even if I were charged the same as the full portion (since it doesn't matter in the end, as I'm throwing half of the full portion away anyhow.)

>if you cut my portion size in half, you better cut the price in half too,

Nah, they just need to shave $1 off and call it tapas. :-)

I'm being mildly snarky. I like tapas for the variety. But, in part, because they mostly don't have the relative filler you have in a typical big dish main, they tend to be relatively pricey.