Woman brings Tupperware to a restaurant to save leftovers, friend feels embarrassed and confronts her, woman doesn’t see the problem: ‘I was like "Please calm down”.’

Author image for María Cetra
María Cetra • Writer
Jun 23, 2026 6:00 PM EDT

Wanting to save some money and avoid wasting food sounds great, but maybe do it while preserving your manners.

Restaurants have become so expensive that it is usual to see people taking home the remaining food on their plates. This is great not only money-wise, but it also avoids throwing away perfectly good food. This is now so common that most restaurants have applied an extra cost to taking the remainings home. It's a pretty inexpensive fee, so that they can place it in a plastic recipient and a brown bag. Even though the cost is usually no more than $5, there have been some critics, as the customer has already paid for the food, and this act is simply taking home that same food.

In this Reddit story, the customer decided she didn't want to pay for the extra bagging to take home her food, also known as a doggy bag. So, she took a Tupperware with her to the restaurant, and when she ate all she could, she saved the rest to take home. This attitude was not reprimanded by the restaurant workers, but it was by her friend. At first, she just looked at her weirdly, but then she said that was really embarrassing and basically that she had no business doing that. The woman tested the same attitude with another friend, and he completely encouraged her, so now she is pretty lost on whether this is correct or not.

In my opinion, this constitutes two kinds of people, the ones that are really conscious of their own presence and are easily embarrassed. And the people who simply don't care if what they are doing is acceptable or not, they just do it. This seems to be a problem in both parts. You shouldn't be living your life thinking what the people that surround you –and that you don't even know– think about you. But also, you shouldn't embarrass your friends with poor manners and attitudes that you know are not great to do in public spaces. In the end, all this could be resolved with conversation and compromise. 
 

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  • 01
    Woman working behind the counter in a restaurant, model image.
    via Square

    Woman working behind the counter in a restaurant, model image. 

  • 02
    So, a few weeks ago I (f) went to a burger place with a girl friend of mine. I know they serve quite big burgers and in the past, I always had leftovers. So I decided to bring a Tupperware this time, just in case. I ordered my burger, added some wedges and enjoyed my meal while having a super nice conversation. I ate maybe a third of the wedges and not even half of the burger and decided to stop, because I also wanted some dessert.
    via GlitteringRainbowCat
  • 03
    After ordering, I pulled out my box and started to fill it with my leftovers. You know, I felt quite clever: I didn't overeat and there was still space for dessert in my belly; I didn't had to pay a buck or so for the doggy bag, which had leaked in my bag in the past and there would be enough for next days lunch. So a triple win, if you will.
    via GlitteringRainbowCat
  • 04
    After everything was packed and I put the box in my bag, I realized, my friend was kind of quite, but didn't thought much about it. She tends to be quiet after eating.
    via GlitteringRainbowCat
  • 05
    After we were done, everyone paid for their own meal and we left. Then she looked at me and was like "oh my gosh, this was sooo embarrassing." I was confused. She explained to me, how awkward she felt and people were staring and what not and was kind of mad. I explained my point of view the benefits and all, but nope.
    via GlitteringRainbowCat
  • 06
    In the end I was like "Please calm down, it's not like I took the box to an All you can eat-buffet and stuff it full in front of the waiters. We also didn't split the bill, so it's fine I ordered more with tomorrow in mind."
    via GlitteringRainbowCat
  • 07
    She still was mad. So we went out separate ways.
    via GlitteringRainbowCat
  • 08
    But here's the thing: I still think it's a good, environment friendly way and did it again while eating with a guy friend a few days ago, he was like" Woah, that's neat! and even gave me some of his onion rings.
    via GlitteringRainbowCat
  • 09
    So, dear strangers of the internet, AITA or not? Should I have communicated before pulling out my box? Should I have asked the waiter (which hadn't said anything at all) or should I just buy the leftover box from the restaurant next time? I absolutely don't know. Please share your thoughts with me.
    via GlitteringRainbowCat
  • 10
    discotot in this economy? NTA some folks never grew up poor and it shows
    via GlitteringRainbowCat
  • 11
    tabby90 NTA I do this all the time. My husband and I both carry collapsible silicone bowls in our cars for restaurant leftovers. More often than not I've gotten comments like, oh what a good idea! I've also had waiters tell me that other people do it too.
    via GlitteringRainbowCat
  • 12
    PersonForScale NTA! I hate choosing between styrofoam or food waste. Keep it up!
    via GlitteringRainbowCat
  • 13
    Artwebb1986 - NTA its good you paid for it so what's the issue. Never been to a place that charges a buck for a take out container. I'd also never go back if they ever tried.
    via GlitteringRainbowCat
  • 14
    pearllypie3 NTA. She seems insecure about what other people think. I've brought Tupperware to restaurants for leftovers too; | don't like collecting takeout plastic ware nor do I like creating extra trash if the takeout container is single-use or styrofoam.
    via GlitteringRainbowCat
  • 15
    loveturniphead It's a little odd but also like... not that different than using you're own bag at the grocery store. NTA. I get your friend being. embarrassed, I would be a little taken aback if someone did this with me but not enough to give them crop for it.
    via GlitteringRainbowCat
  • 16
    Imagination Top5390 I have friends who are a couple. They live on the islands. They have a favorite restaurant that serves huge portions. The restaurant has terrible to go box so the waitress told them to bring their own Tupperware which they do. The fantastic waitress always packs up the leftovers for them into the Tupperware. Your friend is weird
    via GlitteringRainbowCat
  • 17
    Neeneehill I'm not sure how that's any different or more embarrassing than putting the food in the restaurants take out container.... NTA
    via GlitteringRainbowCat
  • 18
    A restaurant display, representation.
    via Jason Leung

    A restaurant display, representation. 

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