Woman Berated For 'Embarrassing' Friend By Bringing Tupperware To Restaurant For Leftovers

Not everyone is lucky enough to have the opportunity to go out to restaurants.

Hence, why many people absolutely treasure the experience.

It's also easy, and all too common, for regular restaurant goers to look down on those who don't behave as they do when dining out.

Even when these people are their dining companions for the evening.

Redditor GlitteringRainbowCat recently went out to dinner with a friend.

Knowing that the restaurant they were going to was known for its large portions, the original poster (OP) planned ahead.

Upon seeing the OP's plan in action, her friend was horrified, going on to scold the OP for "embarrassing" her.

Wondering if this was the case, the OP took to the subReddit "Am I The A**Hole" (AITA), where she asked fellow Redditors:

"AITA for bringing Tupperware to a restaurant?"

The OP explained how her attempts at being economical did not go over well with a friend on a recent night out:

"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."

"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."

"After everything was packed and I put the box in my bag, I realized, my friend was kind of quiet, but didn't thought much about it."

"She tends to be quiet after eating."

"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."

"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."

"She still was mad."

"So we went out separate ways."

"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.

"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."

"Ah, what also comes to my mind: I'm quite overweight and struggle with BED, so I was happy to not overeat."

"My friend has normal weight and has no ED as far as I know."

"So, dear strangers of the internet, AITA or not?"

Fellow Redditors weighed in on where they believed the OP fell in this particular situation, by declaring:

• NTA – Not The A**hole
• YTA – You're The A**hole
• NAH – No A**holes Here
• ESH – Everyone Sucks Here

The Reddit community resoundingly agreed that the OP was not the a**Hole for bringing tupperware to a restaurant.

"NTA."

"I’d be a bit thrown off if someone I was with pulled out their own container as that’s not normal, but to be perfectly honest, the second I read that I just thought 'why didn’t I think of ever doing that first?'”

"Less single-use garbage, so it’s better for the environment, and if you already know you’ll have leftovers for sure, then why not?"

"Maybe it SHOULD be the normal."- CosmicFriedRice

"In this economy?"

"NTA."

"Some folks never grew up poor, and it shows."- discotot

"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."

"Same as you, I'm just trying to reduce waste."- tabby90

"I'm not sure how that's any different or more embarrassing than putting the food in the restaurants take out container."

"NTA."- Neeneehill

"NTA!"

"I hate choosing between styrofoam or food waste."

"Keep it up!"- PersonForScale

"NTA."

"It's 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."- Artwebb1986

"NTA."

"Your friend sounds so dramatic I’m exhausted thinking about hanging out with her."

"This should have been a two-minute conversation."

"Friend: why do you have your own Tupperware?"

"OP: Oh, for these three reasons."

"Friend: cool, good thinking ahead."

"Every city/state I can think of that implemented charges for to-go boxes and bags did so specifically to reduce single-use item waste and encourage bringing your own."

"They can’t pack it in your stuff for health code reasons but there’s not a single restaurant that gives two flying f*cks."

"I say this as someone who grew up in my family restaurants, served, hosted, and managed."

"Not only is your friend dramatic, but she is also stupid."

"Please roll your eyes at her next time on my behalf."

"Also, congratulations on your accomplishment."

"BED is tough and YOU DID THAT GIRL!"- Sweaty_Indication_78

"NTA."

"She seems insecure about what other people think."

"I've brought Tupperware to restaurants for leftovers too; I don't like collecting takeout plasticware, nor do I like creating extra trash if the takeout container is single-use or styrofoam."

"Was this a date?"

"Sounds like she's not for you and she has some growing up to do."

"Also, there was no need to mention your weights at all."- pearllypie3

"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 crap for it."- loveturniphead

"If this was, as you say, just a burger place, NTA."

"It would be a different story if it was a fine dining establishment, or even a more upscale restaurant."

"But a burger place?"

"You're good."

"What you were doing was also environmentally responsible."

"You didn't take a takeout container."

"Your friend is clearly too obsessed with image."- DrTeethPhD

"NTA."

"She's that insecure she really thinks other tables gaf that you brought tupperware with you?"

"And even then...So?"- whatthefrelll

"NTA."

"My parents do this."

"Mom has a set she specifically keeps in the car for this purpose."

"Your friend cares way too much about what strangers think."- Kylynara

The OP later returned with an update, thanking everyone who took the time to comment, and also sharing a bit more information:

"Thank you for all your replies so far."

"I'll answer a few things here:"

"Where are you from?"

"Central Europe (this thread is huge, so that should be specific enough)."

"Here it's super common to pay for one-use items (for example, boxes in restaurants and plastic bags)."

"It was not a date."

"Maybe the term 'female friend' would have been better."

"But yeah, it was just a girl's dinner."

"I can be a little eccentric from time to time, and all my friends know that."

"But she and I weren't out for lunch/dinner often."

"In general, she's a very nice and pleasant person to be around, and we have a good time together."

"I'm pretty sure, there was some kind of trigger."

"I will contact her tomorrow and try to talk to her."

"So there might be an update coming."

Seeing people whip out Tupperware at a restaurant isn't a terribly common occurrence.

However, since the OP paid for her food and didn't break any rules, she did absolutely nothing wrong.

Based on the responses of the Reddit community, it even seems like the OP might have started a trend.