Response to comment

(1) I wish restaurants would offer smaller portions for less money, period. When I'm here, it's find to take leftovers home, but when I'm traveling, I hate having to throw away food. I often end up ordering appetizers, and they're often plenty. I'd order dessert much more often if the menu weren't full of mammoth confections for over $6. I'm not a fan of Chili's, but I went there with coworkers on a business trip once, and it's was great to be able to order a "mini dessert."

(2) Going back to that controversial Times piece about do's and don'ts for restaurant staff (it's on this blog somewhere, I think in December of 2009), restaurant staff should always be able to answer questions about what's in the food, how it's prepared, etc.