WHY ARE YOU CHARGING ME FOR AN EXTRA PLATE?

With the gargantuan size of most restaurant entrees today and the ever expanding American waistline, choosing to share a dish with someone else seems like the only sensible thing to do. However, at some restaurants that will cost you a “split-plate” fee ranging from $1 to $5. Why do restaurants feel the need to charge you for sharing? Some restaurant owners say they need to charge you for the labor and time required to create two separate plates. If paying a split-plate fee galls you, consider ordering several appetizers instead, or ask the server if half portions are available. Sometimes they are even when they are not listed on the menu.