Is it considered rude to ask for a box for leftovers here? Before we got here I heard (don't remember where) that it was frowned upon. Now that we've been here a while I'm noticing some people leaving with leftover food and a few people (Americans) I've spoken with have said they never heard it was rude.  

Doggy bags....hehe are not rude. I have asked to have food boxed up especially when it was a large serving and was uber tasty. We all know you pay an arm and a leg so why not enjoy at home for the $$$. 

No it isn't rude. Here is the phrase in German that means "to go" or to take with: "zu mitnehmen" say that and point to what you want wrapped up. Why people tell newcomers this kind of stuff boggles my mind. I just am just bumfuzzeled as to where urban legends like this come from... 

ha ha if my husband and I dont split a plate (because the portions are HUGE) we always get it to go!! weve never had a proble or been frowned upon! 

I always take the left over , why to be rude , we payed for it and sometimes the portions are imensily huge ! Our dog love all of them :) . I think those peoples say that only to misslead others ...hehehe 

i've never seen a place that had a problem with letting you take left overs. i've even been asked in many places if i wanted them to wrap the left overs up for me. 

I know of many Germans/LNs who do it as well! Never had a place refuse to do it. 

We hardly ever eat out, but each time we have, the waitor has always asked if we wanted to wrap it up before we had a chance to ask. But, I was told that it was rude as well when we first got here.