Eating out is always an expensive let down.

OP why are you avoiding all the questions and comments pointing out that you chose to order that!! And presumably the menu had prices on it?!?
🙄

What was the description?

We are definitely on the lower earners spectrum of MN. But we don't eat out in places like McDonalds or Nandos. Even pub grub.

We do however go out 3 or 4 times a year to very good restaurants, enjoy a very well made cocktail, a good bottle of wine, 3 courses that I could never make at home and go home still tasting the meal in our mouths.

Great food, expertly cooked is usually always worth it (you might get the odd mess up - even then that caliber of restaurant is keen to make amends)

Do none of you have any agency in where you eat out or what you order? We live in an age where you can check out reviews and previous customers' experiences at the click of a button. You can also check out menus and prices at the click of a button.

I eat out a lot but I don't just wander into any old place at random, I take recommendations from friends and media I trust, and I always look up the place myself to see if it's anything I'd consider overpriced or overhyped. End result, I'm very happy most times I eat out with only the occasional dud.

All these people saying Nando’s is cheap and cheerful obviously haven’t been to my local branch, it’s dirty, miserable staff and awful food! We usually go to Bella Italia for a cheap dinner, you know what you’re getting, it’s fine for kids and it’s not that expensive. I do agree some of these independent cafes have gone a bit far on pricing and using terrible ingredients.

I don't understand what you are complaining about something you ordered and ate or menu prices? Eateries have overheads they also need to make a profit avocado's are expensive I could go on,

What price are you expecting?

We have a few fancy brunchy places near us. Brunch and a drink is probably about 20 quid. But if you go to Lidls at about 7am, you'll often see the owners in there getting the food

I agree. We used to go out 2/3 times a week but now we almost always feel we are being ripped off. Even going for a curry now is too expensive (it used to be a "cheap" night out).

Food is often just okay, service is often crap.

the last offering was bread, mashed acocado, feta and some sort of sauce. Is it a meal, is it brunch nobody knows?

Surely you knew what you were ordering though?

See, I'd never order anything like that because I can make it the same or better at home without much effort, time or skill.

If I'm paying restaurant/cafe prices, I order something that I can't make easily at home, makes a mess, takes ages or needs lots of specialist ingredients.

I think take aways are also a let down these days.

I do like a good fry up from the local cafe, or a BLT from the cafe in the park. It's good, proper food, done well.

But restaurant food is expensive and quite boring and samey these days.

I think it is worth it if you go somewhere good.
I am happy to spend at a good restaurant. I am also happy to spend at a budget pub for good, decent grub if it is worth the price. I'm not rich but I like eating something I couldn't or wouldn't eat at home and having something either satisfying and tasty or something I don't have the skills to make-and I'm a pretty good cook! Just got to get used to what you like and what is worth it to you. I'd not be happy paying over the odds for avocado toast.

I agree. Even going out for a roast is so expensive as a family now. I can't justify the cost, when I know I can make a better one at home for a fraction of the price.

I feel for the restaurants and pubs trying to cover their costs, but I'm not paying £1-200 for a meal out that I don't enjoy because it's done on the cheap, with elements often pinged to death in the microwave.

Chains like Wagamama's or Pizza Express or Nando's are safe bets - but it is nice to have something different every now and again!

I don’t understand either, you call it an offering, but that’s not how restaurants work, you must have deliberately went it, read the menu and chose this?

Our local bar and bistro never fails to impress us. Their Sunday roasts are so good. It's not overly expensive either.

I always try to order something I couldn’t/wouldn’t cook at home,
as this helps to avoid the “I could have done better myself” thing.

I love toast/avo/poached egg etc but wouldn’t order it for it, as I can easily do that at home. I might order eggs Benedict though as I couldn’t be bothered to make a hollandaise sauce for it.

And I’d order anything with hundreds of ingredients as I cba with that sort of cooking, so Wagamama is a good shout as I’d never cook any of their dishes at home.

But there’s nothing stopping you eating avocado toast at breakfast time, or lunchtime, surely? I have it for brunch on Sundays, because that suits my weekend schedule, but that’s hardly some kind of rule.

Or not eating avocado toast at all!

We stopped at M&S cafe. 2 toasties and 2 coffees = £20. Won't be doing that again in a hurry.

If you think avocado on toast is low effort and bad value for money dont order it?

The food is lovely if I go to a good restaurant, but expensive, 30 euro for a main course. The cheaper places where it is 15 to 20 euro for a breakfast or lunch can be a huge let down.

I only go to a good place 3 or 4 tines a year.

I get round this by going out for a cappucino/coffee and a bun regularly. I am getting out but it is not costing lots. I like the idea of relaxing in a cafe regularly. I go in the morning before work so staff are not pressurising me to order lots. I am 50s. The breakfasts in particular cost a lot in comparison to what people are earning. The average full time wage is 45k euro a year.

Nah, you just ordered a daft thing. Have a pub Sunday roast next time.

This^
I love cooking and DH always helps with cleaning after so for me going out is always an expensive let down unless it’s for coffee and cake or a drink.