Eating out is always an expensive let down.

Wagamama is the best imo and always worth every penny

Have to disagree with this. I think it’s SO over priced and the food is never above average.
But we are blessed to live in a large city with lots of independent, authentic ramen places. So I guess your opinion would differ if you don’t have access to these.

So I have to disagree with OP. It’s really where you’re eating.

TGI’s, Frankie & Benny’s, Pizza Hut etc I think you’re pretty much guaranteed a shit experience especially because they’re not exactly cheap. We have recently also had a ‘fancy’ instagrammable spot pop up. The prices are extortionate. I mean super expensive and I’m not against paying good money for good food. It’s marketed as really high end and you aren’t allowed to take photos in there. The food wasn’t great either. So it’s just a gimmick. I think these over hyped places can often be disappointing too.

A little bit of research into restaurants and their best dishes and I’m never left disappointed or feeling like I’ve been ripped off though.

I agree. Went to Hawksmoor for an engagement dinner, my steak that I’d asked for ‘blue’ came well done, the sauce accompanying it had ‘split’ and drinks arrived after the meal had served.

Similar experience at Gouchos too. Also expensive, with indifferent to rude service and food I could have cooked better at home.

Both places had good reviews 🤷🏻‍♀️

I wouldn't say it's always an expensive let down. But it often is.

There was a thread here a while ago about how, even in non chain restaurants, much of the food comes from specialised caterers and is microwaved from frozen when you order. I guess if you think of the logistics of it, this isn't surprising, but it kind of puts me off eating out.

So eating out isn't always an expensive let down then, is it?

I love the eggs benedict, fiesta brunch, chicken strips and lasagne etc. I'm happy with what I'm getting and the price. I can go elsewhere (still just a pub) and pay £17 for lasagne and chips and it be utter crap; I don't mind mediocre so much as long as I'm not paying loads for it!

I rarely go to chain restaurants and always enjoy eating out (central London and greater London locally). It is expensive so a rare treat.

> not worth paying extra for this. Especially if you are on a very restricted budget
When I'm on a very restricted budget, I don't eat out
And otherwise I know where to go to get great quality food and marvellous service, at reasonable prices - and it's never a chain restaurant

Exactly. Saying you could make it yourself for a fraction of the price is nonsense. Have you added in a charge for your time buying and preparing the food?
The petrol and car wear and tear collecting it (and yes, restaurants probs get theirs delivered, but the delivery company will be passing their fuel and wear and tear costs on)?
The element of your rent/mortgage and council tax allocated to t(e time prepping and eating?
Your heating costs for that time (at a much higher rate as there’s no cap on commercial fuel costs)?
The time of the person dishing up, taking to the table, collecting?
The time washing up and the costs to heat the water and provide detergent etc?

Guess I am lucky where I live because there is a huge choice of places to eat out and most of it is great. That said if I was out with a big group of friends for an evening I would be perfectly happy to eat and have a few drinks in the local spoons because its about the company and the fun not necessarily the food.

When I eat out and think of the price, I don't just factor in the cost of the ingredients. You're not just paying for the food. You're paying for:
Not having to prepare and cook it yourself
Not having to clean everything up after yourself
Not having to wipe down the table after yourself
The experience of having someone ask what you want and bring it to you
The restaurant chain's profits

I tend to order things on a menu that I can't make myself or are something I wouldn't usually eat on a regular basis. However, I do sometimes order something I know I'll like even if I can make it myself. I'll be out of the house so I obviously can't make it myself anyway so it's not the same as just being able to make it yourself.

I don’t think there’s a Hare and Tortoise in my neck of the woods (haven't heard of it) but I’ll certainly check. Three consecutive visits to Wagamama’s I’ve had to complain after years of being fairly happy with it. Maybe they are cutting too many corners now.

Looks like H&T are all in London, I’m miles away.

Depends where you go. We avoid chain places and luckily have lots of independent imaginative eateries. We eat out 3 or 4 times a month and are spoilt for choice.
We go away every 6 weeks for a couple of nights and I research where to eat/ drink in advance.

I always find breakfast places disappointing for the money. There’s one in our town where you build your own brunch and every item is between £3 and £4. So 2 slices of toasted sourdough with fried eggs and 2 bacon rashers is about £11. Sure, it tastes nice but I can’t justify the cost.

These days I only eat out in restaurants where I know what I’m getting (tried and tested or chains) and only order food I wouldn’t cook myself. I used to enjoy finding new places to eat, but with the cost of eating out I can’t risk ending up disappointed.

I love Dishoom but the cook book will tell you that one dish contains many, many (often obscure) ingredients so always worth the cost imo!

Lately I've had my best, more affordable food from street stalls or in food-hall-type places where you queue up at a stand and then sit at communal tables. It's not a glamorous experience but I've found through bitter experience the food is often better than sitting down in a cheap restaurant. So for the OP's £13 you can often get something quite good.
If you live in London or around I think Eating With Tod YouTube channel is good for food hall and affordable-type options.

OP I am with you on the disappointment re crap eggs on toast etc.

I love Wetherspoons food!

Lovely.

Im surprised- I’ve had a few good ones. Usually close to the £20 mark for a plate though.

Ditto other food. Theres really only one chain restaurant I like and they’ve always been very good.

Some of the cheaper chains though have gone very expensive and while I might have popped to one for lunch a few years ago i wont spend what they’re charging for ok food.

Sweet and sour chicken is great. Also teriyaki salmon and anything with prawns. I always overcook this stuff on the hob.

I went for a carvery the other week that was really nice
Nothing groundbreaking but well cooked and tasty, loads of veg choice, and I went back for seconds!
I used the app, cost me £6 and I got a free g&t

For example? We have a new air fryer, but I haven’t really used it much yet!

Not a fan of wagamama at all. My DD also dislikes it, and she loves all asian food. The 'dumplings' last time were an abomination and the noodles were very bland. Hare and Tortoise is levels above. Great service also, I'm always amazed at how quick everything comes out. Like being in Japan or Korea.

Also my air fryer has helped. There are fakeaway things that I didn't trust myself to do in a pan that are foolproof in the air fryer.

Anything remotely “festive”, Valentines, Mothers Day, Christmas is often a huge let down. Over priced, kitchen busier than usual so quality declines, service more stressed.
Once went on a Fire Service Xmas do with OH at Xmas, and there was a near riot when big men were presented with two small roast potatoes, a smear of pea juice, a tiny sausage and a small slice of Turkey. Everything sent back, staff asked WTF was going on, and you have an hour to sort something out. No mention of “nouveau cuisine” when booking, just traditional Xmas dinner. We never went back and the reviews were chastening to say the least.