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Sick of eatting out and it’s not that good!

295 replies

Greekdream · 15/06/2025 15:06

Second time this week eatting out one was a birthday celebration and today for father day
both times spending over 100 quid and the food worse then you make at home

just don’t wanna go it anymore unless it’s somewhere really good
tricky when it’s special occasions tho

OP posts:
Cherrytree86 · 15/06/2025 16:52

saveforthat · 15/06/2025 16:50

Why not?

@saveforthat

cos pizza is very filling and calorific.

HippyKayYay · 15/06/2025 16:50

We have absolutely stopped going to chain type places that we previously would have taken the kids to for a treat/ if we were too lazy to cook. Places like ASK or Pizza Express. Now the kids don’t have the kids meals anymore, it ends up being eye wateringly expensive (approx £100) for a completely mediocre meal and lacklustre service.

saveforthat · 15/06/2025 16:50

Cherrytree86 · 15/06/2025 15:46

@Meadowfinch

dessert not needed after pizza to be fair

Why not?

Caravaggiouch · 15/06/2025 16:46

Where have you been going? Is there any theme to the type of restaurant? The last few meals I’ve been out for have all been fantastic! I am generally always disappointed by roast / Sunday dinners though especially carveries.

Astrabees · 15/06/2025 16:46

We used to eat out much more in the past, standards of food and service are so low now it isn’t worth it. There are 3 places we can rely on that are the only ones that get it right. One is the local Michelin star restaurant. Run by a lovely couple who always get it right, one is a large fine dining Indian restaurant and the third is a little cafe style hipster place with amazing food run from an old cafe out in the country. I took my DH to a celebrity chef’s place for his birthday a fortnight ago and it was nothing special, with long waits between courses and tiny tiny portions. I was really sad about that as he was a bit of a hero of mine.

MikeRafone · 15/06/2025 16:45

So much catering food comes from brake brothers and is popped in the microwave and onto luke warm plates. I can go to M&S and get the same food for under £25 for 2 people and pop in the microwave and dishwasher cleans the plates

rainbowunicorn · 15/06/2025 16:42

My19thNervousNameChange · 15/06/2025 16:02

All hail the arrival of a teeny-tiny!

God, i miss the laughing emoji 🤣

Cherrytree86 · 15/06/2025 16:41

VickiFromAmsterdam · 15/06/2025 16:25

My cooking’s far superior than most of the food I’ve eaten out. I just eat out for a break now, & go for the drink rather than the food. Everything’s just so tasteless. I had lasagne a few weeks back & I’m convinced I had someone else’s leftovers 🤢

@VickiFromAmsterdam

really?? 🤢 what made you think that?

rainbowunicorn · 15/06/2025 16:40

Cherrytree86 · 15/06/2025 15:46

@Meadowfinch

dessert not needed after pizza to be fair

That would depend on the person and their appetite.

Cherrytree86 · 15/06/2025 16:39

mum2jakie · 15/06/2025 15:53

Not everything that makes life enjoyable is a necessity!

@mum2jakie

well no but as eating out is expensive as is the whole premise of this thread then dessert is one way to save money especially given as pizza is very filling and calorific

rainbowunicorn · 15/06/2025 16:38

blametheparents · 15/06/2025 15:43

Completely agree.
The Ivy is one that is in this category, in my opinion. People seem to love it, but I find it very expensive for what it is.

Ditto - Miller & Carter

Agree, both of these are mediocre and not really worth what they charge. Most chain places are the same.

fussychica · 15/06/2025 16:34

We only eat out with adult DS, he's seems to be our lucky charm for a decent meal.
Seriously though we rarely eat out as we find it ridiculously expensive and often very poor quality. My neighbour eats out weekly but complains to me almost every time that there was something wrong with the meal and is was a disaster. I've told her not to bother but....
Holidays we self cater usually and if we see somewhere that looks good or has great reviews then we'll have lunch or dinner out but I couldn't do that every day, besides the money we save pays for another holiday.

Daisydiary · 15/06/2025 16:31

Went out for a lovely lunch today, good choice and reasonably priced (Turkish). That said, our local pub charges £18 for a roast and I could make much much better at home. For the whole family, plus drinks, I’d rather make my own!

Kago2790 · 15/06/2025 16:31

These days I would rather put the money towards buying better ingredients.

VickiFromAmsterdam · 15/06/2025 16:25

My cooking’s far superior than most of the food I’ve eaten out. I just eat out for a break now, & go for the drink rather than the food. Everything’s just so tasteless. I had lasagne a few weeks back & I’m convinced I had someone else’s leftovers 🤢

Promo981 · 15/06/2025 16:20

It probably depends where you live and the range of options available. I'm in London and have had some amazing meals recently and they haven't been super pricey. I won't touch chains anymore for the exact reason OP has said but we have so many independent restaurants with different types of cuisine that are amazing. The food influencers are great for getting recommendations too.

Talkinpeace · 15/06/2025 16:15

independent Vietnamese or Japanese or Turkish are the last reasonable ones left
Chinese / Dim sum - I know the supermarket they buy from

ScoliMum · 15/06/2025 16:11

Cherrytree86 · 15/06/2025 15:46

@Meadowfinch

dessert not needed after pizza to be fair

I wasn’t aware that you are the MN food police?

ShellieAnn · 15/06/2025 16:10

I agree. I went to Nandos recently. Spent about £75 for the 2 of us. I've never had anything more dry in my life. And the bag of McCain chips they had on the side just made me wonder why I wasn't just eating that at home.

Doseofreality · 15/06/2025 16:10

It’s mire the behaviour of others that puts me off to be honest.

We were at a restaurant last night and a couple came in, shoved their pram right up against our table and spent most of the evening walking around, in between tables, with a screaming baby. The food was lovely but we couldn’t enjoy it.

StuffedOnion · 15/06/2025 16:08

100% agree. Eating out is not worth it. The food is usually average and flavourless, even at fine dining places. I don't look forward to eating out anymore.

@StonwEd i'll have to try the foodhall as I work near there. Don't gate keep the Turkish place!!

edit hate keep to gate keep 😂

Twillywoowooo · 15/06/2025 16:05

I rarely eat out especially at places with vast menus as I presume food is frozen/pre-cooked and never order takeaway. I’m in London so no shortage of places but I’m not impressed by most of it or the prices.

My19thNervousNameChange · 15/06/2025 16:02

Cherrytree86 · 15/06/2025 15:46

@Meadowfinch

dessert not needed after pizza to be fair

All hail the arrival of a teeny-tiny!

Scarfitwere · 15/06/2025 15:57

blametheparents · 15/06/2025 15:43

Completely agree.
The Ivy is one that is in this category, in my opinion. People seem to love it, but I find it very expensive for what it is.

Ditto - Miller & Carter

So true! Especially Miller and Carter....fine dining for chavs

mum2jakie · 15/06/2025 15:53

Cherrytree86 · 15/06/2025 15:46

@Meadowfinch

dessert not needed after pizza to be fair

Not everything that makes life enjoyable is a necessity!

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