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

I do like the Ivy, It's a nice place, the service is usually good, however you're right.
The menu is similar to the Wetherspoons menu (obviously not as many options but similar food).
The vegan burger is the same brand-just better presented.
Not really worth the price.

@cumbriaisbest where i am its similair

i think people go who cba to cook after work and drink alcohol with it

I kind of agree but in my suburb, eateries appear full. I don't get it tbh

Apart from a brunch at Wetherspoons with my niece I can't remember the last time I went out for a meal with my DP. He doesn't like going out because of the disappointment and expense when we can cook all types of cuisines at home and he's happy to do the dishes afterwards too.

No offence to you but Gary Eats is one of the worst food you tubers I've ever encountered. He doesn't know how to describe food and spends half the video making awful jokes and moving plates around the table. He will also never honestly rate an independent restaurant, only ever says chain or large restaurants are bad.

Sorry He drives me crazy!

Top Jaw are great as well as only scrans If you like you tube food reviews with good production values and some great restaurants.

Very lucky here in Ireland, lots of very good restaurants within 30minutes of us using locally grown produce. Even the food truck is supplied by the local butchers.

Agree

The UK is collapsing.

with inflation national min wage rises and other businesses are just using cheapest ingredients and during cost of living crisis people stopped eating out

I dont get takeaways or eat out they are both only ok and I can cook as good for a fraction of price

@Ilovelowry & @MikeRafone

another thumbs up for The Talbot. & The Walled Garden opposite. V cute for a cuppa/slice of cake.

I feel lucky reading this. We’re in London zone 2/3 and there are lots of good options round here. Yes there are also a few mediocre places but the competition is so fierce that they generally don’t last long.

I also tend to order dishes I couldn’t or wouldn’t cook myself. Roasts are always better at home IME as it’s fresh out of the oven and everyone can choose the bit they prefer.

I'm showing my class here but I'd rather eat in a chain with comfort food or get a Chinese/ Indian than some nicer places. I often feel disappointed. Had a meal in central London which was basically something I could have cooked in ten minutes at home but covered in salt. Salad was rocket with just parmarsan sp? Cheese on it. I'd rather eat in spoons than that. Location was amazing. Food was less than my teen could put together

@QuornPlaster I like bistro lottie in Frome and think the upstairs Chinese is really good too

@Ilovelowry I rarely have a Sunday lunch out as I make nice ones myself and not hard to do but in same area I can also recommend the George at Nunney -they do a shared roast meat plate ( bit of everything for 2) and about 5 different veg plus good roasters and Yorkshire puddings and clearly proper homemade gravy - at£20 each it was a really lovely lunch

We're holidaying, just in UK and went self catering. I wanted to eat out at least once but we weren't convinced by reviews- we have very high standards. I know that sounds wank but I do enjoy the occasional McDonald's. I know what I'm getting! We didn't want to pay a ton for a crappy takeaway when our activities have been super expensive so have cooked every day. That's been a bit joyless admittedly but better than the disappointment of bad food.

If I’m being honest, and this may make me sound like a proper food snob, I wouldn’t expect anything decent for Wetherspoons prices. That said, I do love a Spoons breakfast, especially at an airport!

Sunday Roast prices at a decent pub (and we’re in the South East) is usually between £18 and £24 which I think is pretty reasonable.

We generally avoid chains. I’d much rather go to an independent. Usually much better food and service.

YANBU. We only go to four places and not often. One local pub, one restaurant in a near town, fish & chip restaurant locally and the high end restaurant DD works in, with her staff discount.

I'd say if anything the quality and interest (of non super fancy) stuff has gone up. Compared to 20 years ago I find myself thinking 'I'd rather make it myself at home' less often. Maybe it's because I have a bit more disposable income so am prepared to pay rather than wish I were at home because it's not worth it. ( because, God yes, everything costs a fortune these days).

@Gettingbysomehow
Where’ish in Somerset are you? I can recommend a few places in Frome, Bruton, Glastonbury, S Petherton, Tisbury…

I live in an area with no Deliveroo, Uber Eats etc so it really annoys me to go to a city restaurant and have to wait ages for my food as endless bikers troop in and out with orders.

Also service charges 😡. I'll tip for great service but this new carry on just means they can provide any old standard of service and still con customers out of an extra 10-15% on top of an already expensive bill.

Gary Eats on YOUTUBE is quite good. Some great places on there. L'Enclume last week (expensive) but he does chain as well (mostly average at best).

There is a restaurant near me that has eggs, flatbread and chicken legs on the menu. It was a tiny menu. Had a main and dessert and it was £50!!! And it has got amazing reviews. Some people have more money than sense.

We went out today and the food was good, Turkish, but the service was awful. Full 20 minutes before a drinks order was even taken, 45 minutes before the starters arrived and then when ordered desserts the waitress had the cheek to say we had half hour left on our booking. And one of the waiters absolutely stank of BO!

£283 bill.

Certainly wont be returning there!

Thank you! There are a lot of great restaurants out there who use local ingredients. They can't do it for Wetherspoons prices though.

People are just more experimental and better cooks at home now. Cooking is a popular hobby for people now and not necessarily seen as a chore.

Why would I go out a for a £18 lasagne which I can cook better at (and am bored of) eating at home? That would cook one twice over at home almost. It just doesn't make sense. I'm happy to have a drink or pudding, but a full three course meal is too expensive.

Anything slighty interesting is ridiculously expensive and would probably enjoy the experience of cooking it myself than sitting in a restaurant with people faffing around me. I just think people are more into staying home now. Don't want to dress up, or go bother with the hassle of traveling somewhere.

I do love a good food van that sells something different, but even they are even a lot of £ and again, some of it is really bad. When you're paying a lot it's just not worth the risk.

I notice eggs and bread feature heavily. Cheap obviously.

I eat at least once/ twice per week and it’s generally very food. Went out today 7 adults and 2 kids and the food was fab. Ordered huge Sunday dinner sharing boards and there was very little left. Deserts were amazing.