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

I completely agree, OP. I said as much to my partner. We’ve been away this weekend and had two expensive but indifferent meals. We had an all day breakfast for tea when we got home as we were too tired to cook properly and it was still better than anything else we’ve had this weekend!

I agree. I'm vegetarian and it's very rare now for me to have a decent meal out. So rare that we hardly ever bother.

I don't want to eat fake food and far too often that is the only option available to me.

As others have said, I like to eat out for the occasion. I have 3 kids aged between 14 and 20 and it’s something that we all enjoy. Except the price v value. We have a good pub near us that does good food but at £10 a starter, £20 a main and £8 for pudding and then drinks, it’s expensive. 2 courses and a drink or two is getting on for £200 quid for 5 of us.

I’ve noticed these last couple of years that nearly every time I eat out I get a stomach upset, it was making me quite anxious to eat out. I wonder if it’s the oils they use, (I use olive oil).

The places that still deliver great food are expensive, because they are not cutting quality. This thread is evidence that people won't pay what it costs, hence previously good places serving less good food as they are in desperation going for cheaper suppliers. The price hikes reflect the soaring input costs not profiteering, it isn't just the VAT/NIC, it is everything. Think how much your energy costs would be now v 5 years ago if you ran several ovens for half the day. I've just had a letter from our fish supplier saying they can no longer supply cod at due to reduced quotas and overseas military activity in their fishing zones. Fish prices are sky rocketing. Starmer hasn't helped with his activities. Literally every input cost is unaffordable now.

We serve great food, people complain we are expensive but we are currently running at a loss.

The chains are cheap because everything is mass produced with the lowest cost ingredients in a factory, frozen or vac packed and microwaved or deep fried on site. That costs far less than employing a highly qualified chef to prep and cook fresh local ingredients from scratch.

If customers can't or won't pay what it actually costs a business to produce a high quality meal then the only option they will be left with will be a budget chain as everywhere else will go bust.

The cheapest food you will find will most likely be in small family run restaurants. They don't pay themselves salaries, hence avoid all the payroll taxes. They take money out of the business other ways. Given the biggest input cost for most restaurants is staff they have a big competitive advantage and can under cut.

I'd love for some of the people on this thread who think they know everything about running a restaurant to actually have to for a month.

Things like Sushi and Vietnamese are better out
as they have the right kit and ingredients.

Stuff I can cook from trusted sources at home is not worth paying VAT on

yeah, my benchmark is 'could I make it better at home?' If I could, I'm not likely to go back.

I ate out with friends last night for a special occasion, and it was excellent, but expensive. It was lovely for a treat, but not something I would do just to avoid the cooking and washing up.

(£90/£150 a head) for treats

So £300 for 2 people? Mind blowing to me.

Agree with this too! I am a long way from being any kind of chef but I can make a better Sunday roast that I can buy, anywhere. I’ve been doing it for decades, it’s no hassle, glass of wine whilst I cook and load the dishwasher as I go. Plus, curry Monday follows 🥰 And the dogs all get a proper Yorkshire pudding!

God, yes! I was in Naples and the locals would pop in on the way home from work and have their pizzas cooked in the ovens. Delicious, fresh, cheap.

Thats very interesting and as I suspected.

Other countries seem to manage this better - or am I wrong?

Same with most takeaways. Even our regular has gotten crap. Love the idea of not cooking and doing the washing up. Disappointing reality that comes to bite you in the bum with bad sleep from too much salt and grease. Not worth it 😕

I can think of 2 or 3 memorable meals and the rest have been rubbish. I can't justify spending £80.00 on what is basically bread dough tomatoe puree and a bit of cheese ( for example)
Very very rarely eat out.

Pretty unpleasant comment, i've never heard of them

Still, that's all labour that someone has to do

But if you're worried about money, don't have dessert

It’s definitely not 99% where I live. Most of our local independent pubs use meat from local farms, local bread and locally made ice cream. The ice cream can be brought directly from the dairy farm in a little hut next to the milking sheds and our local butchers rears and slaughters most of their own animals.

One local pub even offers free meals in exchange for locally grown produce and eggs.

I realise this probably isn’t the norm, but I really don’t think the number is as high a 99%.

Yep, to be honest I’ve never eaten out for Sunday lunch to the same standard as a home cooked roast. Plus there’s leftovers and sandwiches and coffee later on, and possibly a curry next day.

I noticed the decline about 20 years ago. Tried Nando's and Pizza Express etc when they first opened and found them all crap.

Used to love an Indian meal as they were independent and had individual styles and tastes. About 20 years ago they all started tasting the same and I realised they were all getting the same generic vats of sauces from a central supplier.

I still love eating out, but avoid most chains

I value word of mouth recommendations, go to mostly independent places or use Groupon or Wowcher for a bargain if I just want cheap and cheerful - usually under £30 for 2 including a drink

At home, someone has to cook and wash up

The last time (and I mean that literally) we ate at Miller and Carter we had a tomohawk steak - supposed to be one of their signature dishes. It was practically unbeatable - fatty and tough. Staff were snotty when we complained - didn’t offer an alternative, just a small discount on the bill. Never been back.

wells ?