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Original poster

4 bits of asparagus and half an egg - how much?

193 replies

Thornyroshbush · 29/05/2026 07:13

I went to my favourite restaurant in the world recently. Never had a plate of food I didn't love and I've probably been going 15(ish) times a year since 2018. It's 'tapas' style so you can easily have 4-5 plates in a meal. Just to give an indicating over the quality of the food.

One of the dishes we ordered to share was asparagus and a crispy egg. What turned up was four bits of asparagus and half a boiled egg in a shell (it looked a bit like a scotch egg, but no runny centre).

I'm wondering if I am being very unreasonable to still be absolutely gobsmacked over 24 hours later that anyone thought that was acceptable to send out of a kitchen at the price they charged for it. We're due to go back tomorrow night and I honestly want to cancel but DH thinks they deserve another chance...

So, can people tell me how much they would have thought that would cost?

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6
fartotheleftside · 03/06/2026 10:39

email them and tell them! They might offer you a voucher in return, and presumably they would like to know if they are serving terrible food, if they were previously very good

AllyMacbealmyarse · 29/05/2026 23:53

Quokkas · 29/05/2026 21:01

I’ve never come across it either, and I’m from the UK. I think it would be bloody difficult to deep fry a poached egg as it would probably be too delicate. It does sound delicious though!

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It’s not as difficult as you might think though can be a bit fiddly but very delicious. Really fresh egg and good poaching technique so get a tight ball shape then take out as soon as the white is set and into ice water. Once totally cooled you can coat as you see fit and into very hot oil- lovely crispy outside and runny centre.

CaptainBeefheartspal · 29/05/2026 23:14

I’m always a bit dissapointed when I go to places like North Norfolk. First you have to reserve places in advance which can be inconvenient then it’s slightly poncy food at inflated prices for the holidaying middle and upper classes. Quite often with accompanying snooty staff. They almost always have my favourite wine only by the bottle which bugs me (unfair I know).

I’m lucky to live in London with no end of fantastic bistros and restaurants and endless choice. I do think you should have spoken to them though and given them a chance to respond. There are a lot of costs to running a restaurant now and they probably don’t make a huge profit on most of their dishes when you factor in rent, staff wages, equipment, business rates, energy bills etc. That all has to be priced into each dish.

Choux · 29/05/2026 21:35

Inspired by this thread I ate this today. Delicious.

Whole pack of E Sussex asparagus from Sainsburys was £2.10

4 bits of asparagus and half an egg - how much?
Quokkas · 29/05/2026 21:01

FrostyPalms · 29/05/2026 18:18

Thank you. I'm not in the UK so I haven't come across this.

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I’ve never come across it either, and I’m from the UK. I think it would be bloody difficult to deep fry a poached egg as it would probably be too delicate. It does sound delicious though!

hahabahbag · 29/05/2026 18:19

I’m having asparagus for dinner today, cost £2 from the veg truck, though I’m having it with sausages from butcher, pigs raised 4 miles away, and jerseys

FrostyPalms · 29/05/2026 18:18

ChocolateApples · 29/05/2026 17:36

Deep fried 'poached' egg, in breadcrumbs

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Thank you. I'm not in the UK so I haven't come across this.

CheekyRaven · 29/05/2026 18:14

Always a 300% markup on food

Seriously12 · 29/05/2026 18:11

This is why so many people balk at going out.
Particularly women as we adore our food.
Mediocre food that is completely over priced.
My close friends and I prefer to take turns to host each other.
Fab food, great wine and company guaranteed.

ChocolateApples · 29/05/2026 17:37

Heylittlesongbird · 29/05/2026 17:10

https://www.nigella.com/recipes/guests/asparagus-and-green-bean-mimosa-salad?utm_source=mailer_cbc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Asparagus_and_Green_Bean_Mimosa_Salad_20260529

I get the Nigella cooking emails and have received this this afternoon. Looks lovely.

Might give that a try. Looks delicious.

ChocolateApples · 29/05/2026 17:36

FrostyPalms · 29/05/2026 16:43

I have never seen the term "crispy egg" on a menu. What would you expect from that description, because I would have no idea?

Deep fried 'poached' egg, in breadcrumbs

Turnitoffnonagain · 29/05/2026 17:26

Not an asparagus fan, but isn't the point of serving an egg with asparagus that you can dip them in the runny yolk?

champagnetrial · 29/05/2026 17:04

Dogmum74
Nobody cares

Me. I care. I love asparagus chat.

FrostyPalms · 29/05/2026 16:44

Blondiebeachbabe · 29/05/2026 09:35

I'm baffled that you even ordered that for £15. I mean, even if they have you 10 asparagus and 3 whole eggs, £15 is a total piss take.

For context, my fave restaurant in Edinburgh does a huge meal and 6 cocktails for £35! Our local restaurant, which is gorgeous, does main courses from £12 to £18.

What is your favorite restaurant in Edinburgh please?

FrostyPalms · 29/05/2026 16:43

I have never seen the term "crispy egg" on a menu. What would you expect from that description, because I would have no idea?

FrostyPalms · 29/05/2026 16:36

diddl · 29/05/2026 09:22

I've just looked at their site.

Had to laugh at this

DAN & NATALIE HAVE DESIGNED THE MENU IN THE FORM OF SNACKS AND PLATES DESIGNED TO SHARE. OUR DISHES USE THE BEST OF LOCAL PRODUCE AND CHANGE TO REFLECT THE SEASONS. HAVE AS LITTLE OR AS MUCH AS YOU WANT, SHARING DISHES ALONG THE WAY OR KEEPING THEM ALL TO YOURSELF!

So everyone needs multiple plates to eat enough!

Especially if half an egg & 4 asparagus spears is a sharing plate!

Well, yes. That's the point of tapas.

Dogmum74 · 29/05/2026 16:27

Nobody cares

AndrewMountbattenWindsor · 29/05/2026 16:18

(it looked a bit like a scotch egg, but no runny centre).
You mean it looked like a scotch egg minus the pork and breadcrumbs.

I thought that the joy of the dish was in dipping the succulent spears in the runny yolk.

Usernamenotav · 29/05/2026 16:16

My guess is £8

Original poster
Thornyroshbush · 29/05/2026 15:58

@champagnetrial the asparagus has been incredible. I've been buying it in Holt and cooking it at home to go with salads as it's been so hot.

Sharrington strawberries have also been particularly juicy and sweet this year. Norfolk produce in late May/June/July is the highlight of my holiday every year.

OP posts:
BuildbyNumbere · 29/05/2026 15:27

Thornyroshbush · 29/05/2026 07:59

@susiedaisy1912 Presumably!! That’s what baffled me the most! Split between two people as their dishes are meant to be it was 1/4 of an egg and two asparagus spears each.

Just to say to others, it was de-shelled! But it was basically a hard boiled scotch egg (not what I had in mind). Half a hard boiled scotch egg.

£15 it cost. And sadly it was also completely inedible as the asparagus was very woody (they hadn’t but the ends off) and the hard boiled egg was…unpleasant. And very dry.

And yes, north Norfolk. The other dishes we ordered (I’m guessing a few of you have rigged which restaurant it was), were equally awful. Acidic beetroot. Cold focaccia and cold prawns. Steak was grissly 😩as I said never had a bad meal before but this was inedible. But £15 for four hard asparagus spears and a hard dry scotch egg took the biscuit!

Edited

You should have said something to them at the time, that price is outrageous … where on earth are you going?!?!

AndrewMountbattenWindsor · 29/05/2026 15:18

Davros · 29/05/2026 15:03

@AndrewMountbattenWindsor er, did you read my post? 😳

Yes, thanks. Why are you struggling with my reply? Just avoid it unless you know it's British and in season.

OvernightBloats · 29/05/2026 15:13

Davros · 29/05/2026 14:38

I am thoroughly offended that we are OK with imported asparagus all year round. The British season is a highlight of my food year, no imports thanks 😹

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Yes. There is no way I would ever buy asparagus from Peru or wherever else they are imported from.

Always buy British asparagus - tastes amazing - when cooked properly.

Davros · 29/05/2026 15:03

@AndrewMountbattenWindsor er, did you read my post? 😳