Restaurant prices are just ludicrous

[Mummyhokey]

I know that this is hardly breaking news, but seriously what the actual fuck is going on with prices in restaurants?

Went out to a High Street chain restaurant last night for DD’s birthday. So whilst the food was cooked fresh on site there was absolutely no local chef input into the menu etc. There were also only two waiting staff working a busy place so the service was slow even though they were doing their best.

The cost of the meals was, in my opinion, completely unrealistic in terms of what we were getting. Little change from £20 for a basic burger or chicken dish. Another fiver for a side order. So for the four of us, £100 gets us one course each. Drinks on top, £3.95 for a glass of watered down Diet Coke. Twice that for a beer. £6 for a slice of cake for dessert.

This seems typical now for restaurants. It’s just totally unaffordable for most families to do this more than very occasionally, surely? I get that utilities and wages have gone up, as have the cost of ingredients. But have they gone up by that much? The increases seem outrageous. That slice of cake works out at about £50 for the entire cake. I could buy the ingredients for that burger for well under a fiver.

And then the 12.5% optional service charge added to the bill so that the options are ‘Pay it’ or ‘Ask for it to be removed and feel like a dick for doing so’.

No offence to hospitality business owners or the people working in them, but this just can’t be sustainable surely?

I pretty much stopped eating out. Not only the prices are unacceptable, but the quality seems to be pretty rubbish wherever you go. And I do ask for the service charge to be removed from the bill, it`s well worth the second of embarrassment.

The govt always takes its 20% VAT in the UK so higher prices equals more tax take. The govt could help boost eating out by reducing VAT to say 10% but won’t. The govt is also responsible for the extortionate energy costs suffered by UK businesses. We are sitting on vast reserves of oil and gas yet the govt runs these down and pays billions in subsidies for green energy.UK energy costs are now the highest in the world - a disgraceful dereliction of duty by the govt.

You my dear, have more money than sense!

Our P EX has closed.

It’s Wildwood in my town that’s struggling. They send v cheap deals v often. We quite often go there for the offer. Food is mediocre but it’s quite cheap but the restaurant is barely a 3rd full even at 7pm in a v posh area.

Where was this ? Genuinely curious.

Since a decent meal out for our family of 4 with DS18 and DS21 could cost as much as a week's grocery shopping, we just don't do it anymore. We have got used to buying quality ingredients making decent meals at home.

DH and I just got back from a 2 week holiday, self catered all meals including packed lunches and flasks of coffee. Not only was our holiday reasonably priced, I returned having put on no weight as we are so healthily, which was never the case when we used to have hotel breakfasts and dinner out. We still had an amazing time.

Nothing wrong with eating out if it's important to you and worth the money and agree the restaurants have to cover their costs. But we have adapted to changes in cost of living and choose not to eat out anymore, other than an occasional coffee with friends.

This was really rude and inappropriate.

But many places have a choice of ‘sides’ now - 2 different sorts of e.g. potatoes or green veg/salad - you aren’t just given what they’ve happened to prepare on the day.

That’s kind Mylove, but I think it was said wryly and that’s fine with me!

I’ve just paid £4.20 for an iced latte.

It feels like only a couple of years ago that this is what I was happy to pay for a glass of wine in a pub.

Four bloody pounds twenty bloody pence

I’ve just paid £4.20 for an iced latte.

It feels like only a couple of years ago that this is what I was happy to pay for a glass of wine in a pub.

Four bloody pounds twenty bloody pence

Assuming you mean the “once and never again” meal? It was Wild Honey. Yum. The food was fab

Yeah £4.20 for an iced latte is too steep by far!

Posted twice by mistake not to emphasise my horror at the price!!!

I agree. And not only has it got more expensive, the food is mostly awful quality now. Can’t remember the last time I went out and didn’t come away feeling ripped off

It's becoming something only the high earners can enjoy, again. Vote with your feet, folks.

Thank you

That's not even that high, we pay about that much every time in most good restaurants in london. Forget places like dubai, we paid over a grand every night for food and drinks and were just a group of 3. Granted there was a lot of booze involved but it still seemed high.

I think we differ in that opinion.

I don't just eat Maccas or Pizza Express.

I can't sleep so have been reading all of the menus on Uber Eats (don't ask, I just love a menu and yes, of course, they're all shut at this time of night!). One restaurant was offering a pizza meal for two people, large pizza and two cans of soft drinks for £25. The next item down was a pizza meal for one, a 9" pizza and can of soft drink for £27. How does that work out?!

All prices for everything seem mad. £6.29 delivery and £7.80 for eight onion rings?

I know delivery isn't the same as eating in a restaurant, but I think you get more value for money eating out. At least you don't have to wash up!

Yes to the rude & inappropriate comment. It's not helpful or constructive.

Agreed. Even if it was meant as a friendly dig/joke, it will not always be taken that way when we can't see the poster's face or hear the tone.

Differ in the opinion that food and drink in dubai is expensive or that good restaurants in london can easily cost upwards of 150 per person? Or both?

I'm obviously not talking about fast food or low end chain restaurants.