We went to Wagamama’s last night…

[Starrylawn]

We had one main course each, some edamame, some cucumbers, two glasses of wine and two soft drinks.

What do you think this cost in this day and age?

I feel the sting in the wallet a bit these days when eating out more often as I was comparing to 2018 prices in my head when we used to eat out a lot more pre children so I looked at how much they were making.

Looks like they made about £40 million profit on £500 million revenue so a pre tax profit margin of about 8% after covering costs like food, wages, rent, utilities, transport costs etc.

So if they cut the price of that £79 meal to £72 without giving you anything less or worse, they would be making a loss. I don't think an 8% profit is outrageous rip off territory.

You could say this is their fault for spending too much on food/wages/advertising or whatever, but to me this basically says this is what is costs these days.

I cannot understand the prices at Wagamama, given that you can have lunch at Michelin star places like Atul Kochhar's Indian Essence, for £20 two courses or £24 three courses.

https://indianessence.co.uk/menus#weekday-lunch-menu

I've never eaten at Wagamama but there's one opening at a nearby shopping centre soon. Someone has commented on the local Facebook page "Like eating a Pot Noodle in a Doctor’s Waiting Room" .

Exactly. It was a rushed and not particularly pleasant experience. Sharing tables, busy, hot. My food came 10 mins before the other main. Starters came at same time. It’s certainly not an elevated experience, which I don’t mind paying for btw.

Blue light discount makes it cheaper!!!

That doesn’t help me. Although it helps my friend who earns £70k in NHS 🤷🏻‍♀️

That's a good deal! Thank you. May go.

Oh it's in Kent. That's why.

And a lot more beside, including anyone who volunteers for any emergency services, foster carers, civil servants, veterans and porters and cleaners that are essential to keep hospitals running and certainly aren’t getting paid £70k

www.bluelightcard.co.uk/en/eligible-professions

Haven't read the comments, just the OP so I can try and guess without being influenced!
I reckon approx £90?
My estimation is on Northern prices, not London ones.

That sounds about right to me. Main courses you're looking at least £15 each, starters a fiver, and glasses of wine anything up to £10. Then you said some cucumber things as well 🙂
You're right, it's expensive to eat out everywhere lately.

I live on an island and don't get on to the mainland very often, so it is always a shock when I eat out at these places. I tried Wagamamas a few trips ago and found it to be overpriced and bland, I was shocked at the amount of calories in the meal, I think it was nearing a thousand and the service was mediocre at best.

It wasn't a patch on our local Chinese restaurant, where you can get some lovely noodles based dishes for half the price and twice the flavour.

I also hate the do it yourself app service and then service charge mentality. There has been a definite drop in the quality of service over the years, which I suppose we notice because we don't come to the mainland often. It costs us a hell of a lot to get off the island and a lot to eat out now, we can no longer do it on the cheap unless we are self catering.

🤣🤣

It’s so expensive I stopped going (and I think the quality has really gone down since Covid). People who have been to Japan tell me you can get similar sized dishes for £4 compared to the £17+ a plate of noodles cost here. You can’t eat out cheap anywhere here.

I think Wagamamas has always been overpriced and underwhelming as a dining experience. I have tried a few in different places, but they've all been the same. I am not sure why they are so popular.

I love their new seafood Raman and their duck noodles but it’s not a cheap eats place

£40 a head for a basic main course a side of starter and two glasses of wine is about average nowadays. Desserts are usually about £8.50 now.

I think eating out options got cheaper in relative terms over that last 30 years.

Eating out was always relatively expensive when I was growing up, even as a middle class family we perhaps went out once or twice a year. Picnics were part and parcel of a day out.. holidays were self catering.

perhaps household incomes means our expectations and priorities will have to change.

Well that doesn't really help around 85% of the population, does it

I really don't like Wagamama, I've been 3 times, at the behest of others. The seats are uncomfortable, you feel rushed and the food has been bland and cold every time.

I know not everyone has a discount but lots will have teens with them eligible for student discount. I’d only choose there if I had a discount.

I never shop or eat anywhere that offers a Blue Light discount.

I can't see the business losing money, so someone else must be subsidising what it costs them...that would be me.

private equity firms ruin everything

£80 for uneven service, overly noisy and table sharing?

I'm with you ... and this is why we hardly ever eat out anymore

£80?

I was thinking this the other day. DH and i have a fair chunk of disposable income each month now all the DC have flown the nest. Some weekends we would eat Friday and Saturday night but now maybe once every 2 months. I simply refuse to pay so much for mediocre food, I would rather keep the money and spend it on better quality food at home.