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?

Yeah. Eating out is expensive now, more than ever. Often very average food too. We've stopped going out to eat as much, too many expensive disappointing meals. We 've just been in a cafe this morning after a swim 65GBP. 2 small dishes, 4 drinks (none of them alcoholic).

But eating out used to be a convivial, sociable thing, and on a Saturday night having a glass of wine with your meal shouldn’t be bank breaking! It’s weird for everyone to be telling me off for having a glass of wine. Which, for a glass I paid £10, so about a x5 mark up rate.

Agreed

A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine :)

I think I'm an outlier, I only like wine with nibbles or on it's own. I cant eat a meal and drink wine, it's weird to me, feel bloated.

You do understand that wages in Shanghai are significantly lower than the U.K.? The average annual income in Shanghai is only about £16k, about 30% below the annualised full time U.K. minimum wage.

I wouldn't go to Wagamama's for a special event sort of night out, more a 'oooh can't be bothered to cook' or a casual meet up with friends, or somewhere to go after you've been shopping on a Saturday afternoon.
Side dishes are always a bit of a rip off, as are soft drinks - but obviously I understand they are reasonable part of a meal, it's just where the costs add up.

Does the UK feel different to you, on your return?

How much would you have been happy with? You mentioned 40 min as a negative, but also mention you wanted something quick.

You mention a price for a “nice” restaurant, yet you choose a chain for its convenience and price. You’ve paid 40 each for a starter, main course, soft and wine. You’ve complained that wine costs 10 per glass.

Sounds like you want a “proper” restaurant at extraordinarily cheap prices. Which apparently existed back in some nirvana restaurant world we all had when we were young, mortgage free and thought a pub lunch was a luxury…

25 each, good food, decent atmosphere, not a chain, supporting your local business, investing in the community …

Wow....never...surely???

£79 doesn't surprise me. DH and I when we eat out, to keep costs down, have 1 main each, 1 soft drink each and share a pudding and we typically pay between £40 and £60 depending on venue and choice of dishes.

Your 2 x wine and 2 x soft drinks will have bumped that up - sticking to one drink each is a good way to keep costs down; if you like wine with the meal you could get a jug of tap water as a basic thirst quencher, have a glass of wine each and then open a bottle of wine when you get home.

Or if that sounds a bit miserable, accept it as the price you pay for a nice time rather than representing value for money.

It’s on the menu, you just order it like you would anything else.

A glass of wine with a meal is a convivial, sociable thing.

But this was Wagamama. Eat quickly and be out in 40 mins.

I went to Wagamana recently for a quick bite to eat and was shocked. First, the server did come to the table, but told us how to order on the app, and then we paid through the app at the end, and the whole things was just not very customer-oriented. I don't mind that at Wetherspoons, although our local Wetherspoons has much nicer staff who are always smiling and friendly and have worked there yonks, but for the price of Wagamama, which is £70 odd quid for a fairly basic meal and possibly 45 minutes at the table, it's just not good value for money. I don't mind that for a night out, a couple of hours and a lovely hosting experience, I eat out a lot, but I don't like it to sit on benches, order everything myself and the staff to seem a bit annoyed they had to serve us!

We prefer Pho food-wise as well, that's not cheap cheap but the servers and the vibe seems nicer.

The Wagamama's we were at was pretty empty so I'm guessing that others have made the same calculation and decided it's not good value for money. I do eat at local restaurants as well with more interesting menus, as well as a lovely Asian restaurant where the soups are similar to Wagamama's but it's more like £45 for two.

Anyway OP, all you can do is vote with your feet. It's a shame but it is what it is.

I think it’s the contradiction- if you want somewhere in and out/ quick easy, you don’t get booze IME. If you’re out for a treat then that’s usually when I’d be going for the wine etc. I like Wagamama food but I’ve never seen it as a cheap option- and the juices are better than the wine. If you had 2 noodle dishes, edemame and water you’d probably have change from £50.

Broadly though I actually avoid eating out in mid range restaurants unless either I know them or it’s something I would never cook at home, like hot pot or sushi, precisely because I quite often don’t like the food and could probably cook it better at home!

I was going to say at least £50. It's all so expensive now. The mid price chains like Wagamamas are the worst value now because it doesn't feel like a treat experience, just a quick bite. It doesn't feel worth it to me any more.

I guessed £75. You are absolutely allowed to enjoy a glass of wine but the mark up on alcohol is massive and has been since restaurants re opened post covid.

Not to bad. My guess was £100.

I would think around £60 (haven’t looked at comments).

£65

I assumed 4 ppl. I don't know why! Estimated £80 for two.

I just had lunch in Cambridge at a local small Indian restaurant. ( not overrated Dishoom).
3 people: 4 starters, 1 main course ( the starters were big enough to be main courses so only ordered 1 main course) 1 soft drink, 2 yoghurts was £68. And we had leftovers to carry home. Great food, though vegetarian only.

I am only going to eat in independent restaurants if I can.