To wonder why so many of UK mid range restaurants are poor value chains

[Dr1ftw00d]

Spent a few weeks in the US over the summer and noticed how easy it is to get individual, decently cooked, good quality food and portions often in long time restaurants.

Near where I live mid range equals a chain. Microwaved stuff with no individuality and often poorly cooked.

Why is this?

Where are you OP? I can recommend a couple of places in Manchester

Like PP have said

The states have cheaper ingredients, grown locally and faster by using fertilisers and pesticides and hormones that are banned in Europe.

They pay their waiting staff peanuts hence the tipping culture

Rents are more than most restaurants can afford here.

Our city does a lot of good low end independents- amazing cafes, burger joints, asian canteen type places, and amazing Michelin star restaurants. But mid end is massively lacking.

All the chains in the UK get their food from the same couple of catering companies and put them in the microwave. I agree that it's shit. Why the fuck would I want to pay someone to heat up a ready meal for me? London is good but most of the UK eating out isn't worth it.

South West. Our rural areas aren’t great either. There is plenty of good hormone pesticide free food in the USA. I found them fussier than the UK. It’s stated all over the place and organic is nearer non organic in price in the supermarkets. Nitrate free is bigger over there too.

Re costs I think the only real consideration there is rent. Countries on the continent are subject to the same food/employee regulations (for now!) but mid range eating out is a very different experience there.

National living wage will be increasing costs in the uk (I'm happy with this, but I expect it's factor). Maybe also rents/rates.

I live in a suburb of Manchester. There's a fair few mid-price indies nearby, and loads in town. The same as any other place I'd know well enough to comment on.

There's also a few smaller chains that are ace (Mowgli, Hawksmoor, etc).

Maybe you're just looking in the wrong places.

So we’re stuck with it. How depressing.

I’m not going to bother anymore. Would rather have 1 decent meal a year and maybe eat better at home.

Anybody know any good US cookery books I can emulate at home?

Don’t think I am Gobby. It’s shit. Service is bad wherever I go in the Uk.😩

I’ve noticed this in the UK. Lots of fancy places and lots of places at a low price point but not so many in the middle. In Germany, where I now live, that middle range is well filled and it’s easy to go out for a nice meal that isn’t extortionately pricey, even in one of the most expensive cities here. (I am full of tasty lamb and Austrian wine, so very happy.)

Lots of chains here are ping and ding. Very little made or cooked on the premises, hot food heated in the microwave and salads simply assembled from packets and sauce bottles.

Seems like maybe we are just the lucky ones @gobbynorthernbird

So many of Manchester's independents are barely keeping above water. Costs are sky high. Ingredients, rates, staffing, power...

Simply buying power with the chains. AND a lot of people like to know what they are getting. (Crap, mostly, but still...)

Eating out has always been shit in the UK though. We're not very good at it.

But why isn’t this the case in the USA?

You think "the USA" is the same everywhere?

On our last visit to Manhattan there were mid range chain restaurants everywhere. Is it possible what you thought was an indy was actually a chain. Generally the standard of food we had was sub par. Everything over fried, meat was tough and tasteless. Couldn't wait to get back for a decent meal.

@scarlet my oh is a chef at one and agree the margins are tight but they have a loyal client base and they take a lot of pride in what they do

Can someone explain what they mean by mid range? I'm in west Yorkshire and we're spoilt for choice with independent restaurants in the town nearest to us. Not entirely sure what they count as price wise though

Where did you go in the US? Its possible you’re not comparing like for like in the UK and the US. Where I live in the UK has lots of mid priced independent restaurants, good pub food, individual coffee shops etc, although I’m aware in that respect I’m lucky to live in a city. I’ve been to small towns in the US where the only lunch option was Subway.

We are spoilt here for independent restaurants. They might not be mid range though- depends what your definition is I guess.

I don't find food in the US great at all, but I love lots of other thinks about the places I've been over there, so swings and roundabouts I guess.

rabbit I didn't mean it as an insult. It's so hard to make money but there are some beauts. AND the service as well as the food is usually spot on in Indies because it matters, like to your OH. But like everything on the high st, costs are astronomical and rising So tough.

@rabbitheadlights we are definitely lucky! And I'm loving the trend for shared space (like Alty Market or Hatch or wherever).

I know you didn't @scarlett I was agreeing with you my oh works in a Mexican place but there are a few other really good places too, just think it's a shame that the same isn't available in other areas

I think chains have upped their game lately, so long as you keep away from the obvious meat, carbs, cheese and minimal veg places. Had some genuinely delicious Tapas at Revolution, recently and the recipes for a lot of their dishes are online so you can try them yourself.

Independents round here do tend to be mostly cafes or high end, though. Or Indian restaurants. We have lots of those, not that I could ever complain about that.

We went to NYC too. It was amazing for food.

@LunaLovesgood I figure mid range is more expensive than the Karachi, cheaper than The Man Behind The Curtain.