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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think we would be better off at McDonald's!

142 replies

Hmum0fthree · 20/02/2022 17:54

Its coming up to my birthday so arranged to go for a day of shopping with DH and DC at the Trafford centre, thought I'd have a look in advance at the restaurants and book.

The prices are so high £20+ for a burger? Which fair enough eating out you expect but all of the reviews are awful! Iv looked at 4 restaurants and all of them have disappointed customers!

We are looking at £100+ with drinks and dessert for what looks like McDonald's standard food!

How does everyone find nice places to eat now? Seems like everything's gone down hill since covid but prices have gone up 😩

OP posts:
Lollipop858 · 20/02/2022 18:59

@LunaAzul

Trafford Centre always has ridiculous queues for Archie's and Barburito and both are awful. Overpriced and just crap. Food wise I don't think the choice is that good. I'd be going to TGIs for the Jack Daniel chicken strips.
TGI Fridays is the best in my opinion. Drinks and food 👌 my go to.
justasking111 · 20/02/2022 19:05

We always used to get out of a mall and find a nice pub on the way home

janj2301 · 20/02/2022 19:09

I go out of my way to eat at Five Guys. Only ever have Mcdonald's breakfast. Ain't humans funny..

Lightning020 · 20/02/2022 19:11

Have you tried McPlant at McDonalds it is unbelievably tasty! Money well spent in my view.

iklboo · 20/02/2022 19:11

How about.....look for a Levanese restaurant that will serve mainly vegetarian dishes but do chicken and allow you to bring your own alcohol ?? Been to a few of them and they're good value

There aren't any in the Trafford Centre.

Agree there's lots of places in Urmston. Proost is lovely & has been listed as one of the best places for a roast in Manchester by the Evening News. Urmston isn't far from TC either.

00100001 · 20/02/2022 19:16

@Mushrooms0up

Go to five guys - it’s a burger place but nicer than McDonalds.
Lordy no, a greasy giant sloppy burger? And greasy massive portion of chips? No thanks
Gj63 · 20/02/2022 19:21

Did you try and find local places rather than boring chains? Give your money to a business that needs it, not some multi squillionaire. If you are stuck, repost and ask people for nice restaurant recommendations. I bet you get some!!!!

Mamamia7962 · 20/02/2022 19:21

What about Prezzo, love eating there.

Arabellla · 20/02/2022 19:26

@Lightning020

Have you tried McPlant at McDonalds it is unbelievably tasty! Money well spent in my view.
The BK Plant Whopper is superior to the McPlant.
A580Hojas · 20/02/2022 19:28

@BarbaraofSeville

Surely you can find somewhere nicer than the chains you're looking at, probably for less money?
Exactly. In Manchester there must surely be some good Italian restaurants at least? But then I'd also question the fun in shopping at the Trafford Centre with dh and dc as your birthday treat too! Is that actually any kind of fun? Confused
EuripidesTrousers · 20/02/2022 19:32

I always find that chains are really expensive. Can you not find a highly-rated independent nearby? Can't imagine that McDonalds is really a birthday treat!

PupInAPram · 20/02/2022 19:33

Pesto's in the TC is lovely. The Wharf in Castlefield does the best roast dinner in Manchester. Albert's in Didsbury is great but a little bit more expensive so we save it for special occasions.

guiltynetter · 20/02/2022 19:34

Definitely don't go to coast to coast. Its so overpriced and average I don't understand why its still open 🤷🏼‍♀️ same with Pesto, its absolutely awful.

I think a reason lots of them are only 'ok' at the Trafford Centre is they have a captive audience there. I went on a Saturday night (valentines weekend) and every restaurant had a massive queue even the really average ones (which is most 🙈)

If I eat there I always go to pizza express (its always cooked fresh and you can't really mess pizza up can you?) or Las iguanas (I really like their fajitas and churros!

I can't think of anywhere in the Trafford centre where it would be £20 for a burger.

EveryAvenue · 20/02/2022 19:37

Trafford centre is shit for food really. Over priced chains with not very good quality. If you’re looking for a decent burger then Honest Burger in the city centre is nice. Massive portions too.

Undertheoldlindentree · 20/02/2022 19:37

I recently made my very first visit to the Trafford Centre. A bit shocked and overwhelmed by the scale of everything, lunchtime food queues were building up and I ended up outside a Mediterranean-style restaurant on the top floor called Pesto.

There was a lunchtime offer to choose 3 small plates from the menu for around £10.99 per person. These included small fresh pizzas, interesting salads, arancini, meatballs, pasta, tiny fried potatoes garlic bread etc.

Between the four of you, you could have 12 small dishes to share as a family for around £45 - £50. Lots of families were doing this. And you're sitting at a table, served by a waiter, eating off a plate, with cutlery. So much more restful than Macdonalds etc!

Do please Google the menu in case I'm mis-remembering, but I really did have a much nicer and much cheaper lunch than I expected. Some tables are on a big balcony overlooking the grand entrance for a bit more atmosphere.

Luckygreenduck · 20/02/2022 19:38

Yo sushi, Waganamas or Bills would be my choices if I wanted a sit down meal.
Love five guys though, the hot dogs and fries are so good! If your looking for quick lunch or cakes there are also cafes in places like John Lewis or M&S.
None of the food options are amazing fine dining but that's not what you expect at a shopping centre really.

JustBkind · 20/02/2022 19:38

I think for a meal out now for a family of 4/5 you have to factor £100 easily. We have been to a fish and chip restaurant today and it cost over that for 5 people…no alcoholic drinks. Main and dessert and 3 of us only had basic icecream for dessert!

doodleygirl · 20/02/2022 19:39

Food options at the Trafford Centre are awful, nasty chains serving mediocre food.

MrsBlaue · 20/02/2022 19:39

You will be disappointed if you spend the £££, speaking from my own recent experience. At least McDonalds won’t break the bank.

Maybe there is of those nice stone oven Italian cafes that dish out flaming hot pizzas at a speed of five per minute? We have one on the high street, it’s not expensive and always great. I wouldn’t buy wine from them though (can get what they offer from the supermarket for a fraction of the price), and having been disappointed with the dessert a few times, I wouldn’t have pudding either. We like to grab a pizza to go, and eat it at home with a nice bottle of wine. Maybe this could work for you.

Wulfenite · 20/02/2022 19:40

Tampopo is my fave in the Trafford centre! totally different food though I know.

Undertheoldlindentree · 20/02/2022 19:42

Just found the lunch menu for you. Actually starts at £9.99 but it's weekdays only.
pestorestaurants.co.uk/pesto-menus/pesto-lunch-menu/

Ohdoleavemealone · 20/02/2022 19:42

@Hmum0fthree

Anyone tried coast to coast? Hmm
Yes I went last week and it was fine. Not amazing but no complaints.
RedToothBrush · 20/02/2022 19:43

100% Tampopo

ThePlumVan · 20/02/2022 19:45

Ohh love the TC - If I was was watching the pennies it would be a picnic from M&S. Otherwise it would always be Yo Sushi every time.

FeltCarrot · 20/02/2022 19:46

Agree with previous poster about Pesto being decent quality food but the last time we were there was just before Xmas,( had gone hoping to go to the Little Yang Sing but it has closed) and it was freezing! We had to eat with out coats on!