To hate going out for a meal

[Bigbouncingbaby]

I’ve always thought eating out was expensive…but since covid and not going out at all now I just can’t be bothered to go ! Every time I go out the service is crap or the food is crap . Then I get the bill at the end and think omg could of brought loads in Lidl for that 🤔😳 would much rather eat in but I think my husband just thinks I’m being miserable. Is it just me 🤷‍♀️

I guess it depends where you go. I had a similar experience at my last meal out, but I’m hoping it will be better when we finally get to go back to my favourite place.

No lots of people don’t like to go out.

I don’t know a single person who doesn’t enjoy a meal out. You sound joyless.

For me I value the experience - getting food with a friend or my partner is a really nice thing for me so I don't mind paying. But if you're not enjoying the experience then do something else and spend your money on that instead :)

I know what you mean. I definitely think there has been a change since covid.

1. Prices have risen
2. Resturants are often understaffed, sometimes due to staff sickness/covid
3. Customer service by waiters and waitresses seems worse - ruder staff (possibly as a result of ruder customers?!)

I haven't voted because, if that is how you feel, then that is how you feel, but maybe you need to choose the venue more carefully?

Most people enjoy not having to cook, not having to wash up. I like being able to choose different things - what I would really like rather than always taking into account that if we have A or B then X or Y won't like it, and constantly compromising.

I think you are probably unusual in not enjoying something that most people consider a treat though.

It was one of the things I missed most in the lockdown.

If we're going somewhere I start planning where to eat.

I love it. Sitting, chatting, maybe a glass wine, actually getting to have a conversation instead of plating up. No cooking. No cleaning the fucking kitchen again. Everyone gets to choose what they enjoy instead of someone complaining. Brilliant.

Often eating out is often crap food / overpriced / poor service.

I struggle to part with my hard earned cash for food I could of made better myself, for a fraction of the cost and I'd of gotten to eat it whilst hot.

There is somewhere where the food and service is amazing locally but its £££ so very much a big treat. At the other end a local cafe does a lovely carrot cake and latte served with a smile relatively cheaply so it can be done.

I love going out for a meal. There are some brilliant restaurants near me. DP and I tried out a new Turkish restaurant last week. The food was amazing.

But it’s up to you what you spend your money on. If you don’t like it, don’t do it.

I prefer going with one or two people hate the big groups now but I'm enjoying getting out and about and trying new food

Maybe I’ve just been unlucky so far . But not come back and thought yeah that was worth it with the exception of one local wine and cheese bar . That was lovely 😊

I like to go out for a meal occasionally, but my adult children have no interest in it at all, even when we are paying 😂 They would rather have a takeaway/delivery at home. So I get it, and yes it is very expensive.

What restaurants are you eating in? DP and I save our eating out for special places so we don't eat out 3-4 times a week like our friends and we don't go to Nando's, Zizzi or Jamie Oliver kind of places. I'd rather a nice restaurant meal than several shitty ones.

@Philisophigal agreed the food is vastly overpriced and just not that good generally

It's not just about the meal. It's the getting dressed up, the change of scenery, the conversation and company. I love going out

We dont eat out very often but for special occasions like birthdays or just a fuck it i dont fancy cooking a meal out is a nice treat i have a few fave restaurants we go to where i know the food will be worth the expense

It's only worth going out generally if the food is better than you'd cook at home. OR it's your birthday and you're not paying and you don't want to cook.

If I had the budget for it, I'd find a nice cafe for good but cheap food, other than that usually it's a cuppa out and about, but preference if saving £ then it's cooking at home

God I can't imagine being this joyless!

It's not often all about the food for me - it's picking somewhere, getting dressed up, sitting down and having uninterrupted time to just chat to DH and enjoy each other's company with a nice glass/bottle of wine.

The time alone with DH is worth any money we spend on food & drinks.

I'm always disappointed by my meal, I always think I could of made better quality at home cheaper - but then I'm a pretty decent cook and will try my hand at anything.

I'm veggie and tend to find eating out generally quite disappointing to be truthful. So as we don't go out often, we tend to splurge when we do and go somewhere really nice where we are guaranteed good food and service.

I can't abide chains as a rule.

because it was impossible to go out to eat most of the time for a couple of years, we saved up and then had three family dinners at Michelin starred restaurants. They were fun. The bill is a bit eye watering, but you pay for the incredible art work of each plate, and all the tiny amuse bouche between courses.

Why not try going out less often to nicer places.