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 🤷‍♀️

MIL doesn’t always like eating out but I always say she orders the worst sounding thing on the menu so of course it was crap!

Ordering is a bit of an art form depending on where you go as cheaper and chain places can often microwave certain dishes and it’s best to avoid anything resembling a pasta bake for that reason.

My biggest tip for eating out is order whatever it is you want and will enjoy. If you want three sides instead of a main, order three sides. If you want a starter and a pudding but no main course, you do you.

I love going out for food! Everyone can pick want they want, people wait on you. I love going out with the family, love going out with my husband so we can sit and talk, love going out with mates for a much needed catch up. Nothing better than being on a sunny a terrace, glass of wine, sun on your face. Sometimes it’s not really about the food at all.

I love dining out - in restaurants or nice pubs. No,prep, no washing up, good company and lots of chat.

You need to find better restaurants OP. Eating out is socialable your paying for the whole abundance and not having to wash up. I think it's worth it tbh not all the time but sometimes it's needed.

I love meeting friends for drinks … a coffee etc . A brunch etc but evening meals tend to feel like a rip off . @Ionlydomassiveones that sounds stressful 🙈

I think it’s one of the great pleasures in life..

But if the food/service is poor then no it won’t be. If your husband likes it it would be good if you could enjoy it from time to time. So I’d do some research into places you might like, and go to the wind bar next time.

It’s my absolute favourite thing to do. It’s not just about the food: it’s the social aspect, getting dressed nicely, often combining it with something else, different company. I love it.

And then there’s the food. Ok some places aren’t as good as others but in all honesty the food is secondary to the experience for me.

I'm the same. I don't eat out often, even before Covid. I just don't think it's worth it. And the food rarely blows me away, usually it's quite disappointing for the price. So I'd rather make something similar at home and spend my money on something different.

I absolutely love eating out, but I do think that the costs are mad, particularly if there are several of you and alcohol is being bought.

You can eat nice food for fairly cheap, but taking me, dh and two kids to the pub for Sunday lunch cost about £70 last time we did it. Definitely treat territory. Tend to enjoy it more when the stakes are lower, so to speak.

I love eating out.
From breakfast to dinner.
Sitting people watching or catching up with friends.

I think I eat out too often in mediocre places and then get resentful that I've spent £25 on something I could have made better at home. But I don't resent the much more expensive nice restaurant meals with dh because I know i couldn't replicate the food at home and I value the time out with him and being able to have an uninterrupted conversation!

@AmbushedByCake

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.

Exactly A lot of the time I probably could have cooked the food as well or better but the thing is I didn’t have to. Then there’s no clearing away etc Plus there’s the social side of it

What I’ve noticed recently going out for meals is that staff are more interested in getting the deliveroo order ready, than giving a good service to the customers sitting in front of them. It’s happened several times and it pisses me off.

I love eating out! We eat out a lot, particularly brunch and lunch. We're older, our DC have flown and we're mortgage free, so not so money conscious as we once were. I've actually found service and staff attitude has improved around here.

I feel that way about takeaways but not eating out because it's the whole fun of going out. But it is very expensive so don't do it often.

I like it. I see it as quality time with my family that I'm happy to pay for as they enjoy it too

Research better places to go, a quick Google, read reviews etc.
I love going out for dinner and it's even better without the kids!

I love it and would hate a partner who dislikes eating out! It’s a joyful thing, chatting and sharing a meal, getting dressed up.
I also think you need to find better restaurants

I do think there are different levels -

*Cheap and cheerful, never mind those unless service is crap (Wagamama, independent pan-Asian restaurant, etc)

• Mid-tier but reliably nice - used to have a really lovely local place that was like this. Also when a poncier place does a cheap A La Carte menu or lunch deal.

• Mid-tier but aiming too hard and miss, so I get resentful about prices heading towards £20 for a tiny portion that isn't that great. Lots of pubs seem to be hitting this bracket, annoyingly.

• Top tier, you know you're blowing the bank but the experience and food make it worthwhile.

So you need to identify those in the 3rd category and give them a miss!

I would aim to find somewhere different than usual, that I wouldn't cook

I don't find food or service crap, but for me, there's always a better way to spend the money.

Plus I prefer to eat at home, more relaxed, no hovering waiters etc.

If you are wealthy, I guess it's different. Also, being honest, if work are paying, sure, I enjoy the food and the experience...but that's wildly different when it's my money!

I love it. I'll go anywhere from Wetherspoons all the way through to fancy restaurants. I don't mind, I eat anything that I don't have to prep, plate or wash up after.

It was one of the big things I missed about lockdown.

Yes but there’s no washing up to do

It’s my favourite social pastime. But then we are lucky in that there are lots of really good restaurants within 20 mins drive so are spoilt for choice and usually have a good meal anytime we go out.

As said above, it’s not just for the food - it’s no cleaning up, no cooking, the social aspect, just getting out of the house where you will eat dinner 95% of the time anyway.

Nothing better than doing it on a school night too. I used to live on a street which had a really nice bar & restaurant at the end of it and one of life’s great pleasures was rocking in from work on a Monday at 6pm, deciding I couldn’t be fucked starting to cook, and heading down there for a nice meal and a couple of pints, especially in the summer evenings when you could have it outside and watch the world go by.

You need to find better restaurants OP! Although might be hard depending on where you live.
I'm a good cook and have high culinary standards. As in tasting good. I will go to my favorite restaurants on repeat but none of my friends are rea;;y interested in them :( I get annoyed at spending on shit food.