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 do know what you mean. I don't like being at the mercy of others and that's what it often feels like these days. You don't want to go to a place too hungry in case it takes ages to get anything which kind of defeats the point. I went for brunch on Sat and my food was completely cold. Didn't even have the energy to complain but service can just be so bad now and most places add on 12.5% whatever service they provide. I think it's fun if there's a crowd of you but just for a meal with one other I'd rather go for a walk.

It's supposed to be a treat but it often isn't.

@OldTinHat what a lovely idea didn’t even know that was a thing 🥰

I'm the same (fortunately so is my husband). It's just too much money and I don't really like being around a lot of people and the social expectation of it all. We prefer to order in and watch a film.

Well instead of going out maybe treat yourself to a decent bottle of wine and a takeaway of something you maybe wouldn't cook yourself eg a Chinese?

Oh god no ! Wagamamas !!! I love it, the kids love it. My favourite to eat out could go anytime

I think in general chain restaurants are over priced for the quality of the food.

We are lucky in that locally we have several independent 'gourmet pubs' plus local Indian/Bangladeshi restaurants which are really good.

I wouldn't feel comfortable paying the prices charged by a really upmarket / Michelin starred restaurant though.

This talk about inefficiency of not meeting inperson is just an excuse for people who don't like working remotely. We have chat, zoom, emails and telephone. We ask questions on tips etc In team chat. We zoom 3x week for team catches where ideas are shared and problems discussed this is more efficient, we don't waste time on frivolous matters, Someone can't just come to your desk when you are busy to ask a question that could wait. If someone asks me something g in chat I can say ill get back to them. Last year a new team member decided we should all meet for a project and half of the team met in person and the rest zoomed. it nearly enough was done and it won't be repeated... was certainly not better than zooming.The in person meeting might have been fun for those who like socialising but only a quarter amount of work was fine in that day than on usual project work days.

I love eating out. It's my favourite treat. It can be a bit of a lottery though. A bad meal out is very annoying though because it does feel like a waste of money.

I have no idea how I ended up on this thread........

My husband and I have never just gone out for a meal (we've gone to a restaurant/cafe as part of a day out, but never purposefully just gone out for the meal). We just much prefer staying home and getting a takeaway.

@QueenofDestruction - wrong thread?

It’s other annoying people that spoil it for me. I’m so intolerant these days!

Oh I love it! Two teenage boys and meals out is about the only thing we still all do together, so I treasure them!

I agree with you, every time, I go out to eat, it's always a let down, even the places with fantastic reviews, poor quality food and service, always come away feeling like I've been ripped off, and could have made better at home.

Most meals out are disappointing to me as I can cook far nicer.Only treat I like sometimes is fish and chips.

I hate being at the mercy of other people, too. It can take forever to be served. There's often something really annoying about the place - music too loud; tables too close together; uncomfortable chairs ... etc. The food is expensive enough, but it's the rip-off mark-up on drinks that really gets me - the £7 bottle of plonk that's suddenly four times the price in a restaurant. And then the possible state of the kitchens is always on my mind ... I'm wondering if anyone is doing anything unhygenic; the sort of thing that I wouldn't be happy about if I knew. So I'm sort of with you, OP - too expensive, and too likely to go wrong and be a less-than-wonderful experience.

If your bar for judging a good social meal is whether you could buy more in Lidl for the same price then I’d agree that eating out is probably not for you….

What a good idea @OldTinHat
They used to do that at our local college . It moved premises but I'm wondering now if they still do that .

I just love not having to make the food, and washing up

My views on meals out have changed over the years -

Student - fun to go out, don't care about quality of food, cheap and cheerful all the way

20's - have my own flat, excited to cook at home, feels quite grown up to entertain at home,, however basic the food might be. But can afford to eat out, bit of a treat when it happens

30s - cost of babysitter makes eating out too expensive. Learn to cook better food at home. Only go out for special occasions

40s - can afford babysitter if want to go out. Relieves tedium of meal planning / washing up. Enjoy nicer meals out, if the food will be a treat

50s - can afford to go out, but prefer to stay at home. Don't want to dress up. Prefer comfort of eating at home, in nice surroundings, better choice of wine. Eating out feels like spending £££ for food we could so easily do at home for less effort / expense

60s - eating out feels like a hassle. Prefer simpler / less rich food, and smaller portions

@Ugzbugz

I love eating out and yes sometimes it's shit but a friend said she didn't enjoy it but only went to the harvester which yes can be fine but is very hit and miss!

Well a Harvester isn't too enjoyable. In those types of places a lot of the time the food is just bought in and heated on the premises. They're ok as a "can't be bothered cooking" type of place I suppose or if you're meeting friends and it's all about the company and the food is just fuel.

Then dont go... it's very simple
What's the use in going if all you do is not enjoying it.

I like going to the same places where I know the food is going to be great
And yes it is way more expensive then to buy things at the supermarket,but that's not the point. You pay for the ambiance and the experience etc etc.

But yeah like I said. If you dont wanna go. Dont go.

I've gone off eating out as I've got older. I now really resent paying a lot for food I could have made a better job of myself.

It doesn't help that I don't like chilli or BBQ sauce. Try finding a chain that doesn't cover their microwave meals in sauces containing either and you end up with fish and chips or a burger. Again.

We are fortunate to have some decent independents, otherwise I think I'd give up.

I think its perfectly fine not to like going out to eat. I dont like it either. I do eat out but because I dont like to eat in so to speak. I certainly hate the whole "experience", just get my food and eat it, I dont like fuffing around with the waiters etc.

@GimmeSleep

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

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

You are pretty much describing my approach to eating out!

I love it. It's a change from cooking at home (which I also quite like to be honest) and I like to eat something I wouldn't cook for myself where possible. I also like the social aspects too and that was something most of us missed during the various lockdowns.

I was out with a friend today and we commented that since lockdown, so many restaurants have pared back their menus.