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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How much would you expect this meal to cost?

483 replies

Sofielou · 05/05/2022 22:55

I'm not sure if I'm a bit unrealistic with my expectation here so I thought I'd see what wise Mumsnetters think!

We had a meal out at popular chain Italian restaurant. We ordered:

4 x main meals (3 x pizzas and 1 x pasta dish)
1 x meal from child menu (pasta dish)
4 x soft drinks (3 x Coca Cola, 1 x Sprite)

No starters, no desserts, no alcoholic drinks.

What would you roughly expect the total of the bill to be? (Not London if that makes a difference?!)

OP posts:
IDidntKnowItWasAParty · 07/05/2022 17:52

At least £75 plus tip

Original poster
Sofielou · 07/05/2022 17:59

@lewiscamron72

Thanks for the bin rentals link.....
Either you got wrong thread or that joke went wayyyy over my head 🤣🤣

OP posts:
OssomMummy1 · 07/05/2022 18:02

Sofielou · 05/05/2022 22:59

It was Zizzis

£125-150

Ohbother · 07/05/2022 18:03

About 80 inc service charge of about 12%. Say around 14 per main, 8 for kids, 2 per drink.

Hmm1234 · 07/05/2022 18:06

I’m guessing Zizzi’s lol £65-£70

Nokiding · 07/05/2022 18:07

c.£70 without gratuity

Applegreenb · 07/05/2022 18:07

55-60 but I’m a cheap skate

Original poster
Sofielou · 07/05/2022 18:09

Applegreenb · 07/05/2022 18:07

55-60 but I’m a cheap skate

You and me both, apparently 😂

OP posts:
Wiscowoman87 · 07/05/2022 18:10

I guessed about $100 USD, and that's in the ballpark (£75 = $92). I don't pay a lot of attention (or have not, I should say - that changing) to food prices because I get what we like, but I have noticed a big hike in prices at the grocery store, especially for produce here in the middle of the US where I Iive. Gas prices, a shortage of truck drivers, on top of the pandemic, war in Ukraine, etc., all contribute. It's a world most of us have never experienced before and it's disconcerting to navigate. 😕

OssomMummy1 · 07/05/2022 18:11

CurlyhairedAssassin · 05/05/2022 23:54

I have to say, I think hospitality could be in a lot of trouble. Just when they need us to be spending to recoup their pandemic losses, all their overheads are going up AND their customers are having to make cutbacks because of the cost of living crisis. Recruitment issues too. Not only that but as people are out of the habit of eating out very regularly, they are more likely to scrutinise bills when they do go out and think "Jeez, this is just so expensive for what it is, we should have got some posh ready meals at home, or a takeaway, for half the price".

I don't know what the answer is but I fear that the options for eating out will lessen over the next few years and eating out will switch back to what it was years ago, when people only really did it for a special occasion, and there was much less choice of venues.

We should all be supporting our restaurants but circumstances are very very difficult for a lot of people.

India and Indian takeaways for your rescue. Don’t need just eat or Uber either. If you generate a bill of £75, they will deliver wherever you want.

Dillydollydingdong · 07/05/2022 18:13

£60 ish?

SeedyBloomer · 07/05/2022 18:14

£71 plus 12% tip. I worked it out as:
£12 each pizza (£36)
£15 pasta
£8 child’s meal
£3 each drink (£12)

PriamFarrl · 07/05/2022 18:16

I’m surprised you were surprised.

No I don’t commit to memory the price of every item but you tend to notice that it’s £15ish a main except the steak which is £20 and the salad is £10, for example.

Cliftontherocks · 07/05/2022 18:23

We went to a local brilliant pizza place two pizzas and one child’s meal and 3 coke were £45 - it’s a shame as with a tip it’s £50 and I can’t afford that every month else we would go. It’s the coke they did me a tiny glass £3 and I was thinking Tesco coke is 60p a bottle / massive treat but tasted the same

Wheresmywoolyjumpers · 07/05/2022 18:26

Somehwere around 90 if they added in a tip.

DanceItOut · 07/05/2022 18:26

at like a greene king type pub £50-70 an Italian chain like ask or zizzi £65-85 an independent pub more like £80+

InFiveMins · 07/05/2022 18:33

I would guess just under £70?

DanceItOut · 07/05/2022 18:34

Although that being said if we go out for a meal I do ask what everyone is having before we order and add up so I know how much it’ll be and if it’s too much I pick something cheaper to bring the price down a bit or if one of the kids picks the most expensive thing on the menu I would probably say sorry pick something else. I do understand not everyone does this but I do because I have to watch every penny.

ItsRainingCats · 07/05/2022 18:35

About £75

PineMartenPeanutbutter · 07/05/2022 18:39

£65

Clairebtiml · 07/05/2022 18:39

What a fab thread, would be interesting to see different places and prices

Longleggedgiraffe · 07/05/2022 18:47

Between £60 and £65

Icandefinitelydothis · 07/05/2022 18:51

Sofielou · 06/05/2022 05:53

I didn't ask what the two teenagers or my partner were ordering at the time of placing the order! Why would I? I knew what mine cost, but I didn't sit there totting up what everyone was ordering. Who does that? And besides, I was too busy sorting the toddler out to police the order!

Show quote history

I do this. I often look at the menu and prices online before going, to make sure I can afford it. I wouldn’t necessarily look at the price of everything, just options I’d consider.

I agree that is seems a lot for what you had - this would be too expensive for me to justify.

Taxanimal · 07/05/2022 18:53

At least £80

Thisislifefornow · 07/05/2022 18:56

£70