How much would you expect this meal to cost?

[Sofielou]

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?!)

£80

I guessed £80 before checking the price So very close, not sure why you are shocked eating out is expensive,

I see you have updated, but I was going to say around £80 for mains/drinks for 4a+1c, based on my recent bill in F&B for 3 adult meals, drinks and desserts being £65.

Why wouldn't you do that? I usually mentally add it up then round it up so I know what to expect and it doesn't come as a shock. (even though it's often way more than I'd planned to spend 🙄)

Eating out prices are up about 40% so I’d be expecting £100.

About £55

@Bushgirl

Why wouldn't you do what? Look at the price of every single item on the menu as you are looking for what you want to order? Erm, mostly because I'm not interested in every single item, so why do I need to know? Also because I've got better things to do?

about 80£

I'd guess £14 a main, £6 kids meal, £3 a drink...around £74.

£82

Only just read the ops update...i was pretty accurate 😂😁

If we go out for food...average food, nothing fancy...we usually bank on it being £100 ish. That would be for 2 adults, 2 teens, 1 child - so 4 adult meals and 1 child. That may include dessert or more than 1 drink.

Anything less than £100 is a win tbh.

I was going to say £75-£80.
Pretty standard nowadays.
£15 per head for main, £5-8 for kid meal, £2 a drink.
That's what I would expect to pay out (a restaurant can't stay in business and pay all it's wages for much less, it's hard enough for them as it is)
If I cant afford that then I dont go out

£80?

I can relate! We went out for lunch today (2 main courses, 1 kids meal & 3 drinks) and were surprised when it came to £50. Things are noticeably more expensive!

From, someone who also doesn't add up the food choices as we order 😉

Around £100 - £110
My experience of Italian restaurants is that they are expensive, but quality.

Sorry if you found my response a little difficult to understand. No I don't need to look at every individual item on the menu. What I said was that I do a mental tot up of what I'd ordered so there is no nasty shock. Clearly you do not need to budget and if you're not interested then that's fine. Obviously you can afford to order whatever you want. I suppose in your world why even bother putting the prices on the menu (they are there for a reason🙄)

We went to one of the STABLE pizza restaurants last week. Ordered the same as you OP with the addition of 2 pints of lager. Came to £95 plus tip. Noticeably about 15% more expensive than last year. At £100 for pizzas out, we wont be eating out again unless a birthday or special occasion.

I guessed around £70 based on a recent meal out we had which was nothing but average. This was in a pub and 4 adults but I had the ‘Lite Bites’ option which is smaller. 2 alcohol drinks, one cola and one soda water.

@Bushgirl

Let me help you.

My comment read thus:

I similarly didn't look at the price of every single item on the menu when I ordered mine. Again. Who does that?!

You replied."Why wouldn't you do that? I usually mentally add it up then round it up so I know what to expect and it doesn't come as a shock. (even though it's often way more than I'd planned to spend".

In other words, I said I don't look at the price of every single item on the menu - who does that? And you replied "why wouldn't you do that?"

What you seem to be meaning to say is, however: "why wouldn't you mentally tot up everyone's order at the point of ordering".

I already answered that multiple times on this thread: In order to do that, I'd have to have heard every person's order at the time we placed the order. I did not. Thus, the bill arriving was the first time I saw the total.

Obviously you don't read the full thread. I also already clarified to the smart arse posters the other day, that I in fact cannot afford to "order what I want". I was just distracted by my toddler and clearly underestimated the cost of eating out as it's been so long since we did it. If I could afford to order what I want, why would I make a thread saying "AIBU to be shocked at the price of this?"

Hope that helps.

Our local chippy is taking the mickey now. £8.60 for a cod or £1.20 large. Chips are £2.50 or £4 large. Yes this is North London. No idea what people pay up North but I refuse to pay nearly £10 for fish and chips.

We always used to budget around £80-90 for 4 for pizza - but tbh we had wine and often a couple of desserts too.

35?

Clearly you do not need to budget

😂 Clearly not, no. Hence why I'm 😱 at the cost of a £75 meal out for 5 people. Rolling in it, me. In fact I might spend double that next time for 2 people. Just for the crack.

🙄

No more than £70 I would have said

Just an ordinary restaurant - it was the only thing that wasn’t a fecking burger 🙄 in fairness it was extremely tasty, I gobbled the whole thing, same with the accompaniments.