To ask how often you go out for dinner

[spicylasagne]

Interested to see what is standard

We are on average incomes and go out 3 or 4 times a month I’d say. More than we ever used to!

We don’t go anywhere fancy unless it’s a really special occasion, so no set menus and usually just a main course occasionally a starter. We stick to Pizza Express, Wagamama, Nando’s, pub restaurants etc as we like these places and often find there’s a blue light deal to be had or can use Clubcard vouchers etc.

We went for a meal on Sunday evening and the waiter commented that it’s the busiest Sunday they have had since eat out to help out, and that this January is seeing much more trade than in other years which is strange given the cost of living crisis.

Before Lockdown about 4 times a week , we have got out of that habit now and have shopping delivered once a week so always have a food plan and enough in fridge and freezer so probably now once every two months ,
I have saved that money and bought topless car for OH and we have a holiday twice a year now in Suffolk .
When we are away we will eat out every evening

Twice this past week, first for my birthday at my favourite Thai and then to a Toby Carvery as it was 50% off and I was hungover and craved a roast but didn't want to cook!

Probably won't eat out again for a few months.

It's not because of finances but I don't like spending money on something that I can cook better myself at home.

Yes I feel the same. The quality of ingredients is so much better when you cook yourself. The ambiance is mostly nicer at home too.

There are obviously exceptions - and I do not mind spending money on a Michelin star or other gastronomic experience (once in a blue moon). But for simple dishes in loud/smelly restaurants, I don't think it's worth it

Dinner not very often unless there is a special occasion as I do not like eating in the evening. Last time was nearly a year ago.
Lunch, on the other hand, probably 2 to 3 times a week.

You need to clarify what you think is average income.

Average median salary is about 33k PA according to the ONS so I am assuming your joint income is approx 66k PA?

We used to go out once a week but covid obviously stopped that and now we go out far less, it is not a money issue though it’s a habit issue for us. I also used to have to entertain at work so have been out for dinner and lunch so many times it’s actually quite nice to not have to. Same with DH he has already been out for lunch with work twice this week.

We only went to what I suppose were nicer places, I don’t see the point of eating lasagne in a pub chain. My Father owned a restaurant and taught me how to cook and I enjoy it.

Same here, maybe less. Restaurants & pubs are so noisy & food mediocre; we just don't get much enjoyment for the expenditure.

At least once a week, sometimes twice.

We eat out for ease, or to enjoy something we can’t cook ourselves.

So will happily grab burgers at five guys if we are on the go. Or we might fancy a roast, not have the bits in- so we go to the pub after a dog walk.

We only ‘go out for a meal’ for stuff like Japanese where making ramen means boiling big trotters at home, great tapas (where you simply couldn’t replicate the experience at scale at home without buying a million pots and portions of things) or anything vaguely experimental.

I used to enjoy some of the chain places mentioned as a younger adult (like nandos, wagas, pizza express) where we would use it as a base to socialise and be ready to pay with a mountain of student discounts of Clubcard vouchers- but I would never get ready, book a table and go out for a meal there now.

Much better food can be made at home for a fraction of the price.

Once or twice a week

Do you live in or near by a city? I really don't there are enough decent places close enough to me to do that without it getting really repetitive.

Couple of times a month. Low income single parent.

Generally about three or four times a month, perhaps? Usually for two or three courses and drinks and usually in independent restaurants, either mid-priced local places or smarter ones in the city centre. We do spend quite a lot of money on going out to eat but we don't have any kids, have only minimal commuting expenses, and we live in a relatively affordable part of the UK so we don't have a big mortgage. We both really like food and finding new places to eat and new cuisines to try, so we think of spending money on eating out as like spending money on a hobby, really.

It is, however, becoming increasingly more expensive with inflation while our salaries are not going up, so I'm sure we'll be scaling back this year. We definitely couldn't do it if we had a family.

I go to Toby Carvery by myself once a month. In actual fact, I'm going today!

Pre-pandemic probably three or four times a year. Then zero in 2020, zero in 2021 and once in 2022 (twice if you count getting a takeaway).

Dinner? Once or twice a year maybe.

Casual lunch may be every couple of months or so.

I'm so tired of not being catered for as a vegetarian that we no longer bother. I'm not paying restaurant prices for a plate of substandard mushroom risotto or yet another frozen veggie lasagna.

One to four times a week.

Dinner, once a month or thereabouts, although it’s been twice this week due to circumstances!

Breakfast once a week but that’s cheap and cheerful.

There’s DH and I plus 5 teenagers in our house so we’d be bankrupt if we did it more often than that…

I would say eating out in restaurant about 5 times a year. But a takeaway once or twice a month

Currently? Almost never. Unless on holiday. At home- no restaurants etc. Only odd McDonalds or nice sushi from supermarket ( I mean the more expensive one, not the one from meal deal). I'm trying to absorb rising costs and saving for maternity leave, so had to switch to no eating out, cheaper make up, vinted etc., so I can build nice cushion for the time when baby comes. If I wasn't saving for baby, I would probably go out once or twice a month.

Oh, I used to love coffees out, but I can't justify the cost now. 7-8 quid for 2 coffees seems to much.

Almost never, I don't really enjoy it

We only eat in a couple of times a week. We don't live in the UK though and eating out is cheap and it's what everyone does. For my weight though I need to start eating in more

Maybe once per month but weekends are pretty busy

Pre kids - at least once a week. Lunch out every weekend too.

Now we've got children - dinner out every other month or so - we maybe get 3 child free dinners out a year. Still have lunch out most weekends though. No where fancy though but it's better than cooking and washing up!

Every couple of weeks at least. At the chains you mention and local pubs, and especially with offers on it can work out cheaper than making a 'treat' meal at home. Especially as we have a few different diets in our house, ranging from vegan to meat heavy (due to medical condition) so I need to get so many different ingredients to please everyone.