Food and Restaurants - is it all just getting a bit crap?

[VixHex]

Sort of inspired by the McDonalds thread, as it crystallised some of my food-related thinking of late.

We ate with the DC at a Pizza Express a few weeks ago - it was so cold, everyone had their coats on. The bathrooms and tap water were absolutely freezing.

The food tasted okay, but both there, and at a couple of local places and with some supermarket stuff, there is a noticeable dialling down of flavour/texture/whatever. Not everything, but enough things to see a pattern.

I understand everywhere needs to cut costs. It's brutal for restaurants, but I'd probably rather pay slightly more and really enjoy being there. Sitting in a coat, waiting to go to the loo at home rather than wash my hands in freezing cold water and eating underpowered food... it's only Pizza Express I know, but it still should be more enjoyable that that?

I feel sorry for the whole industry. Do they go down this route of slashing everything in order to survive, or put up prices and hope that people still come?

After three really underwhelming meals out with the kids in recent weeks, we're not going to bother again for a good while. It's too bloody expensive to not enjoy it properly, but then places close because people like us are giving up on them.

It's crap really, isn't it?

@Crikeyalmighty haha no problem was quite funny as we had parked in the sainsburys car park,popped in to get some shopping after and I said to my friend ‘ I need the loo’ 🤣never went in there since but I did enjoy the food it was a Mexican wrap type thing 🤣

Eating out is something we really enjoy doing as a family
We have cut back a bit but still manage to eat out quite a bit
have cut back on takeout

I recommend sticking to independent venues, we really want to do well, our livelihood depends on it. Our staff are invested, they want to have a job so our service is excellent. Avoid chain restaurants, I guarantee you'll find better quality and service

Definitely agree with this, Ianbro, but then I've always sought out independents. Each to their own and all that, but it beats the hell out of me why so many pick a chain over nearby locally run places - especially now they're infested with bean counters who've ruined what few benefits there were

Thanks for explaining! Sounds lovely :)

Nice! Hope you like it :)

Well, as I mentioned upthread, these are on-the-road/traveling with kids in the evening options for us. Finding a good, affordable indie place, that welcomes kids, in the evening, in a town I'm not really familiar with is often just not an option.

But generally, even if you don't agree with them, there are fairly obvious reasons why people choose to eat at chain restaurants.

Miller and carter tonight
Used to be reliable.
Onion loaf was half the size, tiny quarter of a tomato not the big slice of beef tomato you used to get and no jacket potato option.
Steak was undercooked and grisly, left half of it
Sad times !

I had a really nice meal at Zizzis lately and a Nandos that was exactly what I expected from a Nandos.

DH just reminded me that we have a fabulous indie pizza place nearby - they built their own bespoke oven over a period of months - that has stopped selling pizzas. Their pizza costs are too high apparently, so they're just selling bread and don't even buy the fuel for that beautiful oven anymore.

You're not wrong, I'm old enough to remember when pretty much your only eating out options were madly expensive top end options for a special event, or Wimpy/KFC/McDonald's with a handful of local family run places (lots of excellent Italian, Indian, and Chinese places in particular where I grew up plus some really good chippies).

And then along came the mid range restaurant chains who saturated the market, it always astonished me how so many kept going as long as they did. The food is so bland now, all the joy of indulging has gone. What we're seeing now is a return to the 1970s in lots of ways only without the joy and optimism that things would improve....

Definitely agree that mostly independent eateries are the way to go if you're in a position to eat out though.

Yanbu
the last few times I’ve visited the chains they’ve been awful- cold, understaffed and the portion sizes havd not reflected the prices at all. I use club card points but I’d have been gutted to pay- a simple meal for two at pizza express with one side and no desserts was the best part of £50 and I definitely could have done better at home.
Even local independent places ivd noticed a hike in prices and reduction in portions.
I tend to just have friends over now instead if eating out

I think Wetherspoons is another one where prices are rising yet portion size and quality Is declining.

Yes I agree, there is one opposite work and we go every Friday for lunch. I remember all the advertising about how Brexit would mean cheaper prices...

Was? Beefeater is still a thing. I would say you have described the one near me.

See also Miller and Carter which actually has a dress code.

I’ve found that the independent places are generally good, even if they are a bit expensive. The chain places are declining in quality and increasing in price. Spoons is still reasonable value though. You can’t beat a spoons, as long as you don’t mind the nausea and self loathing afterwards.

Wagamama has gone downhill by the most. We generally always stick to the Katsu but the last time we went, you could fit all pieces into the palm of one hand. There was also a tiny sliver inside the breadcrumb rather than a substantial slice of veg. I complained and the waiter just shrugged and charged me full price.

I also don't get why they would give you a tiny portion of chips rather than the portion you used to get. The fryer is on, potatoes are still reasonably priced, the prices are hiked up and the quantity of healthy foods on the plate is reduced. That is like the nail in the coffin.

Chips served in a cone or some other type of chip holder are always disappointing. It's made to look like there are loads, but it's always smoke and mirrors.
Plus paying extra for sides in some places when the chips used to come with the dish you ordered as standard.

How old are the kids?

I'm very aware that it could be famous last words, but I eat out fairly regularly with a 16 month old and a four year old and they both do pretty well outside of chains. It could be better than you think! Especially if the service at the chains is rubbish anyway... but I do think PE is notorious for it.

If it was too cold I'd have left?

Everything seems normal here in London. Restaurants warm and food still great! I appreciate we have more options though.

I wonder if the smaller portions is down to having to put calorie counts on menus?
That said, I’ve eaten out a few times over the last few months, chains and local places, and not been disappointed. (Although I have definitely seen it getting more expensive!)

I used to love Wagamama pre-lockdown. Went for the first time since 2019 last summer and it was awful, really awful.

We went to Ask Italian for ds' birthday last year and the pizzas were smaller with less topping and mine had about five rocket leaves on rather than the handful we used to get. The bread we had was about two thirds of the amount as well. The meal came to over £100 as well (only two alcoholic drinks).

We're not going out for meals anymore due to the cost and quality. Coffee and a scone only in selected places from now on.

Totally agree.

We support our local independent coffee shop and local independent Thai restaurant. Who both do lovely home made food. Never bother with chains - who wants a reheated microwave meal served by grumpy unwashed unsmiling folk for £15? Yuck.

She's not handwringing for fucks sake. Just commenting on an internet forum. Which wouldn't exist if people didn't comment on stuff.

DH wanted a zizzi delivery last night …. I thought it’d be crap but went along with it. I was very pleasantly surprised. Lovely hot pizza and pasta.