Sick of eatting out and it’s not that good!

[Greekdream]

Second time this week eatting out one was a birthday celebration and today for father day
both times spending over 100 quid and the food worse then you make at home

just don’t wanna go it anymore unless it’s somewhere really good
tricky when it’s special occasions tho

There is a restaurant near me that has eggs, flatbread and chicken legs on the menu. It was a tiny menu. Had a main and dessert and it was £50!!! And it has got amazing reviews. Some people have more money than sense.

Gary Eats on YOUTUBE is quite good. Some great places on there. L'Enclume last week (expensive) but he does chain as well (mostly average at best).

I live in an area with no Deliveroo, Uber Eats etc so it really annoys me to go to a city restaurant and have to wait ages for my food as endless bikers troop in and out with orders.

Also service charges 😡. I'll tip for great service but this new carry on just means they can provide any old standard of service and still con customers out of an extra 10-15% on top of an already expensive bill.

@Gettingbysomehow
Where’ish in Somerset are you? I can recommend a few places in Frome, Bruton, Glastonbury, S Petherton, Tisbury…

I'd say if anything the quality and interest (of non super fancy) stuff has gone up. Compared to 20 years ago I find myself thinking 'I'd rather make it myself at home' less often. Maybe it's because I have a bit more disposable income so am prepared to pay rather than wish I were at home because it's not worth it. ( because, God yes, everything costs a fortune these days).

YANBU. We only go to four places and not often. One local pub, one restaurant in a near town, fish & chip restaurant locally and the high end restaurant DD works in, with her staff discount.

If I’m being honest, and this may make me sound like a proper food snob, I wouldn’t expect anything decent for Wetherspoons prices. That said, I do love a Spoons breakfast, especially at an airport!

Sunday Roast prices at a decent pub (and we’re in the South East) is usually between £18 and £24 which I think is pretty reasonable.

We generally avoid chains. I’d much rather go to an independent. Usually much better food and service.

We're holidaying, just in UK and went self catering. I wanted to eat out at least once but we weren't convinced by reviews- we have very high standards. I know that sounds wank but I do enjoy the occasional McDonald's. I know what I'm getting! We didn't want to pay a ton for a crappy takeaway when our activities have been super expensive so have cooked every day. That's been a bit joyless admittedly but better than the disappointment of bad food.

@Ilovelowry I rarely have a Sunday lunch out as I make nice ones myself and not hard to do but in same area I can also recommend the George at Nunney -they do a shared roast meat plate ( bit of everything for 2) and about 5 different veg plus good roasters and Yorkshire puddings and clearly proper homemade gravy - at£20 each it was a really lovely lunch

@QuornPlaster I like bistro lottie in Frome and think the upstairs Chinese is really good too

I'm showing my class here but I'd rather eat in a chain with comfort food or get a Chinese/ Indian than some nicer places. I often feel disappointed. Had a meal in central London which was basically something I could have cooked in ten minutes at home but covered in salt. Salad was rocket with just parmarsan sp? Cheese on it. I'd rather eat in spoons than that. Location was amazing. Food was less than my teen could put together

I feel lucky reading this. We’re in London zone 2/3 and there are lots of good options round here. Yes there are also a few mediocre places but the competition is so fierce that they generally don’t last long.

I also tend to order dishes I couldn’t or wouldn’t cook myself. Roasts are always better at home IME as it’s fresh out of the oven and everyone can choose the bit they prefer.

@Ilovelowry & @MikeRafone

another thumbs up for The Talbot. & The Walled Garden opposite. V cute for a cuppa/slice of cake.

Agree

The UK is collapsing.

with inflation national min wage rises and other businesses are just using cheapest ingredients and during cost of living crisis people stopped eating out

I dont get takeaways or eat out they are both only ok and I can cook as good for a fraction of price

Very lucky here in Ireland, lots of very good restaurants within 30minutes of us using locally grown produce. Even the food truck is supplied by the local butchers.

No offence to you but Gary Eats is one of the worst food you tubers I've ever encountered. He doesn't know how to describe food and spends half the video making awful jokes and moving plates around the table. He will also never honestly rate an independent restaurant, only ever says chain or large restaurants are bad.

Sorry He drives me crazy!

Top Jaw are great as well as only scrans If you like you tube food reviews with good production values and some great restaurants.

Apart from a brunch at Wetherspoons with my niece I can't remember the last time I went out for a meal with my DP. He doesn't like going out because of the disappointment and expense when we can cook all types of cuisines at home and he's happy to do the dishes afterwards too.

I kind of agree but in my suburb, eateries appear full. I don't get it tbh

@cumbriaisbest where i am its similair

i think people go who cba to cook after work and drink alcohol with it

I do like the Ivy, It's a nice place, the service is usually good, however you're right.
The menu is similar to the Wetherspoons menu (obviously not as many options but similar food).
The vegan burger is the same brand-just better presented.
Not really worth the price.

Yes I don't think the food eating out is that great either.

Lately we tried a Chinese takeaway as there was a poll on local Facebook page about the best one. Gave it a try and it was great. The second time everything seemed very oily. The third time there was a hair in one of our meals that looked very much like a pube.

Our last restaurant meal out there was a hair in my meal too.

An authentic Indian takeaway opened a year ago and wow it was fantastic with consistent quality food and staff. In the past 6 months the staff all seem different each time, the wait times have increased considerably and the last 3 times the order has been wrong or missing things.

So I feel I've had enough of eating out or takeaways now. It's too expensive for poor quality food, especially when it's supposed to feel like a treat or special occasion, it just ruins the atmosphere or event.

Yes, they're literally a cheap train with a bow round its neck.

I understand having to go very 'high end' to get something decent but, am I alone in not always wanting to go high end? Special occasion or romantic meal yes, but if I have some friends over and we're out for the day we just want some food that we can eat and have a bottle of wine with and not be bothered while we socialise. Same if I want to meet a friend for a quick lunch locally-and obviously not everyone has the money or wants to spend it. There's a place for casual eateries and cheapER doesn't mean they should be crap food.

If you’re anywhere near London and looking for decent steak, I’d recommend Flat Iron. It is a chain - mostly in London, but great, reasonably priced steak. They only do steak or a burger with a choice of 5 or 6 sides, but they do them really well.

I've been to Flat Iron twice since Easter and two different branches. Both times the steak was tough and flavourless. A shame as they used to be really good.

My local Indian just closed down as their landlord put the rent up to £60k/year. Unless the restaurant owns the freehold they don't stand a chance of survival at those rates.