£100 for a casual lunch out for 4 is too much

[GrealishGoddess]

Deeply middle class problem but. Anyone else noticed that you can no longer get out of the likes of Bill’s, Wagamama, Pizza Express, etc , with two teens, for less than £100. Is this just inflation, NI effects, price gouging, what? AIBU to stay home?

Depends what you’re buying I guess.

That’s why I go to Wetherspoons.

4 standard pizzas, shared one dough balls, two glasses house wine, tap water, obligatory service. Not going crazy.with ordering but not sharing etc to scrimp - that’s 100 easy

not sure what it's likes for chains who have economies of scale, but I know my local independent hospitality businesses are finding it harder than ever - they are trying to strike the balance between not increasing prices too much, while NI going up, rent and rates increasing, food prices increasing, gas and electric... There have been countless threads recently about how everyone is finding their food shop more and more expensive.

That being said you could probably keep it to under £80 if you commit to everyone having a main each and no sides, puds, or drinks. You're obviously not being unreasonable to feel dining out isn't worth the cost anymore, but I don't think it's price gouging.

It is hard to eat out for 4 for less than £100, but Pizza Express have a deal for 4 for £50 which is amazing value these days, so it can be done

I agree that for pizza type meals £100 is pushing it. Everyone is feeling it these days, eating out is not as easy as it used to be.

There was a long running thread on this recently (can’t link as on phone) but we mostly all agreed that eating out has become very expensive for very mediocre food.

4 people don’t need 4 pizzas. I’d get two and a side dish for four.

Pizza express is expensive. It’s perfectly possible by opting to go for lunch or early evening's deals or places that aren’t so expensive. Our local restaurants (independent) all are £15-20 for a main, wine is running at £7.50 per glass. But all have offers like 1/3 off on Mondays, set course dinner before 7pm or similar

Nandos prices these days are an absolute joke and I no longer go there.

It’s the drinks that really bumps up the price. Even soft drinks now are around £4

You could cut out the wine to make it cheaper.

And agree Wetherspoons is pretty much as good but could feed 2 adults and 2 teens with drinks for around £45

I didn't realise anyone ate in Pizza Express without a voucher or using some sort of deal.

We’ve bought an Ooni pizza oven and saved a fortune making our own pizzas! Would highly recommend.

Pizza Express pizzas are not large. I think most people eat a whole one to themselves.

Oh stop it. The pizza express ones aren’t exactly massive and I have a hard enough time persuading an 8 year old and a 4 year old to share let alone 2 hungry teens!

We don’t often go out to eat though. It is very expensive so YANBU to say that, and to avoid it.

Eating out should be a luxury, people didn't used to expect to eat at restaurants all the time, it used to be a once or twice a year treat.

I will only go to the Pizza Express equivalent with tesco vouchers now. 2 adults 2 children was 101 euro they other day but we had 90 in vouchers. Crazy expensive.

Pizza express pizzas aren’t big enough that this would be sufficient with two teens.

yep, now always pay over £100 for lunch when we go out as family (kids 10 and 13) even when we don’t drink. We dont usually go to chains as live in London with more variety and have some favourites but all similar price range to places listed. The place has to be pretty good to make it worth it now

I think the gap between an ex-cheap chain and say a nice pub has narrowed now. If it's going to cost me £17 for a Frankie and Benny's or Prezzo main I'd rather pay £21 in the local gastro pub.

Yep. This is why we don’t really eat out “casually” any more and we avoid chain restaurants like the plague. Better to out eat less often, but treat ourselves when we do and go to a nice independent place.

I expect to pay £30 a head for a normal restaurant - and I’d much rather that go towards an independent than a chain if possible.

Of chains, Franco Manca would be my go to pizza place - especially with the loyalty stamps.