£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?

I agree OP. It's around £100 for us 2 adults and 2 teenagers when we go out, usually lunch and I will probably have a soft drink.
In fact, it was just 3 of us out for lunch not long ago and it was nearly £97!!
This was on a Monday and only DH had a couple of beers, DD and I had soft drinks. They also had the cheek to slap on a 10% service charge! I know they usually do that for large groups but there were only 3 of us. Food wasn't even that great.
Even 3 meals to take away from KFC recently was nearly £35.
I'm fed up paying a fortune for mediocre food.
Will have to reign in meals out as seem to be spending a fortune these days.

One side between 4?! And half a pizza for anyone over the age of about 8 or 9 is not really a treat.

We took our son and his gf to Pizza Express the other night and our bill was well over £100. We had 4 pizzas (mine was a leggera so mostly salad, olives and one serving of dough balls plus drinks). I don't think around £30 a head is excessively expensive.

My teenage boy could polish off 2 in one sitting if I let him!

Don't be so silly. Have you ever met a teenager?

@GrealishGoddess If there is a Rudy's near you, I would highly recommend it and unless you have the specials, it's pretty good value.

I just don’t feel it’s worth £100 to eat in these soulless private equity places. I often wonder who is doing it … we earn well but can’t be randomly spuffing £100 on mediocre meal at Pizza Express. Maybe if you’re a couple it doesn’t feel so bad but for four of you … nah! Would rather go to a fantastic independent.

£80 for two?

no, 4. The OP is talking about a family of 4 of which I am the same.

Haha, quite!

Yep, we simply don’t go out anymore. The most I will do is a very rare (once every 4 months max) Burger King drive thru for the kids or a very occasional pizza at our local pub (£10/pizza and one drink allowed each). I just feel ripped off otherwise. It’s a symptom of inflation, it will never right itself sadly. I did take my youngest away to Europe for a few days last year and it was a joy to have restaurants so reasonably priced (we weren’t following the usual tourist trail).

I absolutely detest comments like this!

what a crappy race to the bottom…..

how on earth is eating out in a chain restaurant as a middle class family a luxury?!

the OP isn’t expecting a Michelin once a week.

Jesus Christ.

We now do Sunday lunch, less than £20 for main course. Local one is £14 and is family owned and run. And lime and soda.
Then we do dessert and light meal at home later. Desserts are definitely a rip off. Most are £7 for a defrosted or bought in.
Or we do the lunchtime specials.

Went for a carvery today. Not Toby. Guessed it would be a bit more on a Sunday but it was 16.00 a head and the plates were tiny. Hardly any meat. Drinks were expensive too

Well surely that depends on the appetites of the 4 people?! 2 pizzas and a side dish for us would leave us still hungry.

They will because they aren't paying

Yes, and when you get a bus, you're effectively paying for servants to drive you, escort you and deliver you to a distant place.

When you go and see a gig, you're effectively paying for servants to entertain you.

When you get your hair cut, you effectively pay a servant to wash your hair.

It's called the service economy and it's disrespectful to those within it to refer to them as "servants". Jeez.

😂

We are at Côte yesterday 2 adults a teen and a preteen for £80.
1 kids eat free meal for the under 12 and a blue light card discount of 20%.
no wine or starter but soft drink and a dessert each.
super impressed!!

I spent almost £100 today at a Toby Carvery and that was without any booze 😱

I voted that YABU because thats 25 quid each which would only cover a basic starter, drink and main for each person really, so thats the norm, fairly basic in my view

But you're not unreasonble to say its a lot of money.

Thats why Greggs is popular!!!

Even coffee and cake for us 2 can sometimes set us back nearly 20 quid!!

Yes, we've found this.

All of the 'nicer' high street offerings are really quite pricey now. Wagamamas, Pizza Express and Yo! add up very quickly. Even Nando's can be well over £100 for a family of 4.

We just do it less. We're not 'pub food' people so cheap and cheerful doesn't work for us.

Of course it is a luxury.

I go out with DH every Saturday for a meal and drinks. I think it’s important

I'd expect for than £100 for most of those when you have teens.