£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?

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

A real Teeny-Tiny in the wild!

Obesity crisis blah blah blah
Lost sight of normal weight blah waaah blah
NHS in crisis blah blah
Eat less move more

God but you teenies are so yawnsome.

I’m 49 I never remember my parents going out for meals, only for special occasions birthdays etc, we had a chippy meal sometimes as a treat, but mostly my mum cooked every night.

That's why I mainly just go to wetherspoons these days. Yes, it's pretty mediocre food, but then I'm only going to shit it out the other end next day. Last weekend we went to the local chip shop (ironically directly across the road from spoons). Eat in cost us nearly £55 for fish and chips for two! Could have fed 5 adults for that at wetherspoons. Part of the issue was my DP ordered a gin and lemonade - which cost £10 alone (£6.95 for the gin, £2.95 for the lemonade).

I know spoons is the supermarket of pubs but it I'm sure other places could be cheaper if they weren't on punitive beer ties and rents.

Whilst I don't think Pizza Express is casual, I don't think it's fancy either?

I'd say somewhere like a Loungers bar or an Ember Inn is probably more like a casual lunch. And I'd say a casual lunch has a max of two courses and one drink.

Time to go to Nando’s

Pizza express have a good points system where you get rewards, free sides and upgrades etc It’s one of the ones that actually feels worthwhile. But yes- eating out is expensive.

Similar here - went to a random pub in Oxford and it was £65 for me + 2xDDs. We each had a burger and some drinks. Theirs were juices and mine 1/2 pints.

Comedy gold.

🙄

PE pizzas are tiny. I can eat one easily and still be hungry afterwards. Half of one wouldn't touch the sides.

To me a whole pizza per person is not lunch, its dinner. And £100 for a dinner out for four is about right.

So if I had that at lunch time I would have a snacky supper rather than a full evening meal.

Lunch would be sharing a pizza between two and no alcohol.

It is too much but it is the cost.

Where is that laughing emoji? 🤣🤣🤣

And no wine. Casual for me means no wine.

Oh ffs… 🙄

Yeah I'm so fed up with the cost of food out/takeaways and it's mostly mediocre. I've actually just focused on getting better at cooking myself and only going out for special occasions. We've saved lots and are using the extra towards holidays.

Same. We didn't eat out.

I never used to, but last time I went there didn't seem to be much in the way of offers going. I hadn't been for a while and signed back up, but nothing worth having. Was I just unlucky?

Even coffee/frappe and a sandwich was ridiculous at Bluewater this week for 4 of us.

Most restaurants food is so mediocre my DC would rather have me cook from the hello fresh box. The cost is just not worth it.

I do love a Spoons though. DS and I go each Sunday for brunch after he has jiu jitsu. 2 meals plus refill hot drinks for less than £15.

£37 for 2 pints and 2 glasses of wine in a bar in bath yesterday
No wonder pubs are going out of business (says someone who grew up in the trade so knows well the multiple pressures in the industry)

Maybe just get a dough ball each for them?😂

Cheaper than sharing 2 pizzas between 4.

Oh well then if you do it I guess everyone else is just a big fat slob then?!

52, and same.

The country isn’t what it was 50 years ago…

people have different expectations now.

also a huge part of our economy is now reliant on cafes restaurants etc.

COVID must have affected prices surely? They must be trying to recoup lost profits (as well as reflecting general price hikes)? Or am I being daft??

@jackdunnock

“That's why I mainly just go to wetherspoons these days. Yes, it's pretty mediocre food, but then I'm only going to shit it out the other end next day.“

good grief. Basic or what