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Food/recipes

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Original poster

Why don't I give up and accept taking the kids and dh out for something to eat is expensive and a waste of effin time

15 replies

ssd · 08/05/2009 22:07

as everyone had fallen out and was in a bad mood

food was so so, nothing special

small juice for kids was £1.75, soft drink was over 2 quid

should have stayed at home, could have knocked up something at a quarter of the price for the 4 of us

went out as was one of the kids birthdays and thought it would be a treat!!

only treat was I didn't shop for it, cook it and then clean it up/baring that it was a total waste of money when we need other things BADLY

OP posts:

themoon66 · 08/05/2009 22:16

Stick to yer local curry house next time. Always worked for us as a family.

DamonBradleylovesPippi · 08/05/2009 22:20

we've done this last weekend. Pathetic. I hade same thoughts as you. why why why? and we will be doing it again, you know that don;t you?

StirlingTheStrong · 08/05/2009 22:20

I know what you mean - It is something that should be a treat and enjoyable but if they are not all in a good mood then you may as well not bother!

I have had evenings like this, it isn't enjoyable and when you look at the bill afterwards you think about what you could buy/pay for with that money. You can understand why people go to places with play areas for the dc!

Maybe next time will be better - try a lunchtime

cuntish · 08/05/2009 22:20

aww, might not have been loads of fun for you, but it was still s treat for the birthday boy/girl. Least they'll know you made that effort rather than just knocking smething cheap up at home!

francagoestohollywood · 08/05/2009 22:35

Oh yes, I remember the sheer tension of eating out when the dc were really little. It was like waiting for a bomb to explode.
But it does get better, I promise.

pointydog · 08/05/2009 22:35

how old are your dc?

applepudding · 08/05/2009 23:02

What sort of restaurant did you go to?

We have a few pubs nearby to where we live where the food is home cooked, and where you can take your children. We also have several curry houses, one in particular DS likes as we sit next to a tank of tropical fish.

I think in general that if you go to somewhere which is part of a chain that the food that you get is mediocre and the drinks are expensive.

ConnorTraceptive · 08/05/2009 23:06

Poor you. I'm sure we've all experienced this. My dc's are still you 3 and 1 so if we go out for something to eat we only go at lunchtime and we tend to somewhere that is more of a cafe type place. Then it teds to be cheaper, very informal and there isn't much waiting around for food.

ConnorTraceptive · 08/05/2009 23:08

oh ffs! "still young" "Tends" not teds

BodenGroupie · 13/05/2009 17:35

Persevere - it's not just about the food but the social side too. My DH used to go ballistic when we took ours out when they were little but I now have two food-obsessed (in a good way) teenage DDs who love cooking, going round food markets etc. It helps them when they start eating at other kids' houses too - I've had other children cry when I've put a meal in front of them - and it's not my cooking!

Have you seen the vouchers on the money saving expert website? Tend to only be valid for Sunday to Thursday but makes a huge difference to the bill. Usually for places like Prezzo and Ask.

gscrym · 13/05/2009 17:38

I hate restaurants with play barns with a passion but soon learned it was the only way me and dh could get out for a meal. DS would be told if he ate his dinner, he could go and play. Worked every time. Food wasn't always great but it seemed to work. Have now got ds going to the local chinese. Curry hoose will be next on the agenda.

bigchris · 13/05/2009 17:41

oh yes I feel your pain
me an dh get so wound up by the noise they make that I nver enjoy the food and dh complains that it's awaste of money
I only like it in the summer when we can sit outside and the noise factor isn't so much of an issue

DuffyFluckling · 13/05/2009 17:46

I like eating out as a family.

I have a 3-yr-old and a 1-yr-old. I don't expect them to sit silently through 6-course meals, but I would rather eat my own foot than go to somewhere with a Wacky Shack thing attached.

We go to casual bistro type places, Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Thai - all good.

Lizzylou · 13/05/2009 17:49

The sunday buffet at our local (very good) Indian restaurant is a hit with ours. Nothing is wasted, doesn't feel like you have overspent and they love poppadums and "jam" (mango chutney).

annaje · 13/05/2009 19:10

we've all been there - mine are 8 and 5 and the 8 year old is great now (despite being fussy). The 5 year old stills gets fed up quickly and has little interest in food generally - but I keep at it because the older one used to be terrible and is now a great eating out buddy. But I agree about the chain restaurants - they are all crap with the exception of Wagamama IMO.

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