Eating Out-Is It Getting To Expensive Or Is There Still Value Out There

[gollob]

I ate out on Tuesday and on the menu for starters was A Scotch Egg for £6.50. My local Morrison's sell 4 Scotch Eggs for £1.75.I used to eat out every Friday and a Coke drink varied from £1.00 to £2.85 for a 330 glass yet I can buy 2 litre Coca Cola for £1.50 or even a supermarket brand for .60 pence for 2 litres.
I had a 16 oz Steak Pudding for £14,75 which after stripping away the pudding and the gravy perhaps there was 4 ounces of beef

[New Judge]

“Besides, many sushi restaurants do more than sushi.”

I think they have to survive. Sushi is one of the great marketing successes (actually, con tricks) of our time - near the top of the list alongside denim overalls as fashion “trousers” and plimsolls (aka “trainers”) as suitable footwear to wear going out for dinner or to the theatre. Sushi is tasteless rubbish. I have been to a number of allegedly “good” Sushi bars on recommendations from friends following my disparaging remarks about others that I had eaten in. Without exception the stuff offered was tasteless, bland pap. I could have been eating anything. It tasted of absolutely nothing and I speak as somebody who loves virtually all fish.

“Even people with loads of kids are entitled to dine out.”

Indeed they are. What they are not entitled to do is to inflict on their fellow diners (some of whom may have paid for a baby-sitter so they can enjoy a child-free evening) the misery concocted by their badly behaved offspring treating the restaurant like a playground.

[sandyRoe]

Isn't NJ just continuing a long tradition of tongue-in-cheek questions from the bench?
"Who are The Rolling Stones?"
A helpful QC would answer: M'lord, they are a musical group popular with young people.

[sandyRoe]

^^^ That in response to :What is a "Nando"?

[AuntLydia]

For N:

Nando's is an international casual dining restaurant chain originating in South Africa. Founded in 1987, Nando's operates over 1,000 outlets in 35 countries. The logo is based on the Rooster of Barcelos. Nando's specialises in Portuguese-style chicken dishes with various peri-peri marinades.

[New Judge]

“Have you got access to a search engine?;-)”

I do know what Nando’s is and for once I was being facetious (unlike when I ask who is [some so-called “celebrity” or Thespian who everybody else speaks of as if they live next door but of whom I’ve never heard]"?

However, I only know of the establishments since I watched a drama documentary about the investigation into the murder of Joanna Yeates in Bristol a few years back. The main suspect (who was actually innocent) was Christopher Jeffries. He owned a property in Bristol and one evening two of his tenants chatted to him as they were leaving the house. “We’re just off for some Nando’s” they said as they waved goodbye. “What is a Nando?” Jeffries asked.

I didn’t know of them at all until then so I rang my nephew to ask and he explained that it was a restaurant chain selling mainly (his description) fried chicken bones. “I only went there once. I had to have a cheese sandwich when I got back home”.

[Eleena]

I agree with Prudie at 9.24 People eat what they can afford to est, the occasional treat is really nice in beautiful surroundings, all in the price you pay. I shall be going somewhere nice in December as a special treat, it isn't what I usually pay, but I'm paying for the whole package.

[AuntLydia]

If anyone is ever in Albuquerque a must try is Los Pollos Hermanos. The food has a certain je ne sais quoi, and the manager very polite.

[spathiphyllum]

AL i go for the Gyoza :P all day erry day, and the squid!! Not a fan of ramen, but i love their Donburi! mmmhmmmmm, also love a nandos.

[EDDIE51]

600% mark up plus VAT on top is standard for restaurant food

[fender62]

wetherspoons is good value, though most of it is made or recooked in a combi oven, minus steaks...some venues are tidier then others.
i was in a brains pub recently in wales, £11.95 for a burger and cup
of chips..yes a cup about ten chips in it, burger was like a mmm big meatball..tasted nice, but not for £11.95, when you can get a toby dinner for less.

[kvalidir]

Depends where you go, who you are with and if you are paying. I'm happy to eat anywhere from a street stall to the Ivy or Masa, but if I was paying it wouldn't be either of the latter two. I think the trick with eating is to eat out because you want to enjoy the experience of who you are eating with and the atmosphere and I find high end restaurants rarely cater to that experience, so I'm perfectly happy happy with a Pizza slice a beer and good company.

[JJ109]

The cost is nothing compared to the cost of a solicitor's letter written on your behalf!

What does it cost the solicitor for one piece of paper, an envelope and a stamp?

[kvalidir]

Isn't it their expertise you're paying for though JJ? I can write a letter for £1 but sometimes I want to be sure of my ground if there is an issues, hence I have things like solicitors, agents, advisers- and I'm paying for their experience and knowledge, not the raw materials- the same is true for some chefs.

[JJ109]

Of course it is Kval - and the cost of their Chambers expenses. I am just being a bit sarcastic!

[SparklyKid]

I know Kval, you would not believe how much my solicitor, barrister, legal staff, groundsmen cost me, is it all worth it to maintain my estates.

[Canary42]

The turn this thread has taken reminds me of the one about the motor mechanic who met a heart surgeon :-

Mechanic: I took the whole engine out of this car, stripped it down and repaired it, then put it back. Why do I get paid far far less than you do.

Surgeon: But did you do it while the engine was still running ?

[youngmafbog]

I've eatne in some nice posh places and some right dives. It's all about how you feel at the time. Personally I dont like the posh places portions are too small and only go their if on exes.

For lunch the Spoons is great for evening we tend to frequent smaller local restaurants, the steak house near us is excellent or we go up the Gazza strip where you have a big array and only seem to get very well behaved kids.


None are particularity expensive and you have to remember they have to pay rent and rates - even when there are no punters - like in the week.

[kvalidir]

I know shocking isn't it Sparkly, not enough peasants that's the trouble ;-) x

[SparklyKid]

Just chuck another serf on the fire.

[diddlydo]

I avoid like the plague anywhere that has a plasticised menu - just means that everything is bought in and microwaved. I'd rather pop into M&S and buy a sandwich if I was really hungry.