Have to say the service and food quality relative to the price of eating out in Oz vs the UK is much, much better.
[Food] Eating out. Is it all that?
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Wes Tupper
Active member
- Feb 27, 2024
- 116
Definitely eating earlier these days. Eat out a fair bit socially, but when we’re in a large group the chat and drinks seem to be more important and we don’t pay much attention to what we’re eating. We therefore don’t tend to go to nicer restaurants when in a group, only as a couple on date night.
Terry Butcher Tribute Act
Well-known member
- Aug 18, 2013
- 3,673
Short answer: yes, it's a nice thing to go out for a meal, but it's more expensive now
Longer answer: you're posting on a forum full of people who regularly pay £30 or more to see their mental state entirely dictated by a bunch of millionaires kicking a ball about, and to do that they have to go to battle with an entirely crap transport infrastructure, not to mention all kind of weather conditions and a very basic choice in cuisine. Maybe a £5.50 Scotch egg after a ten minute queue if you're lucky, or a pie which may or may not have a good volume of meat in it, served in a nice cardboard wrapper to be eaten while stood up and trying to balance a poorly poured pint in a plastic cup and not spill any of ot down your front.
So of course going out for a meal be wined and dined seems a lovely thing to do!
Longer answer: you're posting on a forum full of people who regularly pay £30 or more to see their mental state entirely dictated by a bunch of millionaires kicking a ball about, and to do that they have to go to battle with an entirely crap transport infrastructure, not to mention all kind of weather conditions and a very basic choice in cuisine. Maybe a £5.50 Scotch egg after a ten minute queue if you're lucky, or a pie which may or may not have a good volume of meat in it, served in a nice cardboard wrapper to be eaten while stood up and trying to balance a poorly poured pint in a plastic cup and not spill any of ot down your front.
So of course going out for a meal be wined and dined seems a lovely thing to do!
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Or worse both on mobile phones eating one handed
Occasionally looking at each other to show their picture of the food they’re eating and their related irrelevant social media post
Tbh 2 starters two mains 2 cocktails and two house reds for £150 left me, apart from still hungry, feeling seen off!
Weststander
Well-known member
Or worse both on mobile phones eating one handed
We went to Cote for a birthday a couple of years ago. A slightly posh woman about 50 years old who had an incredibly loud voice, sat a couple of tables away with her parents and one 'child'. She spent the two hours in a boasting monologue about her son's career in NYC and her high achieving daughter. Her companions barely spoke. True story, her Dad fell asleep.
I'd loved someone to have gone up to up and say "Put a f***ing sock in it".
Selfish cow.
I get your point but I think this can also vary based on life stage - ie I have 2 small children atm so dinner time is mostly a fairly stressful experience, and often not the culinary delight I would prefer.
Therefore, when my wife and I are able to get a babysitter and go out for a meal just the 2 of us, it is INCREDIBLE.
I'd argue probably in the Top 2 things I can do with my wife when kids not around.
Therefore, when my wife and I are able to get a babysitter and go out for a meal just the 2 of us, it is INCREDIBLE.
I'd argue probably in the Top 2 things I can do with my wife when kids not around.
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Why didn’t you do it ?
I can understand the disappointment. Cost and portion size aside, how was the food?
Weststander
Well-known member
If you all go away hungry, to me the quality of the food doesn't make up for that. An expensive p1sstake.
That's the reason we gave up on The Gingerman after almost 25 years patronage, quantities slyly decreased.
I think it may depend on how adventurous you are. If you know what you like and one or other of you can cook it competently, it does beg the question , what is the value in eating out?
If on the other hand you want to try new things or new combinations, there is a limit to what you can achieve with a recipe. If it disappoints was it the recipe, the ingredients or the cook? Having a brilliant dish can inspire you to create your own versions, which is probably why I almost never order to chicken when I do eat out.
Ha, yes! Pretty much how I feel. There's nothing about the experience of eating out that I find appealing and pretty much avoid or decline any invitations or opportunities to do so wherever possible.
Stato
Well-known member
- Dec 21, 2011
- 7,367
Whilst I agree with the sentiment about having it appear, surely a fry up isn't beyond you? You could do yourself sausages and bacon, black pudding tomato and mushrooms in one frying pan. Beans / tinned tomatoes in the microwave. A fried egg can go wrong and it's easy to burn a fried slice, but if you've got a toaster, you don't necessarily need the fried slice and eggs are just for putting in cakes anyway. If my mum was ever away, my old man used to just chuck everything but the egg together into a deep fat fryer. (Yes, he's dead now).
Sure. I understand this, I am just curious if the quality has dipped as well.
Hudson Hawk
Active member
We like to eat out but we never go for Sunday roasts, as its always nicer at home. I rarely find that you can get a decent crispy roast potatoes, just some soggy skinned anemic spud. Saying that the Green Man north of Partridge Green is nice.
Similar for steak, if you are paying £20-30 for the steak without sides and its average at best, i feel short changed as you can do your own nicer and cheaper.
I did like The Ivy Asia the first couple of times i went, but disappointed the last 2 times with the quality of the food not being as good, and just piling dishes on the table rather than the event it should be when you go for that experience at that price.
Went to the Funky Dragon in Shoreham and whilst it was good quality food, it didn't seem like value for money. £7 quid for 2 quarters of Prawn Toast is taking the piss, even if it was delicious. It's Shoreham not Mayfair.
Still love an Indian out, and Giggling Squid and Mowgli's though.
Similar for steak, if you are paying £20-30 for the steak without sides and its average at best, i feel short changed as you can do your own nicer and cheaper.
I did like The Ivy Asia the first couple of times i went, but disappointed the last 2 times with the quality of the food not being as good, and just piling dishes on the table rather than the event it should be when you go for that experience at that price.
Went to the Funky Dragon in Shoreham and whilst it was good quality food, it didn't seem like value for money. £7 quid for 2 quarters of Prawn Toast is taking the piss, even if it was delicious. It's Shoreham not Mayfair.
Still love an Indian out, and Giggling Squid and Mowgli's though.
It was good but not that good that i’d be rushing back
Ahhh Cote, last time i was there a yummy mummy on the table adjacent popped who boob out and started breastfeeding, two mature women on the other side kicked off about, called for the manager to complain, tbf the whole episode was rather entertaining for the onlooker!
South East Seagull
Member
- May 14, 2015
- 82
Indian restaurants tend to be the only places where you get any sort of value. Always get a big portion, is always pretty nice no matter where, and really doesn't cost that much. Hard to replicate at home.
Posh middle aged-women, yummy mummies. I need to get myselt to Cote.
Me Herr Tubthumper, balls deep in breast feeding Yummie mummy’s cheered on by posh 50 something milfs ? With my reputation,,,,