Expensive food (2 Viewers)

[pappajohn]

We went to York yesterday for a few hours as we had a £50 voucher for the star in the city restaurant in the city center.
We decided on a main dish only.
She had Ox cheek with indescribable veg, I had the fish fritter which came with 'crushed' garden peas and what they called 'chipshop curry sauce. Portion of Chips extra.
Well, the fritter turned out to be a 4" fish finger, the chefs had never tried chipshop curry and I'm sure the peas were fresh out of the pod and never seen water.
I had a pint of Japanese lager, 4 on the list but the only one they had, she had the recommended wine.
Then the bill.
Hers £25
Mine £24 plus £6.50 for a handful of chips
Lager £6.90
Wine £10 for 125ml glass.

£83......£83 bloody quid, service charge included

On top of that £30 train fare (disabled card)

That's an average basis weekly food bill.

 

[TinaLes]

Thats the reason many of us haven't eaten out in the UK in recent years, pure rip off and all too often disappointment.
At those prices, and that quality of food, I know I would have said something, but many Brits are just too proud to complain.
I cant imagine places serving up food like you have experienced, and at those prices, surviving too long, word soon gets arround, especially with reviews on social media, and trip adviser.
Give em hell!
LES

 

[Langtoftlad]

I don't customise establishments that are poor, overpriced or otherwise expensive.
I only go to places I can happily afford & not worry about the bill
Plenty of excellent eateries at fair prices still around.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Just back from pub lunch with friends at the lovely 3 Magpies between Melksham and Devizes. All food home cooked. Main meals 2 x fish and chips and mushy peas, one pudding with custard for husband, one pint and one half pint of lime and soda for me (he paid for his beer separately) came to £35. Walk on the towpath free. Camping and Caravanning club site looked reasonably busy.

 

[pappajohn]

This place was packed by 2pm.
We arrived ½ hour early but still got seated and served by 1pm.
Only spoke to two staff, both east European.
I certainly wouldn't go for a casual meal, we only went because the gift voucher would expire on 15th march.
There was/is a sister restaurant at Whitby....the star on the harbour..
Prices were more reasonable.

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[pappajohn]

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Resta...nn_The_City-York_North_Yorkshire_England.html

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Just back from pub lunch with friends at the lovely 3 Magpies between Melksham and Devizes. All food home cooked. Main meals 2 x fish and chips and mushy peas, one pudding with custard for husband, one pint and one half pint of lime and soda for me (he paid for his beer separately) came to £35. Walk on the towpath free. Camping and Caravanning club site looked reasonably busy.

Very nice pub as is The Barge a mile or so down the towpath.
The Camping And Caravan site is very good and ideal location to see the locks, have stayed there a few times and will definitely be going back.

 

[Nirvanauk]

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Resta...nn_The_City-York_North_Yorkshire_England.html

THe Inn at whitby has closed down as he said. Scarborough wouldn't give him a break on his rent, poor man. His flag ship restaurant at Harome is now tasting menus at a totally stupid price!! It used to be my local but can't go now at those prices. One scallop with black pudding as a starter at £28. not for me.

 

[Jays2]

Any fool with money.
Chatting to a couple in San Sebastián yesterday who were on about a restaurant with a £300 each price tag meal!
I said that my palate was not so refined that I would appreciate that type of food!
The same goes for wine and coffee some folk look at a price and think it must be good.

 

[the darkside]

Rip off Britain unfortunately,even though we are not on the breadline I refuse to be completely bent over at these southern inspired eateries,who think it’s acceptable to charge ludicrous prices for mediocre service and quality even though there outside of the m25, we eat out regularly but always check reviews and prices and don’t eat at chains but prefer independent eateries

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[the darkside]

When we’re abroad we search out where the locals are going,try to learn a few phrases to atleast order food and drink,we’ve always had a good reception and often had an enjoyable time

 

[rangi]

Things can change quite quickly in these days and age with high energy bills. We had a great meal in a Waterfront pub near by, went back 2 months later, new owners, and serving absolute Dross at high Prices. Served by the new owners, only staff we saw,. When it came to pay they, wanted a 20% service charge!
Not a cat in hells chance"

 

[stevewagner]

If I’m not happy I refuse to pay the service charge.

 

[Burgo]

If it makes you feel any better, a three course menu de día with a choice of starters, mains and pud with bread and a glass of wine or beer is around €12 - 14 here. Used to be €8 or so not so long ago.

 

[the darkside]

I don’t mind tipping good service, usually leave a small gratuity, but refuse mandatory service charges. Pay your staff properly!

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[pappajohn]

We didn't know the service charge was included until we got the till receipt.
My eyes were running just looking at the prices never mind looking at the small print.

 

[Fragle]

Wife went out last week with future daughter and some family. 10 in total. Friday night.

£200 service charge. They put it on the bill at the end
Service charge was more than the price for the main course.
Food was rubbish also service. They refused to pay it.

We don’t eat out much and that will be reduced to zero if they are playing stupid games like this.

 

[Lenny HB]

pappajohn I hope you got them to take the service charge off.
I don't mind leaving a tip if the service is good but if they put a service charge on the bill I ask them to take it off & they don't get a tip.

 

[lorger]

We went out for lunch this afternoon at our local restaurant, 3 courses each and 2 Gins each and bill came to £72. The food was £25 each and well worth it, the gin was a little expensive at £11 for 2. We then walked into town for a few gins while watching the Rugby, £7 for 2 gins in town was ok.
Stopped off at screwfix for a couple of radiator valves, the cost of these annoyed me more

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

As far as I know all these places have menus with prices on, if I don’t like the prices of a place I don’t go in so don’t have to moan about it!!

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[dunnah01]

But why does fish and chips cost near to £20 in most grunt pubsteraunts! I know the hospitality trade is struggling so what is driving the costs

 

[EuroTrotters]

Me & MRS. ET went for a curry with my mate the other week.

Didsbury, south Manchester. Hipster territory, kind of BBC neighbourhood (people who work for the broadcaster).

Lamb curry, without rice or sides £14.90

Bill came and for three people they had added a 10% service charge (far too common these days). We asked them to remove the service charge .

£100 one main each, shared rice, two nann and with 4 beers. Robbery, food was mediocre at best.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Myself and Mrs CC went to our favourite Chinese just before Christmas and we ended up with a 4 course meal and I had a few Tigers, came to £118 plus I gave a £20 tip.
Was lovely and I was very happy to pay that
On the other side I paid £7 for a burger at a car meet and it was that terrible I was thinking about it all afternoon

 

[Just smiffy]

Wetherspoon's dish of the day or blooming hestons £300 extravaganza they both come out the same….

 

[Raul]

They need to put the service charge on the menu, or let the customer know at the time of ordering, about the service charge. You can’t sneak it at the end.

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[VXman]

Can't go for a basic pub meal x 2 for less than £60 nowadays.

Main course £15 minimum, pudding £8, 2 drinks £12

 

[Richard n Ann]

Wetherspoons is usually great value quality food and beer, but one Tuesday in December it was phenomenal, I took a screenshot of the bill, it includes 2 pints too .
It's a shame some of you won't go, you really are missing out.

 

[dazandandrea]

Just back from pub lunch with friends at the lovely 3 Magpies between Melksham and Devizes. All food home cooked. Main meals 2 x fish and chips and mushy peas, one pudding with custard for husband, one pint and one half pint of lime and soda for me (he paid for his beer separately) came to £35. Walk on the towpath free. Camping and Caravanning club site looked reasonably busy.

I think thats the pub we stayed at a few years ago.
Parking round the back for vans.
They were very busy but still managed to get us a table.
Wife said it was the best sunday lunch she had ever had .

 

[Shrimp]

Cannot remember the last time we ate out.
Fish and chips, sitting on a bench or in the car (in winter) is the nearest we get now!

 

[Helen Ariel]

Me & MRS. ET went for a curry with my mate the other week.

Didsbury, south Manchester. Hipster territory, kind of BBC neighbourhood (people who work for the broadcaster).

Lamb curry, without rice or sides £14.90

Bill came and for three people they had added a 10% service charge (far too common these days). We asked them to remove the service charge .

£100 one main each, shared rice, two nann and with 4 beers. Robbery, food was mediocre at best.

One of the reasons that hospitality prices especially Indian etc have risen so much is the conservative immigration policy changes that have meant that people coming into the country to work as chefs etc must earn a very high minimum salary. It's going up this year to £38,700 so you can expect your curry to be even more expensive next year. Of course there is a limit that people are willing or able to pay for a meal out so in reality we will just see a lot more places closing down and more empty properties on the high streets.

I personally don't have a problem with an added 10 percent service charge as I know that places have had to do this because so many people stiff them on tips because they resent the higher prices that inflation have caused. Of course if the service or meal were bad then I would ask to have it removed. I would also prefer that the tip system didn't exist and that the price was the price but then all menu prices would rise by 10 percent anyway.

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