How often do you go out for a meal?

jackieblack

claire16c wrote: »

Probably once or twice a month in a pub even just if its for sandwich type lunch. Maybe every 6 weeks somewhere like Nandos or pizza express.

Hardly ever have take always. I'd rather save the money for holidays.

We're sort of the same, but opposite:D
We might have a takeaway about once a month but hardly ever eat out as we'd rather save the money for holidays
Of course on holiday we eat out most nights

Joons

At least once a week, usually Sat lunch with daughter or friends. Maybe once a month with OH. We got a groupon deal staying in a Castle Hotel, was lovely so we decided to stay and eat there, we had a starter and a main, the portions were mi-nute and we had 3 drinks in total, it came to £100, defo not worth that much but I'd be hard pressed to find a place that I thot the food was derserving of that kind of money, esp nowadays.

Pollycat

OP - just wondering what you actually ate at Le Gavroche.

I must admit that, when I see TV chefs touching food as they do to arrange it, it really puts me off eating out.

I don't want my food mauled before they bring it to the table.

And I hate food that's piled up e.g. crushed potatoes (what's wrong with good old-fashioned mash :rotfl:) with a fillet of fish perched (see what I did there? ) on top and a couple of asparagus spears to complete the 'tower'.

dandelionclock30

Very rarely will I eat out as the standard of restaurant food is very poor in my opinion.I will eat out if I have to, like if Im away from home and their is no choice.
I can cook most dishes to a better standard than I've been served in a restaurant.I never been to somewhere where a meal is say £100, but I have been to places where is £30-£40 and I can honestly say that its never been as good as my own.

Marshflower

DH and I used to go out for dinner weekly before having our daughter - and pub lunches which again probably once a week. Very lucky to live in Bath where there are some lovely restaurants and foodie pubs.
We go out when we can now but it tends to be more for special occasions where, because we don't go out often, will go somewhere a bit posh and spend a bit more than before.
For two of us and a bottle of wine in a nice yet reasonably priced restaurant I'd usually expect to pay around £80 for 3 courses and coffee.

podperson

It varies as we tend to mainly go out for meals when we have visitors or when it's a family occasion etc. We rarely go out for food just the two of us - if we're having a stressful week and I don't want to cook then we might go to a pub for tea or something but that's about it. Tbh I'm usually just as happy cooking or getting a takeaway and since me and OH always have at least one night a week where we do something together anyway then we don't really feel the need to do it for the social aspect.

FatVonD

Probably every couple of months and then it's usually via MrT's rewards or a Wethersp00ns.

We do have a few takeaways though because we love Indian food but I begrudge buying drinks in a restaurant when it pushes the price up so much (especially when I'm only drinking coke.)

sparrer

Pollycat wrote: »

I must admit that, when I see TV chefs touching food as they do to arrange it, it really puts me off eating out.

I don't want my food mauled before they bring it to the table.

And I hate food that's piled up e.g. crushed potatoes (what's wrong with good old-fashioned mash :rotfl:) with a fillet of fish perched (see what I did there? ) on top and a couple of asparagus spears to complete the 'tower'.

Couldn't agree more, Pollycat. I lived the high life when OH and I were together, eating at many pretentious 'celeb' restaurants.
Now it's once every two to three weeks with friends for Sunday lunch. We go to restaurants that have deals for over 60's - it has its advantages .
Still take the DGC to McD's etc but that's really only during school holidays.
Both the discounted restaurants and McD's are much more relaxed that the first, where nine out of ten times I was made to feel very uncomfortable (til they found out who OH was, they they were all over us like a rash. Don't know what was worse!).

angeltreats

Really not that often. We live in a small town where your choices are either Indian or Chinese food (takeaway is better as there's very little atmosphere in the restaurant, more enjoyable to have at home with friends) or mediocre pub grub. If we go to the nearest bigger town it means someone has to drive and can't have a drink.

I was a chef in a former life and to be honest it ruined me for eating out. My expectations are too high and I always end up disappointed because I know I can do much better at home. And my husband is also spoilt for eating out because he's had years of being very well fed at home and also ends up disappointed. Neither of us is interested in going to Harvester, Wetherspoons etc.

If we lived near nicer pubs with nicer, home made food, we'd probably go out more often.

Pollycat you mentioned TV chefs touching the food a lot while plating up - I think it was George Orwell in Down and Out in Paris and London who said that the more you pay for your food, the more it's been pawed over by various staff, and this is very true. I remember mixing up giant batches of chocolate mousse with my (very clean) arm stuck in a large plastic tub, because it's the easiest way to do it, and for example things covered in breadcrumbs will have been handled extensively. I think if people knew how much their food had been touched before it reached their plate, it would put them off!

marleyboy

We only go out for a meal on celebrations like birthdays, although the occasional McDonalds or Greasy spoon cafe can be sporadic and random.

Mostly we cook at home.