[Rolebama]

Local to me there are literally dozens of both fast-food and restaurants, literally spoilt for choice. Unfortunately, they all suffer the same problem. When they initially open, the choice and quality are tip-top, then after a year or so, they plummet downhill. I don't know if it's because they change chefs or they become so busy they lose the attention to detail. It seems that half my local High Street consists of fast-food outlets, coffee shops, cafes and restaurants, offering just about every type of fast-food, and food of at least 10 different nationalities. Within a fifteen minute drive there must be at least 50, and I don't feel happy using any of them. I am not a food snob I am just looking for a decent place to eat. How are they in your locality?

[Mark07]

I'm very jealous.

I live in a smallish town in Scotland. There are some decent options, but the variety is similar to what I had growing up in England during the 90's.

Whenever I'm in a major city, I try to take advantage of the culinary options... what I wouldn't do for a local Persian or Korean restaurant.

[Drivingforfun]

I've found that it's a race to the bottom with regards to price

To me this is silly, because there is a minimum price they have to charge to pay their way (wages, taxes, bills) which is already relatively high, so £5 more on a meal where a "cheap" one is already in the mid-teens makes the difference between filling a hole and having an enjoyable meal

If I wanted to fill a hole I'd make something for 50p at home, eating out is in itself a luxury - the idea of a cheap version of a luxury to me is contradictory, and it's not even cheap, it's £15 instead of £20

It's often said that value =/= low price, and I get that ... if I spent £15 for a pub meal that's been warmed up from frozen I'd feel like I'd wasted my money yet £20 for a nicely cooked dish to me is reasonable

[TC1474]

Since my daughter was very small, we have always gone out together on Xmas Eve to do my Christmas shopping for her indoors. It has become a tradition in that it guarantees us some quality father and daughter time, the sales have started which means we save a fortune, town is quiet, parking is easy and as a treat I buy her lunch.

Gordon Ramsey has opened a new Restaurant in town specialising in a range of burger and sides and so I was told all at very reasonable costs for outstanding quality.

So last night I had a few moments and thought now was a good time to check it out.

Suffice to say, we will not be visiting Gordon Ramsey's establishment this Christmas.

£18 for a burger
£5 for a portion of chips
Sides such as a portion of onion rings £7
and add on drinks and you are looking at over 60 quid for two people to have lunch.

Daughter agreed, we will indeed give it a miss, but it makes you wonder how they justify those costs when there are maybe 10 other restaurants and cafes within 30 seconds walking of each other and for a fraction of the price you get equally good quality and selection..

[olduser]

Originally Posted by TC1474

Since my daughter was very small, we have always gone out together on Xmas Eve to do my Christmas shopping for her indoors. It has become a tradition in that it guarantees us some quality father and daughter time, the sales have started which means we save a fortune, town is quiet, parking is easy and as a treat I buy her lunch.

Gordon Ramsey has opened a new Restaurant in town specialising in a range of burger and sides and so I was told all at very reasonable costs for outstanding quality.

So last night I had a few moments and thought now was a good time to check it out.

Suffice to say, we will not be visiting Gordon Ramsey's establishment this Christmas.

£18 for a burger
£5 for a portion of chips
Sides such as a portion of onion rings £7
and add on drinks and you are looking at over 60 quid for two people to have lunch.

Daughter agreed, we will indeed give it a miss, but it makes you wonder how they justify those costs when there are maybe 10 other restaurants and cafes within 30 seconds walking of each other and for a fraction of the price you get equally good quality and selection..

But Gordon would argue that it would be the best burger you have ever had, the chips would be crisp outside, and just cooked inside with the minimum of fat, and so on but above all, the name over the door was what they were charging for.

In my last few years of work, I got into many fast food and restaurant kitchens, apart from the big names, what I saw put me off eating in any again.

I agree with Driving for fun on fast food outlets starting well, then they join the race to the bottom but that is what any commercial venture has to do if they want to compete, unless they are in a market like top end restaurants where customers are prepared to pay for the very best, and it must be the best because of the name over the door!?

Last time I ate at a top end place, I had a steak but all I could taste was salt, the waiter noticed I was leaving most of it, and insisted on taking back to the kitchen to show them, man from kitchen came saying it tasted fine to him, we discussed salt, and it's over use, he agreed to cook another with no salt, it was fine, he came and tried a mouthful, and was amazed that steak had a suttle flavour of it's own.
Now you can get a steak from a fatty beast, and is not nice (to some) but black pepper or mustard will bring it back.

Salt is overused in the food industry because evolution has left us with an inclination to favour salt, (when we ate roots, leaves, grains, and fruit) salt was hard to come by, so today if the food produced is crap put plenty of salt on and we will buy it!

[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by TC1474

£18 for a burger
£5 for a portion of chips

My local pub in SW London offers:

Burger - £17.50
Chunky chips or French fries - £4.50

That's not out of the ordinary in these parts.

[Rolebama]

When we went to Duxford earlier, we asked a Guide/Usher where we could eat, and he pointed us to The Workshop Restaurant with the warning that it was expensive. Actually, for what we got it was cheaper than it would have been locally. Plus it was nicer than some of the local places. I suppose it is all relevant to areas.