A very disappointing lunch. Should pubs and restaurants be more honest.

Kate1949

I couldn't care less how it is prepared. If I enjoy it, that's fine.

How did we get to this age ( well some of us ) 😄 without knowing all this stuff.
Most of my Saturdays as a child were spent in a Manzies pie and mash shop. Lots of people were convinced the pies were made from lord knows what😱

That's a good point, that the quality of the food, its presentation and service, is probably determined by its price, though it shouldn't really be so. We eat out a lot in Cornwall where most restaurants show the provenance of their food because they are very proud of local produce.

Totally agree. In fact, I shall make a point, whenever ordering, to ask if it is cooked fresh on the premises (for most of the pubs we go to, no need, I know it to be the case). And they are not more expensive, not much, anyhow. Very happy for simple and honest food.

We avoid any chains we are fortunate that we have good local independent restaurants within walking distance.

Unfortunately our local pubs are now all chains we have a 10 minute drive to a very good independently owned pub where we know all the food is prepared and cooked on the premises. Even during the winter it is advisable to book a table for lunch, in the summer at the weekend it’s advisable to book two/three weeks in advance to avoid disappointment.

It’s good to bear in mind that restaurants/pubs whatever their price bracket tend to provide what the clientele wants and returns for. If more of us gave constructive criticism when a meal is not what we envisaged and/or didn’t frequent less than adequate establishments they would have to adapt or go out of business.

Callistemon21

Fleurpepper

Callistemon ''But we're British!! 😁
We're used to bad food 😁''

doing Britain down again! I totally disagree. British food can be fabulous. But we desserve honesty and clear labelling- provenance of meats, as Joseanne says, and if bought in and re-heated of cooked in house.

We know so many great pubs with very reasonable food all cooked in house, at a decent price too. We also go to a Michelin starred one from time to time- but yes, a bit more pricey. The price should not decide how and where the food is cooked- honest and clear labelling should.

Oh, not me! Why would you think that?
I'm not the one to do the British down

It was tongue-in-cheek.
Im surprised you didn't get it!

LOL I got it, which is why I replied also tongue and cheek.

I love British food- not all of it, mind. And it is amazing how it has changed from the early 70s too. We are surrounded by great restaurants, cafés and pubs of every kind, with a big variety of prices and styles. We avoid chains because we know food is bought in and re-heated most of the time.

And yes, if I order beef, or lamb, etc- I would like to know the provenance. I'd much prefer to pay a bit more for local lamb, etc- than imported from NZ. In many countries, it is a legal requirement to indicate provenance of meat on the menu btw.

Of course some of our favourite restaurants in England serve foreign food, from Italian, to Turkish or Indian, etc. and that is wonderful too.

Aveline

welbeck I agree. Pub grub is pub grub. What do you expect?
If there are huge pre printed menus then the majority of items are bound to come from a freezer. When out we tend to go for the day's special as it's more likely to have had more effort put in by the chef - or is on its last legs and must be eaten!!

So you need to know your pubs- and wher you get fresh home cooked food. We know so many great ones in our area. Don't go to chains- go to your independent ones, and get to know them.

But it would be great that it should be clear on the menu. Why not?

Jaxjacky

As long as I and others enjoy the food, service and environment I’m not that bothered.
Did you eat it Sago and did you pay?

I did eat it and yes we paid.

When the manager came came and casually said “ everything all right with your meals” he was taken aback when I said no!
They just expect a yes.
He did listen to my complaint, I was very polite.
He acknowledged the food was bought in and said one of the reasons was lack of skilled chefs.
It’s such a shame.

Tonight we will make up for it, we have friends coming to stay so we’re having canapés of spicy parsnip soup, pesto on Parmesan shortbreads, Welsh leg of lamb roasted, with roasties, carrots and green beans followed by a cheese board then coffee/tea and fudge.
ALL HOMEMADE!!!!!!

We did a few restaurant visits as ‘mystery shoppers’ a few years ago & found the chain mid priced places all used pre made food. Pre visit - we received detailed notes with photos/notes of reheating instructions and how to position food/ garnish! Had to then view, eat and report back. Most food good. Was made by chefs in a central place, then shipped on. Easy for them to keep standards up- hygiene, quality,timings, saves costs on decent Chefs too. Cote chain is an example of good food prepared and cooked this way.
Independent pubs, cafes and restaurants probably have their own chefs who cook some things from scratch but even those use shortcuts/ modern methods of cooking (water baths/ microwaves etc). Think overpriced food is common now- we usually feel ripped off if the whole experience is disappointing . Not so much if well cooked, hot, beautifully presented, and company is good. Great service, comfy seating and ambience/ surroundings are important too. I expect a very clean table too with sparkling glasses, shiny cutlery and new looking crockery. Even a simple fresh flower makes the difference!

As long as I and others enjoy the food, service and environment I’m not that bothered.
Did you eat it Sago and did you pay?

This was many years ago. Back to my experience of specials board. Our head chef was given a sum of money daily which he was free to spend at local fish\meat markets and concoct dishes of his own imagination and flair. Usually worked wonderfully well as he was sometimes understandably bored simply heating up the cordon bleu meals we bought in.

grandMattie

When DH was alive, we very rarely ate out as he’d say that my food was far better and cheaper. My cooking is above average but not that wonderful!
I have to confess that I too frequently find eating out expensive and disappointing.

Oh dear - that sort of “flattery” sounds like a cop- out!

Like others upthread I know that I am unlikely to meet cordon bleu in our local pubs but sometimes the atmosphere and company are what I want.
I do like it though when a meal goes beyond what I might cook! Sometimes a country pub has surprised with a genuinely talented “rising” chef.

I find I am not at all bothered about going out for a meal any more.

For my recent birthday, we had a takeaway from a local restaurant, just the same food as you would eat in there, but a few pounds cheaper, no having to get dressed up, a much cheaper drink at home, and just a bit of washing up.

welbeck I agree. Pub grub is pub grub. What do you expect?
If there are huge pre printed menus then the majority of items are bound to come from a freezer. When out we tend to go for the day's special as it's more likely to have had more effort put in by the chef - or is on its last legs and must be eaten!!

Kate1949

I couldn't care less how it is prepared. If I enjoy it, that's fine.

Same here.

I suppose it could be the time element. I love a minted lamb shank, but if I ordered it in a pub or eating place I know there is no way they could prepare it from fresh and it would come out of a plastic bag from the microwave.

Some fresh dishes can take a while to prepare, if your prepared to wait some time then that is ok, but most people want to be served pretty quick. Hence a lot of food is pre pared earlier or pre packed etc.

We only go out to restaurants to meet friends, a lot use pre prep or burger type meals that don’t need skilled chefs to prepare.
OH cooks well so on the days I work will usually cook and always uses fresh ingredients, grows a lot on the garden too.

Sometimes a chef will simply refuse to take an element of a dish out because they feel it's integral.
I've had this happen in France as long ago as 1998. I'm pretty certain that wasn't a pre-made dish.
I suppose it was a restaurant and not a pub though.

Kate I m with you all the way I m not daft and I expect most pubs or pub chains to be microwaved food
I also am appalled at some of the prices you are quoting I had a lovely (big plateful) veggie roast (Quorn, Yorkshire pud, roast potatoes, and five different veg followed by strawberry cheesecake for £11.95 last week in a local cafe
I go out to eat for the company I m with, and a change of scenery
There’s a nice place here does big breakfast for under £6 and the kitchen is open so yo can see the cook and what he’s getting up to

When DH was alive, we very rarely ate out as he’d say that my food was far better and cheaper. My cooking is above average but not that wonderful!
I have to confess that I too frequently find eating out expensive and disappointing.

We are creatures of habit and when we find a good restaurant with locally sourced fayre we stick with those and luckily we have a good few to choose from locally and in town, Glasgow.
One we were underwhelmed with was The Ivy. Ridiculous prices for dishes that are on offer at much cheaper restaurants.

We prefer to go out for lunch now…only our bins go out at night. 😄

All French restaurants have to display the provenance of their food.
Most places don't have extensive menus, usually 3 or 4 options for each course with a " menu de Jour" added. With the average price @ £20 per head for 3 courses, I don't think it would be economical to offer more choices.
The last meal I had in the UK in a quite expensive place, £ 90 for two of us, was dreadful. The chicken dish I ordered was described as having a " a base layer of freshly chopped tomatoes and basil" and as I am allergic to tomatoes , I asked for it to be served without that. The young girl went off and came back 10 minutes later and said I couldn't have the dish without the tomatoes because it came in a vacuum pack so couldn't be separated.
Asking for a dish without one of it's components seems a good way to find out if the dish has come pre prepared it seems

i very rarely eat out.
but i recognise salmon and dill fishcakes as a pub-grub standard, and i wouldn't expect it to be specially made on the premises.
i think most catering outlets buy in ready made.
it doesn't bother me and i don't think most people would care, just that it is tasty, good quality and enough of it.
there is a pub near here that i've been to occasionally. i like the food, it is generous portions, but i can't afford or justify it.
i like the salmon fillet with grilled veg and mash.
that's £20 alone, or was last time i went.
i guess it's bought it, never thought about it.
you could try to start a campaign, i guess, but i think it is a minority interest.
most people just want value for money.
they either like the food or not.
the pub near me is very popular, packed out with families for sunday lunch, and always busy.
so they have no need to change their operation.
they were v good in the pandemic; delivering takeaways, with discounts for disabled people.

I couldn't care less how it is prepared. If I enjoy it, that's fine.

The coffee was £9 or so and there was a service charge, but even so. . .

I raised an eyebrow, but Mr Dog's face was comical

I can't begin to work out how it could cost that much.