There are different prices in different areas. My idea of a good deal is two decent main courses and a couple of drinks for less than £10 in a comfortable restaurant. The normal price of a main course round here (Yorkshire) is £5 - £8, depending where you go, what you eat and so on. Promotions might do two main courses for £5.95.

Yesterday I bought 5 instant microwave meals for £4 at Asda. I reckon that they would just about pass for a restaurant meal - or maybe the 2 for £2.50 ones would give a better sized helping. All I need now is a few Asian posters, subdued lighting and the right music and, if people think £5 a go is a bargain, I'll start hiring the staff...

A few years ago I picked up the bill for feeding 8 people in a plush restaurant (carpet on the walls, marble in the bathroom, etc) in the financial district of Manila. It came to £13. A friend took my receipt so it could be claimed as a business expense.

I found out last night why some restaurants are able to offer such deals (especially 50% off). We visited Prezzo and ordered starters, maincourses, drinks and wine for 7 people, therefore spending quite a lot more on items other than our 50% off main courses. You do have to mention you are using the deal before you order - almost a forewarning! When the main courses came (I had Penne al Pollo Zafferano) and although a fair size plate of Pasta, I picked out the chicken to find there was less that half a chicken breast thinly sliced into my pasta. At £8.95 (if paying full price) I would have expected more chicken. I asked the waitress that if by ordering with the 50% off voucher it meant you got 50% of the portion size, as it was certainly disappointing value for money, although good value at half price. She assured me this was a full size portion. I'm sure these restaurants are making the chef aware of the voucher users beforehand and limiting the high cost item (ie chicken in my case). I have eaten in Prezzo before these discount vouchers and could never complain about a meal or the portion size, so it goes back to the old saying "you only get what you pay for". Next time I use a voucher somewhere I shall conveniently forget to announce it before I order.

The first thing most people take into account as to the quality of a restaurant is how many people frequent it, would you go into an empty restaurant at lunch time? No, It's an effect and very simple marketing technique that at the very least helps you tick over.

Many family run businesses already have the staff on hand and the premises ready 7 days each week so they find it better to have a few people in rather than be empty on Mondays, Tuesdays, etc..

Two courses and a glass of wine for £10 does leave room for profit. Some restaurants add up the cost of the raw food and multiply that by 3 to get the menu price and that can come to a figure of £10 or so. My opinion is that anywhere that is charging twice that needs to be offering something really special to justify the price.

Whilst we see so many restaurants offering discounts and saving vouchers to attract customers at what point can this actually hinder the business?

Surely as the recession rumbles on the more substantial offers eg 2 courses and wine for £10 or 50% off cannot be maintained to the detriment of the business?

And are there any discounts that make us think? actually why is that so cheap and so in fact deter us rather than entice us?

I'd be interested to know people's opinions.

Many thanks,