The roast dinner has been a staple of the British diet since 1485, with King Henry VII supposedly being a proud consumer of meat and gravy.
But now, the humble plate has become a much more expensive commodity, and Gen Z Brits now choose to spend Sunday tucking into luxury lunches with beef fillet, bone marrow gravy, and sides of lobster tail.
Gone are the days when you could find a classic serving of meat and two vegetables in almost any British pub for under £20.
Young people now pay upwards of £70 for Yorkshire puddings, mash and all the usual (and less usual) trimmings.
One TikToker, whose account is called @eatingwithtod, is famous on TikTok for discovering some of the tastiest foods in London.
One of the most expensive on the list is an acclaimed venue, The Lanesborough Grill (pictured) in London, which charges a whopping £75 for what they describe as a “sensational” three-course meal.
In a video revealing his “best” roasts, he shares four London restaurants, each serving their own version of luxurious roast dinners.
In the video, the food vlogger suggests three different dinner options in the capital, each costing £58, £54 respectively, with the cheapest a £25 meal.
One of the most expensive on the list is an acclaimed venue, The Lanesborough Grill in London, which charges a whopping £75 for what they describe as a “sensational” three-course meal.
The delicious lunch features premium cuts of meat including roast Hereford beef sirloin, roast Salt Marsh lamb, Dover sole and beef Wellington.
The premium price includes a starter and a pudding, both made with premium ingredients.
Classic versions include caramelized brioche pudding, burnt orange puree, buttermilk ice cream, lemon tart, candied citrus, and Earl Gray meringue.
Among the most expensive Sunday meals is Ned’s Feast at Millie’s Lounge, which serves an all-you-can-eat lunch every week.
The elegant spot not only serves grilled cuts of meat, but also offers customers lobster tail to accompany with sauce and mash.
Among the most expensive Sunday meals is Ned’s Feast at Millie’s Lounge, which serves an all-you-can-eat lunch every week.
Another popular spot is The Dorchester, with dozens of videos showing enthusiastic customers tucking into their popular £65 roasts (pictured).
Another London venue that makes your eyes water more than your mouth water is No. Fifty Cheyne in Chelsea: the restaurant charges a whopping £35.50 for roast chicken, which is usually a cheap ingredient.
The ‘feast’ costs a whopping £100 per person and offers customers unlimited quantities of roast, sides, lobster and even oysters.
The spot has amassed dozens of fans, with TikTokers from around the world traveling to the capital to enjoy the luxurious roast lobster dinner.
Dan Blucert, co-owner and chef director of The Duke of Greenwich, is not surprised by the high prices for roast dinners in London.
He said: “People are willing to pay more for quality, whether it’s fashion, furniture or food, so it’s not surprising to see more premium offerings entering the market.”
His own pub now offers “premium shareable roasts with prime cuts” that never fail to attract customers.
“When we buy a whole lamb, we sell the racks for £70 for the whole rack for 2 or 3 to share and they always sell out,” he said.
Lavinia Stewart-Brown, hospitality and events expert and founder of her own company, said: ‘Dining experiences as a whole have definitely moved up a notch in recent years – the options in terms of restaurants and cuisines are endless.
“However, barbecue has undergone a real facelift in recent years: in such a crowded food and restaurant market, people have had to make fun and interesting changes to stand out.”
One pub, Lore of the Land on Conway Street, has its cheapest option: a vegetarian meal with crispy chickpea pasnisse, steamed leak, walnut pesto, pickled radicchio and whipped vegan feta, priced at £23, while chicken costs £54.
Even the budget options aren’t ridiculously cheap. Ganley’s Irish Pub in Morden bills itself as a budget restaurant serving roasts at a counter.
Another popular spot is The Dorchester, with dozens of videos showing enthusiastic customers tucking into their popular £65 roasts.
The restaurant serves three different types of meals, including a roast grass-fed English beef tenderloin, 22-day aged grass-fed beef Wellington, and vegetarian Wellington, mushrooms, spinach and carrots.
Each menu item is priced the same and sells for £65 along with the usual trimmings.
Another place in London that makes your eyes water more than your mouth water is No. Fifty Cheyne in Chelsea. The west London restaurant charges a whopping £35.50 for roast chicken, which is usually a cheap ingredient.
The menu even includes a 100-day aged Belted Galloway beef rib with smoked bone marrow, which will set you back £58 for a portion.
And it’s not just the city’s posh upper-class diners who charge exorbitantly for their Sunday lunch.
One pub, Lore of the Land on Conway Street, has its cheapest option: a vegetarian meal with crispy chickpea pasnisse, soused leak, walnut pesto, pickled radicchio and whipped vegan feta, priced at £23.
The pub, which is priced at just two pound signs on Google, serves cuts of roast beef, chicken or lamb, some of which will set you back more than £30.
A 90-day-old whole Saxon chicken, served with the usual trimmings and cooked in meat fat, will cost £54.
Even the budget options aren’t ridiculously cheap. Ganley’s Irish Pub in Morden bills itself as a budget restaurant serving roasts at a counter.
Piles of potatoes, steamed vegetables and pieces of meat are served on a counter that customers pick up themselves. Despite the cheap and friendly atmosphere and service, a plate of Gangley’s roast is priced at £18.95.
