A meal for two in a swanky restaurant will set you back anywhere upwards of £50 - often more. Of course, you could save money by ditching dessert or passing up on sides, but with a drink or two added to the bill, things do soon start to tot up. And there’s really no fun in not having a pudding, let’s be honest.
So for couples who are looking to save money and do date night on a budget this February 14, Tesco have launched a dine-in deal that gets you a main, side, drink and that all-important dessert for just £12.
The romantic meal deal doesn’t land in stores until Thursday, February 9, but we managed to get our hands on it early to see if staying in is the new going out this Valentine’s Day.
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As part of the deal, shoppers can create the perfect dinner for two by choosing one main, one side, one dessert and one drink all for just £12. The Clubcard-exclusive offer is at a cheaper price point than last year, when it was £15.
Not only that, included in the deal is an award-winning bottle of Finest prosecco which costs £10 alone, meaning savvy Clubcard members can choose it and get a full meal alongside it, for only an extra £2.
There’s an array of options to choose from, including meat, fish and vegetarian dishes, with some returning fan favourites and brand new dishes like Tesco Finest Heart Shaped Potato Croquettes with Black Pepper and Parsley, Tesco Finest Vegetable Moussaka, and the Tesco Finest Truffle Mac & Cheese.
As our main course, we opted for the Tesco Finest Chicken in Cabernet Sauvignon, featuring tender marinated chicken in a rich sauce made with Cabernet Sauvignon, served with onions and roast mushrooms. The single tray contains a portion for two people, so it’s ideal for couples, or a little date night.
To accompany the main event, the offer also includes one side which feeds two people. The only problem is that we are a family of three, and so portions for four people would have been too much - but two not enough. That said, one of these Tesco Finest Truffle Mac & Cheese works well as a standalone main dish, too, if you have a smaller appetite, so we chucked an extra one in for taste-test purposes.
The macaroni pasta is cooked in a creamy sauce with black truffle, truffle oil and tangy extra mature cheddar, topped with pecorino and fresh parsley. It packs quite the punch, but fans of the comforting dish will absolutely love it.
Finally, rounding off the culinary experience, there’s the choice of delicious chocolate or fruity desserts, all of which serve two. We had the Chocolate Brownie Heart - a gooey chocolate treat that can be warmed in the oven or microwave, topped with a rich chocolate ganache and finished with red lustre and cocoa powder.
We actually split one of these brownies into three as they’re huge when you take them out of the packet. I only realised after practically inhaling it that it was, in fact, plant based. My parents had both really enjoyed their plant-based pudding too, so it just goes to show that you shouldn’t let the fact something is vegan put you off, even if it’s not something you’d usually go for.
Overall, the food was delicious and a clear cut above your average supermarket food. It was all really rich, full of flavour, and still really affordable at just £12 per couple. What’s more is that the mains and sides came in metal trays, which meant that there was much less washing up to do compared to if you’d cooked something from scratch yourself, meaning there’s no post-teatime arguments about who’s cleaning the kitchen, and more time to work out what to watch on Netflix that evening.
While it’s certainly not a replacement for a luxury meal out, it’s ideal for those wanting to make an effort without breaking the bank this Valentine’s Day. Light some candles, put on your favourite playlist, and you can make this Tesco meal deal an extremely personalised experience this February 14.
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