Poppadom Maths: Do Midweek Curry Banquets Beat the Takeaway?

The midweek curry deal is one of the great British comfort-food rituals. A laminated menu promises a starter, a main, a side and rice for £15.95 per person, and suddenly Tuesday night feels like an event. But is it actually cheaper than a takeaway, or are you just paying for the pleasure of sitting under a fairy light and being asked if you want a second poppadom?

In 2026, the curry house is under the same cost pressure as every other restaurant. Set menus have crept up, portion sizes have become more negotiable, and the phrase ‘banquet night’ is doing a lot of heavy lifting. The calculus is worth doing before you book.

The deal on the door

Most midweek offers run Monday to Thursday. You will see set menus at £14.95, £17.95 or £19.95 per person, sometimes with a ‘minimum two people’ rule. BYOB is another common draw, especially in areas with a strong independent restaurant scene. On paper, it looks like a clear win against the takeaway.

But the headline price is not the bill. The real cost per person includes poppadoms, chutney, corkage, service charge and any supplement for the dishes you actually want. That is where the maths gets interesting.

What ‘set menu’ actually means

A set menu usually means one starter, one main, one side and rice or naan. Sometimes it means one side between two people, which is a very different offer. Sometimes the ‘side’ is a small bowl of something that costs £4.50 on the à la carte. Sometimes the main is smaller than the à la carte portion, even though it comes from the same kitchen.

Check the small print. Are king prawn and lamb dishes included, or do they carry a £2 to £4 supplement? Is the rice per person or per table? Is the naan one between two? Does the deal include coffee, or is that extra? These details decide whether the banquet is a bargain or a bait-and-switch.

The BYOB illusion

BYOB can be a genuine saving. If a restaurant charges £2 corkage per person and you bring a £10 bottle of wine, you are still miles ahead of a £28 restaurant bottle. For a group of four, corkage might add £8, but the drinks bill stays low.

However, BYOB is not always available on the deal night. Some places charge corkage per bottle rather than per person. Some charge more for spirits. Some only allow BYOB on certain days. And if you do not drink, BYOB is irrelevant. The offer is only valuable if you use it.

Cost per person: the napkin calculation

Take a typical set menu at £16.95. Add a poppadom and chutney tray at £1.50 per person. Add £2 corkage. Add 10% service. That is £22.50 per person before you have ordered a single extra side.

Now compare a takeaway. A main curry might be £9.50, rice £3, a side £4 and a naan £3. That is £19.50 for one person, but you often get leftovers. For two people sharing, a takeaway can land around £35 to £40 with a couple of mains, rice, sides and bread. The set menu for two comes to £45. The takeaway is cheaper, even before you add the cost of getting to the restaurant.

But the set menu includes a starter, and it includes sitting down. If you eat a lot, order the expensive dishes and share sides, the gap narrows. If you are a light eater, the set menu is often waste disguised as value.

Portion sizes and the side-dish trap

The side-dish trap is real. A set menu might include one side between two, which is fine if you are not greedy and less fine if you are. Extra sides are where the bill grows: £4.50 for saag aloo, £3.50 for raita, £2.50 for pickles. Two extra sides and a couple of drinks can push the real cost per person past £25.

Portion sizes also matter. A set-menu main can be smaller than the à la carte version. Rice portions can be modest. Naan is often shared. If you leave hungry, the deal has failed. If you leave with leftovers, you have done well.

À la carte vs set: when to choose which

If you want one curry and one rice, à la carte is usually cheaper. If you want a starter, a main, a side and bread, the set menu can work. If you are dining with friends and want the ritual of poppadoms, chutney and a slow sit-down, the set menu is part of the pleasure.

Takeaway wins for sofa eating, leftovers and no service charge. The set menu wins for a night out with company. The mistake is assuming the set menu is always the budget option. It is a budget option only if you would have ordered all those courses anyway.

Questions to ask before booking

• Which dishes carry a supplement?
• Is rice and naan per person or per table?
• Is the side dish one per person or one between two?
• Is service charge included in the deal price?
• Is corkage per person, per bottle or per table?
• Is the deal available on Friday or bank holidays?
• Are the set-menu portions the same as à la carte?
• Can you see the full set menu before you sit down?

A quick phone call can save you £10 a head. Ask about the supplements and the side situation. If the restaurant is vague, assume the worst and budget for it.

The ChewDays verdict

Midweek curry banquets can be a steal, but only when the menu is genuinely inclusive and you are hungry enough to use it. Add up the poppadoms, corkage, supplements and service before you commit. Compare that total with a takeaway for the same number of people. Sometimes the restaurant wins on atmosphere and the takeaway wins on cost. The smart move is to know which one you actually want, and to order the extra naan only when the maths says yes.