The price of pub food is soaring to unacceptable levels, prompting murmurs of discontent from dining customers, according to the Good Pub Guide.
A country-wide survey of prices puts the average cost of the humble steak and kidney pie at an astonishing £10.50p.
The Guide claims many pubs could be overcharging for food by 67%.
Most pubs are now overcharging for their food by around 67%Good Pub Guide
A survey of 1,000 menus reveals that an average middle price range of a two-course lunch now costs punters £16.76p per head, rising to £20 with a glass of wine.
The Guide stops short of saying there is a customer rebellion on the cards but "customers are getting worried".
The Guide says there is growing customer feedback indicating that diners are finding pub food increasingly expensive.
The Guide has for the first time launched a new "Bargain Award" section which features pubs which offer keen prices, often a little over half the national average.
"A few of these (pubs) specialise in snacks rather than meals but they are delicious and tremendous value," the Guide reveals.
The average price of the most popular dish such as steak and ale pie or fish and chips cost around £6.25p.
"Taking the average price charged by these bargain pubs as a fair yardstick it means most pubs are now overcharging for their food by around 67%," he adds.
The White Horse at Hertford is named as the Guide's Bargain Pub Of The Year 2008.
The guide's Dining Pub Of The Year is the Appletree Inn at Marton, North Yorkshire, which it describes as having an almost obsessive concentration on home grown and locally sourced ingredients.