Family chain pubs that serve food in the evening gained popularity in the 1970s, and included [[Berni Inn]] and [[Beefeater (restaurant)|Beefeater]].<ref name="rememberwhen.gazettelive.co.uk"/>
Quality dropped but variety increased with the introduction of [[microwave ovensoven]]s and [[freezer]] food. "Pub grub" expanded to include British food items such as [[Meat pie|steak and ale pie]], [[shepherd's pie]], [[fish and chips]], [[bangers and mash]], [[Sunday roast]], [[ploughman's lunch]], [[chicken tikka masala]], and [[Pasty|pasties]]. In addition, dishes such as [[Hamburger|burgers]], [[Buffalo wing|chicken wings]], [[lasagne]] and [[chilli con carne]] are often served.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/28/18/28_18spikehill2.html | title = Better Pub Grub | work = The Brooklyn Paper | first = Tina | last = Barry | date = 29 April 2005 | access-date = 22 July 2013 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130512202047/http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/28/18/28_18spikehill2.html | archive-date = 12 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/pub-grub-gets-out-of-pickle-548350 | title = Pub grub gets out of pickle | date = 27 June 2005 | access-date = 22 July 2013 | work = The Mirror | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140525195553/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/pub-grub-gets-out-of-pickle-548350 | archive-date = 25 May 2014}}</ref> Some pubs offer elaborate hot and cold snacks free to customers at Sunday lunchtimes, to prevent them getting hungry and leaving for their lunch at home.
Since the 1990s, food has become a more important part of a pub's trade, and today most pubs serve lunches and dinners at the table in addition to (or instead of) snacks consumed at the bar. They may have a separate dining room. Some pubs serve meals to a higher standard, to match good restaurant standards; these are sometimes termed gastropubs.
