Tom Kerridge hit back at a critic who called out prices at his renowned pub restaurant.
The celebrity chef, 48, was criticised for charging £87 for steak and chips, £7.50 for cabbage and £26.50 for a creme brûlée.
Wine expert Guy Woodward quoted the website of The Hand and Flowers boozer, which is in Marlow, Bucks.
He tweeted: "Website of The Hand and Flowers by Tom Kerridge: 'Unpretentious', 'proper pub', 'for everyone to enjoy' 'relaxed and accessible’…
"Steak and chips: £87, side of cabbage: £7.50, creme brûlée: £26.50. And people complain about wine list mark-ups."
The tweet garnered dozens of likes – and some echoed the critic’s opinion.
One Twitter user wrote: “I agree profit is a good thing but come on – £95 for steak, chips and cabbage is taking the mick.
“I will pay for good food. But there’s a limit where it becomes offensive.”
Another wrote: “Thought you were kidding but those are the actual prices.”
And a third added: “Ridiculous prices.”
But Tom Kerridge defended himself in the responses, pointing out there are costs to paying staff properly and running a business.
He replied: "Those prices include everything, VAT and service.
"No additional service charge at all.
"Also I pay staff properly and treat their job as a professional career.
"Perhaps the real cost of dining should be addressed.
"Unpretentious does not mean cheap.”
Guy Woodward, who edits an alcohol magazine called Club Oenologique, added: "Maybe, but can you then claim to be a homely pub too??
"Wine example: Chateau Siaurac, Lalande de Pomerol 2014 £84 – roughly 400 per cent mark-up from retail."
Not everyone agreed with the critic though.
Some pointed out the pub does have two Michelin stars – and it was the first boozer in the UK to achieve this accolade.
Winemaker Gavin Quinney said: "I'd charge £7.50 for a side of cabbage if I had two Michelin stars."
Another Twitter user agreed: "if you think that's too much then fine, it's a free market. And you can just go to Wetherspoons instead.
"But don't expect to dine at two Michelin star level without paying what it costs."
And a hospitality worker added: "This is reason why people working in hospitality get paid a s**t wage.
"Because people like you don't think that a well butchered, reared steak, treated well, cooked well, handled by more than one chef should be worth this.
"I'm sure Tom Kerridge has bills, rent, wages to pay for too."
The TV chef added: "Some absolute plonkers on here."
The pub's website reads: "When we opened The Hand & Flowers in 2005, we wanted it to be exactly the kind of place where we would like to enjoy our days off.
"That meant a proper pub, but with proper food.
"A friendly, comfortable atmosphere, where everybody's welcome.
"Bold, unpretentious cooking with brilliant, seasonal ingredients. Professional but approachable service from people who love to eat out as much as we do.
"Since opening, our approach has won us many loyal friends.
"We're proud to be the first pub with two Michelin stars, but our food is for everyone to enjoy, and our pub is still a relaxed and accessible environment where everybody's welcome."
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