Eating out on Christmas Day..

[AtAt]

This year, it will be 3 year old ds, dh and I for Christmas day. We are most likely going to cook, but a small part of me is tempted with going out for Christmas lunch.
Has anyone done this, and if so can you recommend somewhere in East London? (I.E. a chain restaurant maybe) Thanks!

[IHaveBrilloHair]

I honestly wouldn't, if you want a Christmas meal without cooking, then go before or after the day, on the day itself you pay a huge premium to cover the inflated (rightly so), staff wages, but the food doesn't match the price.

[ClashCityRocker]

I've done it once...the food was good, albeit expensive but....it's just not the same.

You don't get the house smelling all lovely of roast dinner, there's no leftovers (the best bit!) and they always have a different idea of what veggies you have with a christmas dinner to mine.

And you only get one pig in blanket rather than six

plus, I find it odd eating christmas dinner in the same room as a bunch of strangers.

[Trumpette]

We did it two years ago with 5 & 8 year old and grandparents. It was great! We arrived, ate a lovely meal and then went home! Fab, no debate about who cooks, no leftovers for days on end.

We have a small family so it was the same folk as usual, it felt like an event.

It was more expensive than usual but it is Christmas Day after all and the staff are giving up their time so need to be paid!

Take some entertainment for younger kids, want to do it this year!

[Shakey15000]

"rather than six"

I always fancy the idea but I agree, there's nothing like a Christmas Dinner at home. Not that I have owt to do with it as the kitchen is entirely DH's domain when it comes to Christmas dinner

It's also ideal to start your Christmas dinner traditions that make the whole thing special etc. Plus you can't immediately slob about, undo buttons/zips in restaurants

But good luck finding somewhere if that's your preference!

[WeAllHaveWings]

Did it once with about 8 family members and it just didn't feel like Christmas Day. Wouldn't do it now with ds as he wouldn't enjoy it and would be desperate to be back home with his new pressies.

[VimFuego101]

I have, but it's expensive (think 50 quid plus per head).

[AndLeavesthatweregreenturnedto]

It depends do you want to pay for the buzz and being around other people as perhaps its just the three of you? If so then yes, we have eaten out twice and it has its + and - - I did enjoy not having to worry about the meal and it was lovely to come to the house and presents etc.

[CupboardOfBacon]

If you do decided to go out for Christmas lunch you will need to decide soon. Everywhere I have worked has been fully booked for Christmas day by the end of October

[AndNowItsSeven]

We have a buffet on Christmas Day and go out for Christmas dinner on Boxing Day. £12.99 ahead and half price for children.

[OutToGetYou]

We did last year. There's just the two of us, dss comes BD and he's not interested in food, then we go away 27th really early so no point having leftovers.
So, neither of us had to cook nor wash up, nor did we have to plan and buy it all.
It wasn't cheap.
It was our local pub so we knew other people there which made it nice.
The food wasn't brilliant, partly just 'not home cooked' but also weirdly, there was too much of it which was off putting.
They've got a new chef so this year would prob be better, but we're away this year (I still won't have to cook, yay!).

[Boredofthinkingofnewnames]

We did a couple of years ago, it was £150 per head including (a lot) of booze. It was fantastic. I now have small children and wouldn't dream of it until they're older - waste of money I think now, would spend most of the time trying to entertain them.

[ObiWanCannoli]

We've done it once in the North East of England it was brilliant, it was a large enough pub of about 80 diners and each sitting was staggered with enough length of time to really relax and enjoy the afternoon. There were four sittings 12pm - 2pm - 5pm - 8pm.

I can't remember what we paid but it must have felt right or I wouldn't have paid. We had drinks and nibbles first with some of the other diners and the kids got a goody bag with colouring pencils and sheets of paper to colour, we were seated for the meal - starter , main which was lovely and generous and then pudding. Santa then came round the tables and gave the kids all a small gift, it was a reindeer soft toy and some chocolate and then we had coffee and were given a voucher for the next meal we booked there.

It was brilliant but I would research online first and see what your local food spots offer.

We only did it once as we moved to a really rural area the next year and couldn't do anything like that as it was too much of a drive.

I loved it though and would do it again.

[imwithspud]

Positives I'd imagine would be not having to cook and clean up. It's not for me personally though. You can't beat a Christmas dinner made at home the way you like it, and if you prepare in advance you don't really spend that much time in the kitchen.

[AtAt]

I'm definitely leaning towards doing it ourselves, but the thought of no washing up would be the the thing to swing it for me

[Ahardmanisgoodtofind]

Google pubs in your area and have a look at menus/price on their websites. I work for a big chain, but we have loads of brands, different brands = different prices and product.the cheaper it is, the less "homemade" the food is as a general rule. We don't go out because dp is a chef and works it,but his family Go out every year,they like that they can order a variety of meals (mil has Turkey fil has beef bil has salmon)

[LikeASoulWithoutAMind]

I wouldn't ever do it. I like Christmas dinner just the way we do it. And I'm not keen on other people having to work on Christmas Day.

[BathshebaDarkstone]

We started doing it when we visited DGM and she got too old to cook, she refused to let anyone else in her kitchen. It was a good pub in south Yorkshire, the food was lovely. I can't recommend anywhere in east London though, sorry.

[spanisharmada]

I plan to buy it all ready done so its really just a matter of 'warming up' Christmas dinner and throwing away the packaging. Might even go for paper plates too.

[ClashCityRocker]

That's what we do wittery. Really takes the stress out of it.

I am a proper home bird though and love christmas at home so probably not the best person to ask
I also love cooking christmas dinner, so do really miss it when not spending it at home.

[lorelei9]

Done it but not in that area so can't make a recommendation

I loved it, so much nicer than cooking and being home. But I find a very long dull day with too many expectations, so different for me than for someone who loves all that.

[CardiffUniversityNetballTeam]

We did it last year. As it was DS first Xmas since me and his dad had split. We figured that it meant we would both be able to have Xmas lunch with our son but on "neutral ground." Ex also brought his mum with us to "referee" proceedings!!
It was actually a very lovely, civilised experience. The food and drink was lovely and although it was strange not to be at home, it's really drawn a line in the sand as to Xmas being different since the split but still okay. So okay in fact, I'm going to suggest we do it again this year!
I have no idea how much it cost as ex paid for all of it last year. I would be more than happy to pay my share this time round though.
We went to a Malmaison brasserie, so part of a chain.

[OutToGetYou]

See, for me there isn't a "Christmas at home the way you like it", my parents didn't bother much and I've been single most of my life so never had a family to cater for and make our own traditions.
With dp we've had four Christmases together and we've done something different every year, and will be different again this year. And in all that we've never cooked a turkey (had duck, pheasant, capon, then last year out). This year at my sister's it's highly likely she'll do beef or venison.
When I was on my own I used to have a pork chop.
So I've not really got any traditions.
We have made a few but they don't tend to be around food (for example, I'm not making a cake this year as we've not finished last year's!).

[AtAt]

witery will be buying some disposable trays. DH cooked last year, so I washed up, and it took ages!

[Canyouforgiveher]

We visit family for christmas but by the beach in a hot climate. We go to a restaurant/club for dinner. I love it. We go to church, then spend the day on the beach, then get dressed up and head out for dinner. It is a buffet with lots of different choices of meat and potatoes and veg. We have thanksgiving a month before and I cook for that though.