Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Family friends around for dinner Saturday night- can i do a roast?

164 replies

hmmmwhattoeat · 04/03/2026 21:55

I will start with the fact i love a good roast, and i know logically you can have one any time,BUT it seems odd to eat one on a Saturday night for some reason.

Apart from the fact i like a roast, another benefit it brings is that i can prepare most of it in advance so it still enables me to drop kids to and from their clubs and I know they will also eat it!! Win win

Would you think its a strange choice if you went around for an evening dinner and were served a roast dinner???

Unreasonable- you can not serve a roast for saturday night dinner
Reasonable- stop being silly thats perfectly fine

OP posts:
Ophy83 · 05/03/2026 07:42

I'd roast the meat but serve with a few interesting salads, probably middle Eastern inspired e.g. roast cauliflower with a tahini sauce and pomegranate, carrots with cumin, a good green leaf salad and some small potatoes roasted in their skins alongside some garlic cloves. All can be made ahead (just pop the potatoes back in the oven when the meat is resting)

ImpatientlyWaitingForSummer · 05/03/2026 07:32

I would have a roast everyday if I could so it would be a definite yes from me!!

ThiagoJones · 05/03/2026 07:32

SpringIsSpringing2026 · 05/03/2026 07:28

Yes, people still have 'dinner parties' but generally not what you call having friends around for dinner.

friends having dinner with us doesn't need to be showy & exciting. It needs to be (for me/us) tasty food & great company. But maybe we're more comfortable without friends & no need to impress with 'exciting' food.

Show quote history

Ah I’m very comfortable with my friends and feel no need to try and impress them, but thank you for the dig 😁.

Missingducks · 05/03/2026 07:32

Yes please to a roast but not lamb thanks. Especially if you offer Yorkshire puds whatever the meat. My favourite veg is roast cauliflower ...

SpringIsSpringing2026 · 05/03/2026 07:30

Westfacing · 05/03/2026 07:24

Toad in the hole? I'd be very disappointed to be served this as a guest!

Show quote history

Ooh I wouldn't (as long as it was veggie) at a friends house, I'd be surprised at a 'dinner party' but not disappointed!

SpringIsSpringing2026 · 05/03/2026 07:28

ThiagoJones · 05/03/2026 06:56

Well I still host dinner parties and I’m pretty sure I don’t live in a 1970’s sitcom 😬. Same thing anyway isn’t it, just different wording? Dinner party/having friends for dinner? It doesn’t change my point anyway. I can change it to ‘it’s a bit dull and heavy for having friends for dinner on a Saturday night’, if that helps.

Show quote history

Yes, people still have 'dinner parties' but generally not what you call having friends around for dinner.

friends having dinner with us doesn't need to be showy & exciting. It needs to be (for me/us) tasty food & great company. But maybe we're more comfortable without friends & no need to impress with 'exciting' food.

Astra53 · 05/03/2026 07:26

Most people I know would jump with joy at being served a roast dinner, anytime and anywhere! YANBU.

Westfacing · 05/03/2026 07:24

50Balesofgrey · 04/03/2026 22:08

How about toad in the hole, with all the sides? Saves buying a joint.

Toad in the hole? I'd be very disappointed to be served this as a guest!

Ducksurprise · 05/03/2026 07:18

Parrlorwarrior · 05/03/2026 01:36

Oh yes, good old exciting cottage pie!

Show quote history

😂 I thought the same
I actually class cottage pie in the same group as roasts- meat, potato and veg.

But I don't understand why people think roasts have to be boring- there are so many ways you can cook vegetables, and so many different veg.

I find the 'ooh look I'm cooking middle Eastern style' much more boring and without thought.

SkinnyOatFlatWhiteForMePlease · 05/03/2026 07:10

stapletonsguitar · 05/03/2026 06:59

Oops, I pressed unreasonable by mistake! You absolutely can do a roast and if I was your guest I’d be delighted!

Me too, I am still half asleep.

Westfacing · 05/03/2026 07:06

I love roasts but somehow it's not the right vibe for a Saturday night - along the lines of you wouldn't serve guests pizza or fish & chips for Sunday lunch!

As a pp has said, I would do a slow-roasted middle eastern-style lamb shoulder/leg with roasted peppers, couscous etc. Like a traditional roast most can be prepped and cooking during the day.

JustMyView13 · 05/03/2026 07:04

The two things better than a Sunday roast, is a roast, not on a Sunday. And a roast that you haven’t had to cook yourself. I’d be delighted. Don’t forget the Yorkies!

tutugogo · 05/03/2026 07:03

It’s possible to do a roast with a twist eg I’ve done leg of lamb Greek style with roasted potatoes with oregano then a big Greek salad with it. I’ve also cooked leg of lamb basted in Indian spices served with a selection of vegetarian curries plus raita

stapletonsguitar · 05/03/2026 06:59

Oops, I pressed unreasonable by mistake! You absolutely can do a roast and if I was your guest I’d be delighted!

ThiagoJones · 05/03/2026 06:56

SpringIsSpringing2026 · 05/03/2026 05:07

Why is everyone going on about 'a dinner party'. Iff rf s not a 1970's sitcom. They're having friends around fir dinner.

@hmmmwhattoeat friends around for dinner. Surely you know whether they'd enjoy it or not?

Personally it would depend on which friends & what time.

Show quote history

Well I still host dinner parties and I’m pretty sure I don’t live in a 1970’s sitcom 😬. Same thing anyway isn’t it, just different wording? Dinner party/having friends for dinner? It doesn’t change my point anyway. I can change it to ‘it’s a bit dull and heavy for having friends for dinner on a Saturday night’, if that helps.

Pinkissmart · 05/03/2026 06:56

Of course you can. I used to do one mid week all the time

raspberrysparkles · 05/03/2026 06:50

We nearly always have a roast on Saturday. More time to enjoy and tidy up before work on Monday. Plus Sunday roast is at 3pm and nothing happens after but on Saturday at 6pm this doesn’t matter. Hmmm hope this makes sense! Daffodil

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 05/03/2026 06:40

BillieWiper · 04/03/2026 22:13

No I think it's weirder to start cooking at 9am and be eating at 12-1pm. To me it's too hectic for the cook and too heavy a meal that early.

So evening is perfect. You do slow roasted meat if you do want to do prep earlier on in the day. But you can use shop bought stuffing and pig in blankets etc, and do a tray of roast veg and potatoes all together to save on oven space.

In fact I'd cook a chicken on top of the potatoes and veg then have greens or peas and ready made stuffing as sides. And definitely no shame in using bisto!

All of this!

I wouldn’t be disappointed by a roast (not at all). But I’m really not a fussy eater, so there’s that.

hattie43 · 05/03/2026 06:39

I love a roast anytime

InterestedDad37 · 05/03/2026 06:37

There's never a wrong time for a roast (except perhaps breakfast time) 😋

Empress13 · 05/03/2026 06:15

I would be grateful for anything if someone else was cooking! Maybe do some fancy veg not just plain boring cabbage, carrots etc. look for some nice different recipes online.

LordEmsworth · 05/03/2026 05:16

YABVVVVU to need random strangers to give you permission to roast some meat.

SpringIsSpringing2026 · 05/03/2026 05:14

But if you do, do one. Mine's the veggie option with Yorkshire puddings 😍

SpringIsSpringing2026 · 05/03/2026 05:07

ThiagoJones · 04/03/2026 22:15

I agree. It’s just a bit dull and heavy for a dinner party.

Show quote history

Why is everyone going on about 'a dinner party'. Iff rf s not a 1970's sitcom. They're having friends around fir dinner.

@hmmmwhattoeat friends around for dinner. Surely you know whether they'd enjoy it or not?

Personally it would depend on which friends & what time.

Monty27 · 05/03/2026 04:55

Theres too much timing in a roast dinner with gravy and veg going on while guarding the oven and trying to socialise. I'd always prefer to do something less intensive when there's guests you'd like to be joining in with.

Swipe left for the next trending thread