Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Eating out on Christmas Day. Do we expect too much?

213 replies

Nonimai · 26/12/2023 07:46

We spent £100 a head yesterday on a meal that wasn’t horrible , it was just meh. Expectations are high. People were complaining. Did you have your meal out yesterday? Was it worth the money?
we went to a local gastro pub/restaurant in North England. Usually excellent roasts. Tbh they tried too hard to make it special - chefs only make this once a year - and it didn’t work.

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 26/12/2023 07:49

I’ve heard so many people be disappointed that it’s not something I’d do. They complained of surly waiting staff, food being below standard ( like it had been kept warm) and feeling like they wanted you to go so that they could start their Christmas.

PuttingDownRoots · 26/12/2023 07:51

I hope the staff were getting bonuses for working at those prices... or maybe that's why the food wasn't up to scratch, the staff felt unappreciated...

StripeyDeckchair · 26/12/2023 07:51

Mass catering, particularly for a roast meal like Christmas Dinner is always meh IMO
That's why I won't go out for Christmas Dinner or Sunday lunch - over priced, over cooked & over rated

If you want to go out for Christmas then look for somewhere alternative eg Indian food

Iouis · 26/12/2023 07:51

I think also people do expect too much, the biggest thing you're paying extra for on Christmas day is the extra wages its costing for them to open.

Beezknees · 26/12/2023 07:55

DustyLee123 · 26/12/2023 07:49

I’ve heard so many people be disappointed that it’s not something I’d do. They complained of surly waiting staff, food being below standard ( like it had been kept warm) and feeling like they wanted you to go so that they could start their Christmas.

They probably do. Most waiting staff are students and the like doing it part time to get money while they study. They don't want to be there but they don't have a choice.

I used to be a waitress and I'd never go out on Christmas day.

nomorespaghetti · 26/12/2023 08:00

We ate out yesterday, a nice pub, first time of doing it. £80 a head for adults, £35 for children. It was pretty good, massive portion. Nothing amazing, but I was overjoyed that I wasn’t cooking. It was all warm and served promptly. The staff were lovely and friendly. Only fell apart a bit at the puddings, the food was fine but the ice cream was half melted on the plates.

I’ve vowed never to cook Xmas dinner again. I hate it so much, and I never enjoy what I’ve cooked. It’s not that I’m a bad cook, I just find it boring and I resent the time it takes me away from the kids. Yesterday I spent loads more time playing with them. I’d rather get a takeaway than cook.

EveryKneeShallBow · 26/12/2023 08:01

We went to a Chinese buffet place. There was turkey and trimmings, steaks, salads, but also Chinese dishes, pizza, pasta, sushi and sashimi, and a whole array of fresh fruit and desserts. It was absolutely rammed, but service was faultless, and everything looked clean and delicious. It was (to my mind) very expensive in terms of the food, but the experience was worth every penny.

nomorespaghetti · 26/12/2023 08:01

We did leave a big tip as well I should add

SnufflyBunny · 26/12/2023 08:02

Haha, what extra wages? It doesn't cost them anything extra to open as you don't get paid anymore to work on Christmas Day!

LumiB · 26/12/2023 08:04

I just raided m&s on Christmas eve when the offers go on and had a lovely meal for less than £15 and it fed 3 people too. Thats turkey and veg.

MassageForLife · 26/12/2023 08:07

If I was going out for Christmas dinner, I wouldn't go for a roast. I would go to an Indian or a Chinese restaurant - one manned by people that mostly don't celebrate Christmas. My local Chinese will close for two weeks for their new year celebrations, so I don't mind giving them business over my celebrations. I don't want people that would rather be at home eating turkey be at work cooking it for and serving it to me instead.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 26/12/2023 08:07

SnufflyBunny · 26/12/2023 08:02

Haha, what extra wages? It doesn't cost them anything extra to open as you don't get paid anymore to work on Christmas Day!

I have two friends whose children work in the local pub that did a meal yesterday. No idea how much it cost but they said the children were going to be paid extra

Surely it can't be the case that not everywhere is the same 😮

pictoosh · 26/12/2023 08:07

Hmm...I don't think any Christmas meal out can compare to a home made one...but the convenience of not having to bother is worth the big spend. That's what you're paying for.

I wouldn't expect to be particularly impressed by the food. Even naice places dish out the bog standard at Christmas. Most of it comes out of the freezer, especially the desserts.

doitwithlove · 26/12/2023 08:10

We ate out yesterday, it was very organised, food was good.

It is costly, with only Christmas day off during this festive period it was worth the money we spent.

Enjoy your Boxing day people 🎉

dothehokeycokey · 26/12/2023 08:11

Well we did it for the first time yesterday and I will never cook a Xmas day dinner at home again

There was 8 of us and including the bar bill it was £550 and we tipped £100

Food was hot and fresh,the steaks were cooked to perfection,the staff were amazing and everyone was happy

Your not paying extra for super dooper top of the range,your paying extra for the staff to be paid more to serve you and cook your most important meal of the year.

PuppyMonkey · 26/12/2023 08:13

We had Christmas Day lunch in the pub once several years ago. It was fine, slightly dull atmosphere though, can’t put my finger on it, but it just lacked a little something. Lovely not to have to cook though.

Iouis · 26/12/2023 08:14

SnufflyBunny · 26/12/2023 08:02

Haha, what extra wages? It doesn't cost them anything extra to open as you don't get paid anymore to work on Christmas Day!

Anywhere decent pays their staff double on Christmas day

thefallen · 26/12/2023 08:16

SnufflyBunny · 26/12/2023 08:02

Haha, what extra wages? It doesn't cost them anything extra to open as you don't get paid anymore to work on Christmas Day!

Yes you do. It's often triple time in some places.

Holidayhell22 · 26/12/2023 08:18

It’s a Sunday lunch with extra courses.
Most of the the staff are not there through choice, just necessity.
You are paying for the convenience of not having to spend hours cooking and cleaning.
I know for a fact that even the expensive, fancy restaurants near me buy in the deserts. They might throw a few frozen berries on top but that’s about it.
It saves someone lots of man hours doing it themselves so that is the benefit.

CruCru · 26/12/2023 08:20

A friend used to be a waitress during the holidays and she said that Christmas was Hell. Her boss would schedule two sittings for lunch at the big tables.

The first group would be a bit late sitting down and would want to stay sitting at the table boozing after the lunch. Meanwhile the second would turn up and be annoyed that the first group hadn’t gone yet. The manager would send the second group to stand by the table to encourage the first group to leave. No one liked this. Everyone got a bit shirty with the 16/17 year old waitress.

QueSyrahSyrah · 26/12/2023 08:22

Back in the day when I worked in hospitality over Christmas (for Whitbread, Miller & Carter type of place) we used to get triple time on Christmas Day, so that would account for most of the extra charge compared to a normal day's set menu.

BetiYeti · 26/12/2023 08:23

A pub local to me was advertising for Christmas Day waiting staff, they were desperate for anyone to come in and work a 6 hour shift. They offered £15 an hour, which to me doesn’t seem much to give up Christmas Day to wait on people who will have paid a lot for their dinner and have high expectations.

stepintochristmas1 · 26/12/2023 08:24

Iouis · 26/12/2023 07:51

I think also people do expect too much, the biggest thing you're paying extra for on Christmas day is the extra wages its costing for them to open.

Yes I quite agree , people thinking I'm so many hundreds of pounds for this meal so it should be good . But a huge chunk of that meal is going towards paying staff to serve this meal it's rarely good quality unless you're going upmarket .

Hobbesmanc · 26/12/2023 08:25

We went to a local upmarket pub. 90 quid a head. It was so nice not to worry about timings etc and I think probs cheaper. It was quite quick though. Food was decent Sunday roast level.

wishIwasonholiday10 · 26/12/2023 08:25

You just have to remember that about half the cost is the extra cost of being open on Xmas (hopefully paying their staff extra) and then judge. Last year we ate out on Boxing Day instead and it was exactly the same meal they served on Xmas but £45 instead of £90. Have enjoyed eating out on Xmas a couple of times, especially when it was only 3 of us all with different dietary requirements so would have been a pain to please everyone at home.