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

[Nonimai]

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.

Cook your own . Problem solved

I'm not sure if have the nerve to wait last minute, but bloody well done.

All roasts out are meh! Never had one anymore than meh!

We always go out & have done for the last 30yrs, usually hotels we have used before. . As of yet we cannot fault food or staff.

And while some may get more money for working Christmas day, it will become increasingly rare as time goes by, just like many companies now no longer pay extra for working evenings or weekends as used to happened in the past.

I doubt even most of those getting paid extra yesterday wanted to be there - they probably had no choice either because they needed the money or, more likely, wanted to keep their job.

Let's face it, when all is said and done this is just another example of people with more money taking advantage of people with less, just because they can afford it and they can't be arsed to do the work themselves.

Maybe instead use that amount of money to go for a properly decent meal together at another point in the year?

We didn't do the big roast at home this year and just got a huge spread of cheeses and charcuterie and salads etc it was so easy and delicious.

We have no kitchen at the moment, so went out for lunch. We'd left it quite late to book, so ended up at a Hungry Horse pub.

It was more or less what I'd expected from that kind of place. It was "fine", apart from the parsnips being inedible (couldn't get a knife through them) and there not being enough gravy.

We were first sitting, and the food came out in a timely fashion, it was hot, and the portions were more than generous, with loads of trimmings (more than I would have done at home).

I'd not choose to go out for Christmas Dinner again, and I'm already looking forward to cooking it next year in my super-duper swish new kitchen.

Went out for meal our local been lots of times before !
7 of us I hate spending the day cooking prepping and the madness of supermarket gauntlet!!
It was absolutely brilliant food was too notch atmosphere was cracking !! But it’s a local to us so many familiar faces
staff were happy it was organised !
last couple of years was a bit weird I think getting back to normal after the pandemic was to blame for that but this year felt like previous years ! Never again will I cook Xmas dinner ! Happy Boxing Day everyone!! X

The problem is definitely that people expect a meal twice as good as a normal Sunday roast because they're paying twice the price, but really of course you are just paying for the date!

We went to a local pub for £70 an adult/£30 a child - it was delicious, a good roast dinner, all served hot and quickly.

We took elderly relatives out to an Indian restaurant local to them, and had a fantastic five course meal. Great atmosphere and very cheerful staff. £65 per head, with drinks and a tip on top. I thought that was brilliant value.

🙄

We ate out. £32.50 for three courses per head.

we’ve gone the last 3 years. It’s incredible! The bill came around £50pp with 4 rounds of drinks each.

Islington, London.

Of course, everyone remotely near Islington wants to know where this was. (I've friends in Dalston.)

In our pub tips for the day totalled £80 across the 14 people working so no real bonus there

Just wondering what the turnover was for this Christmas Day because £80 feels so low!

We booked the Toby carvery and I’ve done a chargeback on my credit card.

£250 for a 3 course meal for 3 adults and 2 children (doesn’t include drinks)

25 mins from seating to starters arriving.

starters were wrong, had to be changed, dh’s arrived when everyone had almost finished theirs.

main meal was nice (self service)

puddings again were wrong. Kids ice cream was bland and not what was ordered, dh didn’t get his pudding at all despite asking 2 members of staff.

they knocked off £7 for the missing pudding!

Mem and Laz in Upperstreet.

they had 700 people throughout the day for Christmas Lunch.

it was very busy but service and food was fantastic.

Christmas dinner out is never anything to write home about

We had originally thought of going away for a few days, but everyone was too exhausted so we used the budget to have Christmas lunch out instead - turned out to be a great decision! Wonderful staff, fab and varied food, no washing up or shopping or prepping, and a lovely relaxed day. If I was any sort of planner I would be re-booking for next year now!

@Nonimai i know £100 is a lot of money but honestly I wouldn’t have expected much for that. You are paying not to have the hassle. Places that charge 150-200 are more likely to give you what you want. This is my experience from last year!

Ridiculous comment, most decent places are on double time at least!!

@WowIlikereallyhateyou I've already stated earlier, I know of two people who were made to work on Christmas Day for no extra. People in hospitality are often treated terribly.

I stopped eating out on Christmas Day some years ago because it never lived up to expectations. More importantly, after I’ve eaten a big lunch I just want to slob on the sofa, not have to make a journey home.

I worked in a pub on Christmas Day a couple of times, was always paid double (20 years ago). Otherwise what’s the incentive to go to work on Christmas Day when you could be having a nice time with your family? It’s also a bank holiday which I thought just meant double pay as standard! Maybe I’m very out of touch 😂

Anyway, going back to the OP, I go out to eat lots, weekly, twice weekly, sometimes more depending on my diary. Id never in a million years go out for a roast and absolutely not a Christmas dinner, it’s sacred!! I’d always be disappointed.

But but but
what about your leftovers?
no Turkey sandwiches. No bubble and squeak

i feel sorry for hospitality working Christmas Day. I say this as an event manager!

Venues charge whopping amounts! Expectations are extremely high. The chefs have to try and exceed expectations and the floor staff have to try and make the ‘experience’ special and perfect.

@Southlondoner88
No, we went out yesterday at an Indian restaurant, the Everest inn in Blackheath and were really impressed with the food and service, great atmosphere too. I’d imagine some places like hotels would be dissapointing though.
I was there as well! Third Christmas day spent there as it is so wonderful. Customers with dogs sat outside eating - luckily the weather was ok and blankets were on hand. £60 per head so not ridiculous. As someone upthread mentioned it is better to book somewhere that owners/staff would not normally celebrate this time of year. So although you won't get traditional British Christmas fodder you will get excellent Indian/Chinese/Nepalese/Turkish food.

We’ve eaten out 3 times on Christmas Day and it was fab - but then it was the Wolseley. We had - crab, oysters, lobster, escargots with quails eggs, Wiener schnitzel etc and Sachertorte, chocolate liégeois, lemon meringue, crème brûlée etc and some wonderful cocktails. Don’t remember the cost, but definitely worth it.