Eating out

[Baxdream]

We're thinking of going to a local country pub for Christmas Day dinner. It's be 6 and ddog.

Has anyone done it?

We have a large kitchen so always end up hosting and I'm fed up of being let down last minute

Thoughts?

We always eat out for Christmas Day - we go for a curry.

I'm not sure I could go for a curry. I'd still want a Christmas dinner of sorts
Thanks though

No, they are never very good and have a huge mark up, understandably, but the food is just crap, unless you go high end, then it's ridiculously priced and the normal menu would still be better.

What about takeaway?

We have twice, both different types of eateries and for different reasons, and loved it both times. We found prices reasonable and food was excellent. My advice would be to research, find out if anyone you know has been. A very alarcte pub in our village is outstanding, except Christmas day, slow service, crammed, overpriced and poor food. Do book well in advance, I know a few places near us are already taking bookings.Tip well.Dont have too high expectations.There won't be leftovers, but there won't be any dishes or stressful food shopping either. Lastly enjoy, you can definitely still have Christmas spirit going out for Christmas day, last year we thoroughly enjoyed relaxing on the day and getting dressed up, I spent more time with my family and wasn't having a break down with a paper hat on looking bedraggled in kitchen.

To get anything decent for 6 people for Christmas lunch would cost about what we spend on DC's presents round here. And I doubt you'd be able to take a dog into a restaurant.

I have a couple of times and found it required a bit of a readjustment in thinking..... The food was fine, but I did find I missed a lot of the usual accompaniments that we would have (pigs in blankets always seem to be the full sausage variety rather than the cocktail sausage type, no mashed swede and carrot etc) so it didn't feel like a Christmas dinner to me...its impossible for them to get right tbf as everyone has a different idea of what constitutes a Christmas dinner.

We also felt pressured to get out of the way for the second sitting, so I would suggest booking a later sitting if you can.

We're considering it this year as have an elderly relative who we can't host at ours due to stairs and no downstairs loo, but it wouldnt usually be my choice - and I'm normally the cook!

Yes, eat out every year with varied results-including one year when the chef didn’t turn up, and the manager walked out, leaving everyone without Christmas lunch; it was so awful, we had to laugh and went home to raid the cupboards.
Last year was definitely the best experience, but at £100 a head (before any drinks) it was expensive. However, everyone felt that the cost was justified as the day/meal ran smoothly, and the lakeside venue was beautifully decorated and festive.
Try to read reviews of previous Christmas Day meals before booking your venue.
As per a pp, have also done a curry Christmas Day (all adults, from four different families) and at £35 a head, it was great value for money!

I would never want to eat Christmas dinner out as roasts are the worst things to have in any restaurant. They need to be cooked fresh and have home made Yorkshire puds and roast potatoes not frozen.

Both me and DH like cooking so it doesn't bother us cooking for 16.

If, for any reason, we were going to eat out we would probably go for curry.

How do people let you down? I'm curious? I love hosting Christmas/ cooking big meals but the politeness of trying to cook something everyone likes (not requirements, just fussyness) in the extended family can get a bit wearying. The meals become making sure to cook everything seperataly so people can pick and choose what they want, which takes more organisation than roasting a large quantity of veg together, large main etc. But because everything is overallocated, people letting me down isn't an issue, I can just have leftovers?

People that say they're coming then change their mind after I've ordered food.

Or vice versa!

I love cooking and we have a beautiful kitchen to do it in. We have a lot of family that refuse to host and some arrive empty handed ( not even a bottle of wine!)

Of course you can take dogs to some restaurants, he has been to a Michelin star restaurant and was treated like royalty 😂

Great idea about getting reviews for Christmas Day itself rather than general reviews. I've found somewhere with space for us which has a great reputation normally so I'll double check about Christmas Day.

I'm okay with it not being to my taste completely. I regularly work Christmas Day so I completely understand your not going to get the best . I will definitely tip well!

We go to the local Mediterranean restaurant which we can walk to and have a lovely relaxed meal. There's just the 2 of us...my brother kindly invites us every year but we politely decline.
Always great ( unchristmassy) food.

Of course you can take dogs to some restaurants, he has been to a Michelin star restaurant and was treated like royalty

I’m fascinated to know which one, OP?

The Sportsman near Whitstable

Have only done it once, when staying with friends who didn't want to cook. I wouldn't again, for 3 reasons - very expensive, not as nice as home made (if you're talking trad turkey dinner) - and no leftovers to pick at.

Also, unless it's walking distance, it means someone has to be the non drinking driver.

People that say they're coming then change their mind after I've ordered food

All the more for Boxing Day fry ups then. Best part of Christmas IMO.

(Making mental note to avoid The Sportsman near Whitstable)

I think it's worth researching and seeing if anyone can share reviews about particular places. See what menu examples they have and if the meals suit peoples tastes. my mum's the worst fussiest vegetarian so taking her out at Xmas is impossible lol. Might be worth seeing what the general atmosphere of the place is as well x

At xmas I generally only go for a meal out for work xmas dos. We normally end up drinking and chatting too much to notice if it's good or had anyway haha.