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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Is it worth eating out on Christmas Day?

147 replies

ihatethecold · 12/11/2021 08:36

I just cannot be bothered with xmas dinner this year. There’s only 3 of us. Me, DH and our 18 yr old dd.
She has said she’s happy to drive us on the day.
A few local places are doing xmas dinner for about £80 including wine. The menus look very nice.
DD would be cheaper due to not drinking
Has anyone bit the bullet and felt it was worth it?
We can afford it but it feels very indulgent.
I feel a bit torn.
But, the thought of doing xmas dinner and all that entails makes me feel knackered already.
(don’t even like turkey)

OP posts:

erinaceus · 12/11/2021 15:05

You can order dishes that are easy to cook from M&S or Cook! -- a turkey crown if there are only three of you and they like the tradition of turkey, for example. If they are keen on the traditional thing then definitely get them to take at least some ownership of the cooking.

Lampsade · 12/11/2021 15:08

@Kendodd

I wouldn't, only because I feel sorry for the staff. From what I've heard from friends who work in hospitality, they mostly don't choose to work then, they just get rostered on.

I found the opposite when I worked in hospitality, we loved working Christmas. More pay, big tips, lush food, shorter opening hours so not the long shift. Depends on the demographic working in them I suppose!

JohnStonesMissus · 12/11/2021 15:16

@GoodnightGrandma

People I’ve known do it have said that they wouldn’t do it again. The food wasn’t as good as they would have cooked, and they felt flat when it was all over. And regarding people not wanting to work, there are some people who are grateful to be able to earn a days wage when others are off looking after the kids. Not everyone wants to be off.

Same feelings here, we went out one year and honestly it was nothing special, perfectly nice but it didn't feel like Christmas despite the best efforts of the place, it just felt like another day with crackers on the table! To me you can't beat being at home with those lovely Christmas dinner smells wafting through the house, watching tv and eating until you burst, also unless you get a taxi or can walk to the venue then you have to have a designated driver which can be a pain...no, we'd never do it again.

BarbaraofSeville · 12/11/2021 15:18

they really didn't want anything but a xmas dinner on xmas day

So they can cook it then?

Just tell them they can cook Christmas dinner, either from scratch or heating up M&S, Cook or whatever or they can organise and pay for a restaurant and you will go along with whatever they choose.

You're not bothered and they are, but you are doing all the problem solving.

Chippymunks · 12/11/2021 15:25

I did it last year and I’m doing it again this year. For me it felt like I’d got my Christmas back. I could really enjoy opening the presents knowing I wasn’t doing the cooking. I’ll stick a Turkey crown in the oven on my way out to the restaurant so we can have turkey sandwiches in the evening.

Topseyt · 12/11/2021 15:48

I gave up cooking Christmas dinners when the children were very young and we have gone out every Christmas Day since.

We go to a local hotel just 5 minutes walk away (so nobody is driving) and it is great. We enjoy not having to do all the work and the clearing up.

Yes, it is expensive, but is one of only a handful of times a year that we go out for a meal. I want that, even if the cost means I have no other Christmas presents myself. I'm serious there.

Go for it if you fancy it.

IntermittentParps · 12/11/2021 16:04

@ihatethecold

so, I did drop hints about having a curry on xmas day and then a proper xmas dinner on a cheaper day. Both DD and DH said that sounds good, then had a secret chat about it later.

saying they really didn't want anything but a xmas dinner on xmas day! it did make me chuckle. Those of you saying to cook anything I like, They really love the tradition of turkey, I'm not fussed at all.

I have looked on lots of home delivery websites to get an idea of whats available. Im now wondering if M and S pre ordering would be better. More choice.

it did make me chuckle. We are very different people. It would have made me say, 'Cook your own dinner then and I'll get myself a takeaway curry.'

gukvguk · 12/11/2021 16:08

We do it every year now - mum no longer wants to host and won't eat what I cook (vegan) so we all go out and she pays!!

It's just so nice though, no hassle or mess, waited on....

chocolateoranges33 · 12/11/2021 16:24

We did it one year and it was awful (not my idea - FIL wanted to do it)

Table of 8, the differences in the amount of food served on each plate as well as the varying levels of hotness of the food was extreme. Food was overpriced, tasteless and a huge waste of money.

We booked on the first sitting - 11.30am and they were so behind that we were waiting over an hour for our starter. We didnt finish until at least 2pm and the next table sittings were waiting since 1.30pm. Never again.

This was from a really good pub restaurant that we had been to loads before and was happy with their food and service on previous visits.

I also didn't like how noisy it was and impersonal.

It really is individual and a lot depends on how it is run on the day itself. I do know several people however who have gone out for years and really enjoy it!

Yearn · 12/11/2021 16:29

I'm in hospitality and have worked almost every christmas and new years for years. My choice. Only had a couple of bad experiences - because of bad customers. Most of the time it's great fun. It helps if you like the people you work with though and have a decent boss!
Sometimes in smaller places you don't get a choice to work or not, sadly, but it is a shorter shift so you still get plenty of time with your family in the evening and (usually) the tips are great, you get leftovers to take etc. It's not all bad for lots of us in the industry.

That said I'd never choose to eat out on xmas day but the xmas/nye period is a huge money earner and often keeps businesses afloat during Jan/Feb which are always slow and tough for restaurants so I encourage other people to do it! Just factor in a nice tip for staff and be pleasant and enjoy yourself! Happy customers having a great time can often make a great shift with the nice atmosphere etc.

Youknownothingsnow · 12/11/2021 17:01

I have been tempted to eat out on Christmas Day. However, we always have a full English on Christmas Eve and then go out for the evening on Christmas Eve coming home to lovely clean kitchen. I’m quite lazy so I normally get a pre prepared beef Wellington and buy the pre prepared veg and trimmings from M&S. Just take the film off and put straight in the oven. I even buy gravy pre made and heat up. The only thing I do from scratch is the roast potatoes. Everyone is happy and well fed.

Original poster

ihatethecold · 12/11/2021 17:41

So a real mix of replies on here.
I showed DH the price for 3 of us and he nearly died.
So, Ive ordered everything from Ocado and he said he will prep and cook so we have a solution.
Most of the items are ready to cook so it’s easy enough for him.
I shall sit back and relax on the day. 🥳

OP posts:

muldersspeedos · 12/11/2021 17:46

I've never fancied it at all. It seems so expensive and it's never going to taste as good as homemade. Plus the Christmas dinner table setting out and decorating is a big thing in our house. And if we went out there'd be other people. Masticating. Possibly audibly.

Needdoughnuts · 12/11/2021 17:52

Good solution op. And make sure you DO NOT go near the kitchen. Merry Christmas!

UndertheCedartree · 12/11/2021 18:06

We've done it twice - when my parents came to visit and we ate at their hotel. One experience was awful - miserable staff, poor quality food and no atmosphere. The other hotel was amazing. Beautifully decorated table, special cocktail for adults and a chocolate milk for kids in a little milk bottle with strawberry laces tied as a bow and a little gingerbread man on top! A little gift for each guest of homemade biscuits and the DC got a wrapped gift from under the Christmas tree. The food was lovely, there was someone playing a piano and the atmosphere was lovely. After dinner we sat in the lounge and swapped presents.

beachtosunset · 12/11/2021 18:19

You''ll never know unless you try. Go for it!

beachtosunset · 12/11/2021 18:21

sorry i missed the update. If he's ill will you still have to cook it?

erinaceus · 12/11/2021 18:21

@ihatethecold

So a real mix of replies on here. I showed DH the price for 3 of us and he nearly died. So, Ive ordered everything from Ocado and he said he will prep and cook so we have a solution. Most of the items are ready to cook so it’s easy enough for him. I shall sit back and relax on the day. 🥳

Sounds like a good decision! Have a lovely Christmas OP.

julieca · 12/11/2021 18:25

Yes its the cost that puts me off. Its why I suspect M and S trays ready to put in the oven, are so popular.

Ricetwisty · 12/11/2021 18:29

Sounds like a good plan OP!

I have only been out once for a meal on Christmas day and it was with a newish boyfriend and we wanted to spend the day together but both lived at home with parents and didn't feel ready to mingle with them! It was okay- the food was fine and the atmosphere was alright, but by the time we had paid a tip as well (which seemed fair) it was very pricey for what it was and felt a bit rushed.

Madcats · 12/11/2021 18:39

I suspect that there are quite a few firms doing Xmas "just bung it in the oven" collections for Christmas.

Hello Fresh and Côte at Home definitely are.

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 12/11/2021 19:04

Never done it, have been tempted though! Following....

onlychildhamster · 12/11/2021 19:27

These were my childhood Christmases and I had fond memories.

I grew up in Asia and my parents were catholic but christmas wasn't as big a thing there. My parents didn't know how to prepare Western food so this was our only way of getting a 'proper Christmas meal'. So we usually opened presents in the morning, went to morning mass and then went to a hotel restaurant for a buffet meal that included turkey and christmas pudding.

thedaythemusicdied · 12/11/2021 19:35

We did this one year. I had PTSD and was really struggling at the time (but concealing it from the DC as best I could).

It was nice enough, I probably wouldn't do it again.

mydogisthebest · 12/11/2021 19:36

I think you have made the right decision.

I would never eat Christmas dinner out. Roasts are one of the worst meals to eat out. They need to be cooked fresh and eaten straight away and it's more or less impossible for a restaurant to do that.

For anyone that can cook, Christmas dinner at home is much nicer

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