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Original poster

Eating out on Christmas day?

64 replies

speakout · 18/10/2023 16:52

I have just booked christmas day lunch for our family.
Has anyone eaten out on christmas day?
The past couple of years has seemed such a faff, big grocery shop before hand, the prep, making stock a few days before. We can never agree on meat choices so usually ends up with two, once the meal is over the sink is piled high with greasy dishes, food on the floor, gravy up the walls, carcasses sitting in the fridge afterwards. My OH usually cooks and washes up too, it seems such a lot of work.

OP posts:
BlairWaldorfOG · 18/10/2023 17:48

We did last year it was really lovely and such a nice atmosphere but my husband said he missed cooking.

Mother87 · 18/10/2023 18:18

We did last year & it was gorgeous so we've booked the same place for this year (in context though, used to do 'big' Christmas Day with three/four meats & fish & a big lush spread for about 20 of us, family & close friends. My Dfather passed away in 2019 & I simply could not ever face doing the same thing without him there. He helped/fussed over everything into his 80's & just the thought... so decades of Christmas Day 'died' with him & the first few were grim..
but we went out last year & it was better/ok. But I AM doing a big lunch @ twixtmas for the first time as Dbrother & family are visiting - so trying to 'bring some life' back to the season...

Mother87 · 18/10/2023 18:18

Sorry to waffle/derail - but yes, eating out was SO easy of course effort-wise...

cocksstrideintheevening · 18/10/2023 18:33

We did it once, it just wasn't the same.

CherrySocks · 18/10/2023 18:36

I'd feel guilty about the staff having to work on Christmas Day

Torganer · 18/10/2023 18:38

CherrySocks · 18/10/2023 18:36

I'd feel guilty about the staff having to work on Christmas Day

Don’t! I used to work on Christmas Day when I was a teenager. I loved it! Loads of tips, extra money, and a great atmosphere.

mushroommummy · 18/10/2023 18:41

We go out every Christmas Day now. I worked as a Hotel General Manager for 18 years and the hotel I ran was closed on Christmas Day. No way was I spending my only day off making dinner and tidying up.

We love it and will hopefully continue doing it for the foreseeable. As for the staff who work I used to also feel awful for them but we pay a huge tip and we also ask them why they work and make conversation with them. If I thought for one second the staff didn’t need or want to do it I wouldn’t go back. (Speaking specifically about where we go)

it’s well worth in imo

anexcellentquestion · 18/10/2023 18:41

Have done it once but I think it depends on whether you enjoy cooking or not. I really do and even though I'm usually a steaming ball of mess by the end, I like sitting down with a glass of vino and watching everyone enjoy it while I moan about my back and feet aching. 😂 I'm also a TERRIBLE gravy snob and can't be doing with a restaurant that does the watery stuff and to be honest you never know how it's going to be until they serve it up.

But if you find cooking a bit meh, then you should definitely go for it. Our one experience was that it was very rushed and they were very keen to get us in and out which spoiled it a bit, but obviously it all depends on where you pick.

McIntire · 18/10/2023 18:42

What! No leftovers!?

Myhusbandearns150k · 18/10/2023 18:43

I didn’t enjoy it, I am a bit of a home body but you have to try these things once, you may love it!

WhateverMate · 18/10/2023 18:45

CherrySocks · 18/10/2023 18:36

I'd feel guilty about the staff having to work on Christmas Day

Why? They're going to choose to work whether you book or not.

Plus a huge part of the population don't celebrate Christmas anyway.

ToddlerMumma · 18/10/2023 19:07

We did this for the first time last year and booked the same place this year. It was fabulous. I was able to hang out with the (small) kids in our PJs and open presents, play with toys, watch Christmas movies then we all got dressed up and walked to the pub! No hours and hours in a boiling kitchen, sweating and missing out on all the fun! Plus no clearing up, shopping faff.
I did get a ham joint for nibbles in the evening plus leftovers. I think we'll go out every year now!

MrsHsGirl · 18/10/2023 19:17

I have done since DM died when I was pregnant with DS. Can't imagine having to sort the dinner etc and not have the time to play with him/enjoy the day. Go for it!

AuntieMarys · 18/10/2023 19:19

I've done it, just the 3 of us ( all adults) . We go to a Turkish restaurant as we don't do tradition.

Lagershandy · 18/10/2023 19:29

We have had Christmas lunch out for the last 30 years at the same local restaurant. We get up Christmas Day have a light breakfast then open our presents. Laze around for a couple of hours then get dressed up, go for our lunch the get home and change into our 'comfies'

There are usually around 12 to 15 of family and friends, the atmosphere and staff are lovely the food is delicious with several choices and it is part of our Christmas traditions.
I loathe cooking so eating out gets bonus points from me!!!!

mrsbyers · 18/10/2023 19:33

We are going out for a curry , have changed things up since my dad died - last year we had a simple lunch at ours with mam this year we are going out - family then get together for Christmas tea and board games

midmodmad · 18/10/2023 19:36

We've had Christmas lunch at Miller & Carter for the last 10 years. At the beginning it was wonderful and really special. However, over the year's it's gradually got worse - they pack more and more people in, price going up and up (nearly £100 each), cheap nasty crackers, cheap chocolates and being rushed off the table....

Last year, the restaurant was chaos. We waited over an hour for our table (my mother was 87) Then they gave us a horrible table even though the one we'd requested was empty (it's out of the way and quiet as my mother has a cochlear implant and has great difficulty hearing)

I vowed never again. We are going again but on Boxing Day instead. Same menu but half the price. 🤞🏻 it goes well

SunflowerBaby · 18/10/2023 19:36

We're going out for a curry too. I've not eaten out on Christmas Day before but dd doesn't like roast dinners at all and we can't be arsed with the faff! Going to do a delicious christmassy Boxing Day buffet instead.

SomimliaDacor · 18/10/2023 19:42

My FIL does this with my SIL every year since MIL died. Neither FIL or SIL are good cooks and this has become their thing for the last decade. We see them later on in the afternoon.

I used to be a waitress and serve Christmas lunch in a lovely pub. The atmosphere is always really jolly. The positive are no shopping for all the food, no prep of the food and best of all no washing up/loading a dishwasher. I used to get paid double time so it was fine, I worked with my sister too so the pair of us would go home for our family Christmas dinner together.

MightyFine · 18/10/2023 19:43

I've done it, but admit that I missed the leftovers

mondaytosunday · 18/10/2023 19:45

We did once - never again. Not great, didn't have exactly what I would want, no leftovers!
My friends go out regularly for Xmas but always complain of the cost.

crackfoxy · 18/10/2023 19:49

We did a local pub last year and felt so rushed through the courses, cost £1300 for 10 of us. Wouldn't do it again, food was ok nothing special

Ragwort · 18/10/2023 19:53

I've been out a few times for Christmas lunch, it can be nice but so often it can be very 'hit and miss'. The best was at a ski resort in the US ... a magnificent celebration buffet ... everything from Turkey, seafood, pasta, steak cooked to order etc etc. I've also worked plenty of Christmases ... don't mind at all. My DS worked in a local restaurant a few years ago, he loved it, plenty of £££s and presents and came back to a home cooked Christmas meal in the evening (plus the one he'd had at lunch Grin).

My DH did suggest going out this year but I honestly cannot think of a decent restaurant where we live that would serve a good Christmas lunch ... I really don't mind cooking, we don't have a huge household to cook for and I quite like escaping to the kitchen Blush.

Nauticalthemedloo · 18/10/2023 19:56

We go every year now, took DM a few years ago then she passed on the next XMas Eve suddenly, we weren't going that year anyway as Covid restrictions. As we got one year with her doing it's became our new Christmas tradition and now DMIL, elderly Aunt etc go and grown up kids..... but I don't have to cook! Love it

PurBal · 18/10/2023 20:01

Yes. But went somewhere that didn’t do traditional Christmas Day food. So we ate a lot of seafood and cheese. Cost £125 10 years ago. It was great. Would definitely do it again.