Christmas dinner disappointment

[craigiep]

This year we thought we'd take a break from preparing Christmas dinner and decided to treat ourselves to one at Brighton's Grand Hotel. As that's a 5-star and they were charging �99 a head, we assumed it would be wonderful food. In fact, it was the worst Xmas dinner we've ever tasted - chewy tasteless turkey, poorly cooked vegetables, tiny plum pudding with barely any sauce, not even handmade mince pies. Wish we'd stayed at home. Can any of you recommend a really great Xmas dinner in Sussex worth booking early for? Or have you had any similar experiences?

[chitchat]

Craigiep why would you want to put yourself through that again. Nothing beats a home made Cristmas dinner. I know its a lot of preparation and washing up but its worth it and from your experience you can do better anyway. And certainly cheaper than �99 per head. I hope the rest of the Christmas has been a good one.

[Lonnie]

Had the same experience a couple of years ago, my wife and I decided to treat our extended families to Christmas dinner, like you, in a hotel, turned out to be so much rubbish, incredible, never again.

[Athley]

I'm really sorry your Christmas lunch sucked.

We had the same experience a few years ago. Went to a restaurant we had gone to lots of times before and had fab food but Christmas Day - the staff were taken over by some kind of bah humbug aliens, the food was very average and the atmosphere was pants!!

We made the very best of it and decided never again. When you're at home you can just chill out afterwards and do your own thing. I try to keep lunch as simple as possible and don't put any pressure on timings etc and its much more fun.

Enjoy your evening now that you're home and fill up on some choccies!!!


:o)

[Latchibeach]

We've been out to expensive christmas lunches for the last 3 years, all to different venues, and all have been a disappointment, so this year we've stayed at home. My husband decided he wanted to cook a goose as that was what they had when he was a child (55 now). I really didn't fancy it, but as he offered to cook it I couldn't refuse. The upshot of it all is that the goose was 100% more tasty than the flavourless turkey and we'll allways stay at home and have goose from now on, it was delicious!!

[maggie01]

We usually eat out at Christmas. We have been to a few hotels which have been really expensive. We went to Chilworth Manor in Hampshire which was excellent. Last year we went to a hotel in Southampton and although it was very nice, it wasn't very christmassy. Today we went to a carvery and it was excellent. Just like you would have at home and it was only �40 per head for a 3 course meal. Sorry you didn't enjoy yours. (It was a Toby Carvery by the way)

[NiceCupOfTea]

I'm so sorry your dinner was a disappointment. We've only ever eaten at a restaurant for Christmas dinner once, and the meal was OK in that case.

One problem is that only you, or your usual cook, can do the food exactly how you want it to be so if you go elsewhere you're almost always setting yourself up for a let down.

However, I hope you let the establishment you ate in know how unhappy you all were with your meal.

[normy]

you have to remember that the staff need paying double time for working so prices are inflated, add to that the "oooh lets make some oney out of these suckers#2 factor and wow..look t that tariff .... the food doesnt get cooked differently just cos its xmas, and mass cooking of turkey dinners will generally produce a disappointing meal..

Spend the same money on some decent quality ingredients, cook it yourself, and enjoy quality time with your loved one(s)
I had fillet steak and home-made chips for xmas dinner (not had turkey for 20 years since i lived at home!!)
If all else fails i'll cook for you next year, only �150 for a 5 course feast for 2, a room in my executive pop up tent, with added sleeping bags, and wine at only �10 per bottle!

ho ho bloody ho

[WendyS]

Sorry you were disappointed but I think any establishment which is bulk catering for people at Christmas or any other time will probably be a huge disappointment. All you can do is write it off to experience, write them a letter saying how disappointed you were at the very poor food and make up your mind to cook at home next year. You wil eat at a fraction of the price, have far better food and the poor driver won't have to stay tee total for the day either.

[miffy63]

Craigiep I think that you should write to the hotel and tell them that you have written about your disappointment at the meal on the internet, and of course none of us will ever go to the Grand Hotel in Brighton for our Christmas dinner!

[Paul22118]

craigiep, we to have departed from the massive task in our own kitchen and for the last three years have had lunch in a Beefeater restuarant. This year we had choice starters, me soup. Choice of main, a full turkey job. Choice of sweets, me Chrissy pud. Coffee to end. Fully licensed and a great atmosphere. Four adults came in at�200. Will repeat the operation again deffo. No washing up either.
PS Must book as soon as they advertise.