Christmas Day is just around the corner. As such, you’ve probably already started exploring your Christmas lunch options.
Perhaps you’ve decided that instead of cooking lunch at home, you and your loved ones are going to treat yourselves to a festive feast at one of the many high-profile restaurants that South Africa has to offer.
Oftentimes, though, making a restaurant booking to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year can be quite stressful and frustrating.
BOOKING MADE EASY
Luckily, we’ve got some handy tips to help you make the booking process much easier:
1. START BOOKING EARLY
Many restaurants start advertising Christmas lunches as early as October. After all, table bookings tend to fill up quite fast, to the point that they’re usually all taken in the first week of December.
If you haven’t already, now is the time to start researching restaurants for Christmas lunch specials so that you can secure your booking promptly.
2. DO YOUR RESEARCH
There are plenty of restaurants out there that offer Christmas lunches. These can take the form of buffets, set menus or carveries. And, of course, each establishment will have varying prices.
Conduct thorough online research into several potential restaurants. For example, compare their prices and read through previous reviews posted on social media. This helps you narrow your choices down to several candidates.
3. CONSIDER YOUR PRIORITIES
Now that you have some candidates in mind, it’s time to refine your search. This is where your priorities come in.
Consider the following factors and the questions that may arise:
- Time and date: Do you want to schedule Christmas lunch in the early or late afternoon? Should it take place on Christmas Day, or would you consider having it on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day?
- Location: How far are you willing to travel to the venue? Will you use public or private transport?
- Group size: How many people will be joining you for the occasion?
- Budget: What is your maximum spending limit per person? Are the meal options worth the price?
Once you have a concrete idea of what you want, you can choose the perfect venue for your Christmas lunch.
4. CONTACT THE VENUE
Once you’ve chosen your venue, you can contact them and reserve a table.
During your chat, ask the restaurant about payment options regarding deposits, deadlines for the payment balance, special requests (notifying them of dietary restrictions and food allergies, for instance) and the dress code.
Importantly, ask them if they have a cancellation policy in place. This is so you have an understanding of the policy in case of a reservation change or a cancellation. For example, you may (or may not) be entitled to a refund on your deposit if you cancel within a certain timeframe prior to the lunch. Make sure you get this policy in writing.
5. TRY ALTERNATIVE VENUES
Restaurants aren’t the only place to spend your Christmas lunch. Many hotels, golf clubs and country clubs also host festive lunches on this day. Follow the previous steps so that you can secure a booking at one of these venues.
For a more informal setting, you can’t go wrong with a braai or a picnic at the beach or in the park.
BOOK YOURSELF A STRESS-FREE LITTLE CHRISTMAS LUNCH
By using these tips, you will be able to secure a restaurant booking for your Christmas lunch with peace of mind. After all, you and your loved ones deserve to enjoy a merry lil’ festive feast.
Let us know in the comments if there are any other tips and tricks you use when booking Christmas lunches that we should know about.
Happy dining, folks!
