Eateries to serve up feast of festive fare

The traditional Christmas meal with all the trimmings is taking on a unconventional trend with an increase in people opting to eat out on December 25.

Christmas Day is often romanticised by the notion of the at-home family affair but Rustlers Steak House & Grill owner Les Palmer said there was a high demand from people looking to eat out.

“I think people want the traditional Christmas, but without the work,” he said. “If you buy a ham for a family of four, what do you do with the rest of it?

“And we live in Australia, so to have a traditional Christmas requires a very hot kitchen.”

Mr Palmer said they would be offering a d’hote menu with the traditional Christmas options available.

“My prediction is most people will have a traditional Christmas fare,” he said.

“I think it is more the convenience factor; to be able to stop and enjoy what is a sacred day.”

Mr Palmer said this would be the first time the restaurant would open for Christmas.

“In previous years, the numbers of calls we’ve had, the demand was there so we decided we may as well (open),” he said.

The Stirling Club, Lavender Cottage, Banksia Garden, Frenchy’s, Ibis Styles, Istanbul Kebabs and HK Cafe will also be open.