Revel in the festive atmosphere, toast to the season’s cheer, and relish the joy of sharing a special meal with your nearest and dearest. Skip the cooking stress and embrace the merriment of dining out this Christmas Day.

The Chefs’ Table (Umhlanga, Durban)
Celebrate Christmas with an elegant four-course lunch at The Chefs’ Table that is sure to knock your socks off. Priced at R1 495 per adult and R695 for kids under 12 years, lunch begins at 11.30am with a complimentary glass of bubbles, eggnog and a cinnamon macaron on arrival. You can then begin with the first course, which is a choice of terrine de champagne or smoked fish velouté, before moving on to the second course which includes the options of crayfish tail thermidor, tamarind and coriander spiced beef, and warthog neck tortellini. For the third course, you can take your pick from choices that include beef fillet Wellington, turkey ballotine, Karoo lamb and miso pumpkin risotto, all of which are served with a variety of sides. Saving the best for last, you can tuck into Christmas trifle, strawberries and cream or Belgian dark chocolate for dessert. The Chefs’ Table also has a vegetarian, vegan and kids’ menu for Christmas lunch. For reservations, call 031 001 0200 or email reception@thechefstable.co.za. A deposit of R500 is required to secure your booking.

 

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The Royal Hotel (Anton Lembede Street, Durban)
This Christmas, The Royal Hotel is offering a special festive lunch from 12.30pm onwards, with live entertainment, hats and crackers, and a host of family and kids’ activities to keep guests entertained. Lunch is priced at R525 per adult and R255 for children aged four to 11 years and includes cocktails on arrival. Starters include a variety of salads, cold cuts, BBQ chicken drumsticks and an assortment of breads. For the main course, you can tuck into deboned roasted leg of lamb, slow-roasted beef, glazed gammon with trimmings or grilled hake, accompanied by various sides. Desserts include Christmas favourites such as traditional Christmas pudding, mince pies and sherry trifle. For reservations, call 031 333 6000 or email confer1@theroyal.co.za.

Fiamma Grill (Ballitoville, Ballito, Durban)
For a delectable Christmas lunch with the family, head to Fiamma Grill. Priced at R950 per adult and R450 for children aged five to 12 years, lunch begins from 12.30pm onwards. The three-course festive feast includes starters such as avo ritz, calamari and chorizo and ostrich carpaccio. For main course, choices include grilled beef fillet, wood-roasted baby chicken, grilled prawns and a veg poke bowl. To round off the meal, you can indulge in Oreo caramel cheesecake, lemon-glazed vanilla sponge cake and gingerbread men with vanilla ice cream. For reservations, call 032 946 1029 or email info@fiammagrill.co.za.

 

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Gooderson Tropicana Hotel (South Beach, Durban)
Get ready for a festive feast this Christmas with lunch at Gooderson Tropicana Hotel. Priced at R475 per person, lunch begins at 12 noon with Christmas crackers to set the mood. You can then dig into Cape Malay butternut soup accompanied by fresh assorted bread rolls with butter, before moving on to starters that include prawn cocktail and Cape Malay pickled fish, plus salads and a cheese board. For the main course, you can enjoy options that include turkey with stuffing, mustard and black pepper roast beef and honey-and-clove-glazed gammon. You’ll be spoilt for choice with the dessert selection of traditional Christmas pudding, festive mince pies, peppermint tartlets, chocolate malva pudding and more. For reservations, call 031 368 1511 or email conference@goodersons.co.za.

 

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Premier Splendid Inn Pinetown (Pinetown, Durban)
Ring in the Christmas cheer with a delicious festive lunch spread at Premier Splendid Inn Pinetown. Priced at R395 per person and R205 for kids aged four to 11 years, lunch begins at 12.30pm and includes a wide array of salads, starters, mains and desserts to choose from. You can begin with the potato and leek soup, served with homemade bread, before trying starters that include shrimp cocktail, antipasti cold cuts and assorted salads. For the main course, you can choose from options like rosemary and sage butter-basted turkey rolls, apricot-and-clove-infused gammon, oxtail casserole and vegetable lasagne. To indulge your sweet tooth, you can try the sherry trifle, malva pudding and mini tartlets selection, with picking from the traditional cheese board with preserves rounding off the meal. For reservations, call 031 701 0130 or email ettalize.m@premierhotels.co.za.

Relax Inn (Shaka’s Rock, Durban)
For a relaxing Christmas lunch, head to Relax Inn for a three-course festive meal priced at R400 per adult and R250 for children aged six to 12 years. Lunch begins at 12noon with plated starters that include chicken phyllo cups, panko-crumbed prawns and deep-fried aubergine roll-ups. Main course options include roast lamb with mint sauce, honey-glazed gammon, traditional turkey with stuffing and Durban-style mutton curry. All mains are served with a variety of sides, salads and sambals. Plated dessert comes with choices of Christmas mince pies, assorted mini cheesecakes, chocolate brownies and Christmas trifle. For reservations, call 081 345 0651 or email reservations@relaxinn.co.za.

 

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Lighthouse Restaurant (Blue Marlin Hotel, Scottburgh)
Tuck into a veritable festive feast this Christmas with lunch at Lighthouse Restaurant. Priced at R595 per person, the set menu lunch begins at 12.30pm and includes starters of sticky chicken winglets, crumbed baby Patagonian calamari and a meze platter. You can then savour the French onion soup, before proceeding to mains that include honey-glazed gammon, roast leg of lamb, roast turkey and oxtail and dumplings. There are also a variety of salads and sides to choose from. For dessert, you can take your pick from a choice of traditional Christmas pudding, Christmas mince pies or the cake selection. For reservations, call 039 978 3361 or email conf@bluemarlin.co.za.

 

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Zimbali Lodge (Ballito, Durban)
This Christmas day, head to Zimbali Lodge for a festive lunch fiesta that is as traditional as it gets. Priced at R695 per person, the three-course menu includes an assortment of salads, freshly baked breads and creamy butternut soup to begin with. You can then proceed to the main course, which includes roast lamb with mint jus, roast chicken with thyme jus, roasted rosemary-stuffed turkey and beef vindaloo, accompanied by a medley of vegetables. For dessert, you can tuck into the traditional trifle, Christmas cocktail mince pies or the bread and butter pudding with custard. For reservations, call 032 001 0550 or email sales@zimbali-lodge.co.za.

Fish Eagle Restaurant (Estuary Hotel & Spa, Port Edward)
Soak in the festive spirit with a special Christmas lunch at Fish Eagle Restaurant. Lunch begins at 1pm and is priced at R420 for adults, R395 for pensioners and R250 for children aged five to 12 years. For starters, you can enjoy butternut and sweet potato soup with a selection of artisanal breads, as well as traditional Cape Malay pickled fish, mini phyllo vegetarian quiche bites and a variety of salads. You can then dig into the main course, which includes the options of roast gammon, rosemary-infused leg of lamb and thyme roast. For dessert, you can indulge in Christmas mince pies, Christmas pudding or try the chef’s individual dessert selection. Patrons are welcome to bring their own wine, with a corkage fee of R60 per bottle applicable. For reservations, call 082 772 1107.

Crossways Pub & Restaurant (Hilton, Midlands Meander)
Enjoy a special Christmas three-course lunch at Crossways Pub & Restaurant that is sure to tickle your tastebuds. Priced at R360 per person, lunch begins with starters that include a choice of creamy butternut soup, beer-battered hake bites, deep-fired brie crostini or homemade chicken liver paté. For mains, you can choose between the slow-roasted sticky glazed gammon or lemon, garlic and herb roast chicken, accompanied by Yorkshire pudding, sides and gravy. Desserts include a choice between mince pies, decadent chocolate tart, lemon cheesecake or vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce. For reservations, call 033 343 3267 or email crosswayshilton@gmail.com.