Putting Wetherspoon's Festive Feast to the Test
The arrival of the Wetherspoon Christmas menu is, for many, a true sign that the festive season has begun. This year, the pub chain is offering a budget-friendly festive feast for just £15, promising a complete Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. But does it deliver on taste and value? We went to find out.
The Main Event: A Gravy-Soaked Plate of Comfort
The centrepiece of the menu is the sliced turkey breast and winter vegetables meal. This substantial plate includes sage and onion stuffing, carrots and parsnips, mashed potato, two pigs-in-blankets, peas, cranberry sauce, and a generous helping of gravy. The portion size was undeniable, with the plate practically swimming in gravy and what seemed like an entire can of peas.
The mash received immediate praise for being far from lumpy, earning a quick seal of approval. While the turkey itself was noted as being a bit lacking in flavour, the consensus was that for the price and the sheer amount of food, it was hard to complain.
Burger, Fries, and a Starring Cheese Sauce
Beyond the traditional dinner, the menu features other options like The Big Cheese burger and festive loaded fries. The undisputed highlight across the entire meal was the pot of Emmental and cheddar cheese sauce that accompanied the burger. Described as sheer deliciousness and like a warm hug, this sauce was so good it nearly stole the show.
However, the burger it came with lacked sparkle, with unmelted brie slices, and the festive loaded fries were a letdown, described as essentially a smattering of pigs in blankets tossed onto poorly-melted cheesy chips.
The Sweet Letdown: A Lukewarm Finale
After sampling the savoury dishes, the experience took a turn with dessert. Both the giant profiterole and the cookies and cream blondie were ordered. Visually, they were appealing, but both arrived at an unappetising, lukewarm temperature, leaving confusion over whether they were meant to be served warm or cold.
The reviewer concluded that even an appropriate temperature wouldn't have saved the dessert, marking a disappointing end to an otherwise decent meal.
While the reviewer won't be swapping their family Christmas dinner for a Spoons lunch, they did leave with a newfound appreciation for that incredible cheese sauce. The total bill for the sampled items, including soft drinks, came to a final cost of £51.03.
