I tried the £16.50 Christmas dinner in Morrisons — one item was a disappointment

The saying goes that the best things in life are worth waiting for. And with that in mind, I made my way to Morrison’s this week to try something that shoppers have been eagerly awaiting: its festive menu.

While most of the big supermarket chains like Asda, Tesco, M&S and Sainsbury’s launched their festive menus several weeks ago, Morrisons has kept us on tenterhooks for its own version of a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

Launched this week and available until 24 December, the retailer has pulled out all the stops with this year’s offering and my expectations were high. Available from 11:30am until 3:30pm, this year’s Christmas cafe is serving up a three-course meal complete with nostalgic takes on dishes like prawn cocktail, classics like Christmas pudding and, of course, a turkey dinner with all the trimmings, reports the MEN.

When it comes to other supermarkets offering festive dishes, it’s a mixed bag – both in terms of variety and quality. Many have chosen to serve Christmas toasties or baguettes – with varying degrees of success – while others have focused on sugar-heavy drinks, ranging from Toffee Nut Lattes, S’Mores Hot Chocolates and Chocolate Gingerbread Milkshakes.

But as I enter my local Morrisons, I’m pleased to see they’ve kept it simple. Instead of an endless list of options, it’s just a straightforward three-course Christmas dinner, without any of the unnecessary extras.

Approaching the digital ordering screen, which I suspect would perplex my grandmother, I’m filled with optimism. Supermarket cafes usually feel chaotic to me, but today has a different vibe – there’s certainly a change in the atmosphere.

The starter options include tomato and basil soup served with a bread roll and butter (£3.50), or prawn cocktail accompanied by slices of brown bread and salad (£4.50). I choose the latter, mindful not to consume too much liquid at the start of the meal.

There’s an impressive range of Christmas dinner choices for the main course. The traditional option (£8.50) features roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, sage and onion stuffing, mashed potato, cauliflower cheese, seasonal vegetables, sprouts, Yorkshire pudding, cranberry sauce and gravy.

Vegetarian and vegan alternatives are available, and there’s also a children’s dinner for £3.95. Moreover, kids eat free with any adult meal over £5.

Finally, the desserts. Options include Hot Apple Crumble Pie, Hot Christmas Pudding and Hot Chocolate Fudge Cake (all £3.50).

I notice some individually wrapped mince pies on the counter as well, if that’s more to your liking.

Having navigated the digital ordering screen successfully, I head to the counter to collect my receipt. From this point forward, something starts to become clear.

I don’t know if you’ve ever felt this way, but I’ve always found the supermarket cafe experience rather impersonal.

There’s a certain lack of personal touch to it. While this might be perfect for a quick cuppa or a bite after grocery shopping, ordering a three-course meal alone in such a setting feels somewhat dull.

However, on this occasion, I felt like everyone made an extra effort to engage with me. From the lady at the counter making small talk about when Morrisons used to have a deal on Christmas dinner, to another staff member asking me how much time I wanted between courses, I received more attentive service than I have in some of Manchester’s top restaurants.

Maybe it was because I was dining alone and photographing my food. It could have made them wonder why I was so excited about the event.

Or perhaps they’re just genuinely kind.

I’m pretty sure I heard one woman say she was “keeping her eyes” on me – but regardless, I felt very welcome.

The cafe itself also had a lively atmosphere. Without crying children and Christmas songs continuously playing from the speakers, it almost felt serene.

Growing up, Christmas Day was always hectic. Lots of extended family crammed around the table like sardines, a flurry of arms scrambling to get the last roast potato and offload watery Brussel sprouts onto their least favourite relative.

The festive season often brings with it the familiar chaos of family gatherings, complete with cracker-pulling, bad jokes, and the inevitable squabbles over games of Trivial Pursuit. Despite the fun, sometimes a quiet meal alone in a supermarket cafe can offer a peaceful alternative.

Starting with a prawn cocktail feels rather luxurious. Thankfully, it’s served without the ostentatious glass that would attract unwanted attention.

While some may view the prawn cocktail – an ’80s classic – as somewhat ironic, this one holds up well on taste. The prawns are fresh, served atop a bed of leaves, accompanied by a generous piece of bread to soak up the Marie Rose sauce.

Overall, it’s a commendable effort that wouldn’t be out of place on a Christmas Day table.

However, the arrival of the roast dinner raises a couple of concerns. The turkey slices are worryingly thin and pale, and there’s a stuffing ball, reminiscent of a hockey puck, lodged in the Yorkshire pudding.

Both items warrant close scrutiny, much like the watchful gaze of the server.

There’s always contention over what constitutes a proper Christmas dinner, but today isn’t the day for such debates. I’ll simply tackle what’s presented to me.

Starting with the cauliflower cheese, it’s an early standout of the meal, matching the quality of the silky smooth mash. However, the roast potatoes are a letdown, tasting like nothing.

The sprouts, parsnip and carrot are nicely charred but the portion size is a bit stingy, while the peas are just average.

The turkey, surprisingly, impresses me. Even the parts untouched by the gravy are pretty juicy, and the gravy itself strikes a nice balance between too runny and too thick.

The Yorkshire pudding is as expected – no surprises there. But the stuffing ball is a disappointment.

Dry and uninspired, I’d recommend skipping this if you order the roast dinner.

However, all is forgiven when the Hot Caramel Crumble Pie arrives. Served in a sea of bright yellow custard, it brings back fond memories of school dinners.

I personally enjoy a slight wobble to the custard and a skin forming on top, but I understand that’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Regardless, the pie itself is delightful – served hot, with buttery pastry and thick apple slices.

The meal, without a drink, costs £16.50, which might seem a bit extravagant for lunch, but considering it’s three courses, I doubt I’ll need another meal today.

Including a cappuccino, the total comes just under £20. If you only want the Christmas Dinner, it’s priced at £8.50.

This might seem a bit pricey for what’s provided, but if you’re seeking a Christmas dinner without the competitive eating, argumentative family members and loud noise, a visit to Morrisons cafe could be just what you need.