Melburnians' love affair with dining out is influencing how the city celebrates Christmas Day.
Grandad's roast or an outdoor barbecue offer homespun charm, but more and more people are choosing to leave cooking to the experts and avoid arguments about who will do the washing up.
John Hart, head of industry body Restaurant and Catering Australia, believes more Australians want to enjoy Christmas day at a restaurant as the nation embraces its hospitality scene.
"People have got smaller dining rooms, smaller kitchens, that's just a matter of our lifestyles," he said.
But getting a spot at some of Melbourne's sought-after restaurants this late will prove problematic.
Middle Eastern restaurant Maha was booked out in November for Christmas lunch, as is The Hellenic Republic, and Matteos ... and Vue de Monde.
And forget about a steak at the Station Hotel – it's a full house there too.
All is not lost though if you still want to eat out on Christmas Day, but you'll have to act quickly. Establishments The Age spoke to that still have tables available warned that there were just a handful of sittings left.
Serving traditional(ish) British Christmas fare:
The Laurel Hotel has a special lunch menu offering Christmas and pub food.
The Laurel Hotel
289 Mount Alexander Road
Ascot Vale
There are just a few spots left for The Deck's roof top roast.
The Deck at the Prince
2 Acland Street
St Kilda
Veludo has a set menu offering fresh seafood and roast meat, but it's booking out fast.
Veludo
175 Acland Street
St Kilda
The Golden Gate Hotel is doing a three-hour buffet lunch.
Golden Gate Hotel
238 Clarendon Street
South Melbourne
Other places to try:
The Shark Fin Inn and its sister restaurants Shark Fin House and Shark Fin Inn Keysborough will be serving yum cha.
Shark Fin Inn
50 Little Bourke Street
Melbourne
It is Masani's 32nd year serving Christmas lunch and it is planning a number of specialty dishes from regional Italy.
Masani
313 Drummond Street
Carlton
If you do not celebrate Christmas or just want to opt out this year, all of the Glick's Cakes and Bagels outlets are planning to open.
Glick's Cakes and Bagels
Various outlets including:
330 Carlisle Street
Balaclava
Co Do restaurants in Sunshine and Richmond will be serving full menus of mostly Vietnamese dishes.
Co Do
196 Victoria Street
Richmond
or
290 Hampshire Road
Sunshine
03 9939 0850
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