Triangle restaurants open on Christmas Eve or Day + special takeout menus
If marathon cooking is not in your Christmastime cards, Triangle restaurants have a feast of holiday options.
Whether you’re in need of a full spread for a family of 10 or simply a panettone to pull it all together, dozens of local restaurants are offering take-home meals and a la carte treats. Others are serving special menus on Christmas Eve and staying open on Christmas Day.
Here’s the list of Triangle restaurants offering tasty holiday meals.
Send updates and additions to jdjackson@newsobserver.com.
▪ ACME 110 E. Main St., Carrboro. 919-929-2263 or acmecarrboro.com
Preparing a pair of feasts for two, including bites like mushroom pate and coastal NC shrimp cocktail, grilled beef tenderloin or salmon, and sides like roasted Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes and glazed carrots. For dessert, coffee cake with an orange cinnamon glaze. The cost is $90 and orders can be picked up from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 24.
▪ BAHAMA BREEZE ISLAND GRILLE 3309 Wake Forest Drive, Raleigh. 919-872-3360
Open Christmas Eve until 7 p.m., serving Jamaican cocktails and jerk dishes. Closed Christmas Day.
▪ BEASLEY’S CHICKEN AND HONEY 237 S Wilmington St, Raleigh. 919-322-0127 or ac-restaurants.com/beasleys
Open Christmas Eve 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant will be serving the regular/à la carte menus.
▪ BENCHWARMERS BAGELS Transfer Food Hall at 500 East Davie St, Raleigh. benchwarmersbagels.com
Benchwarmers will be open Christmas Eve until supplies run out.
▪ BOB EVANS Locations in Durham and Brier Creek in Raleigh. bobevans.com
Open regular hours Christmas Eve, but closed Christmas Day. Holiday feasts available to purchase online.
▪ CLEVELAND DRAFT HOUSE 6101 N.C. 42 West, Garner; 461 Shotwell Road, Clayton.
919-771-2337 (Garner), 919-550-3723 (Clayton) or clevelanddrafthouse.com
Open Christmas Eve 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and closed Christmas Day.
▪ COUNTING HOUSE 111 Corcoran St, Durham. (919) 956-6760 or countinghousenc.com
Counting House will be open until 9 p.m. Christmas Eve and closed Christmas Day.
▪ CROSSROADS AT THE CAROLINA INN 211 Pittsboro St, Chapel Hill. 919-933-2001 or destinationhotels.com/carolina-inn
Christmas Eve at Crossroads will feature a four course meal including a cocktail and charcuterie spread, salad, roasted turkey or New York strip and a pumpkin bread pudding for dessert. The cost is $129 per person.
▪ DENNY’S Three locations in the Triangle. dennys.com
Will be open Christmas Day serving a regular menu.
▪ ELEMENTS 2110 Environ Way, Chapel Hill. (919) 537-8780 or elementsofchapelhill.com
Elements will be open for dine-in on Christmas Eve 5-8:30 p.m.
▪ GUGLHUPF 2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham. 919-401-2600 or guglhupf.com
Now taking holiday orders for pastries, cakes and stollen. Featured items include red berry tart, riesling poached pear tart, and chestnut chocolate tart. Baked goods, including Guglhupf’s notable stollen, will be available for purchase until Dec. 24.
▪ IHOP Nine Triangle locations. ihop.com
Open regular hours Christmas Day with a menu of holiday specials.
▪ IL PALIO 1505 E. Franklin St., in the Siena Hotel, Chapel Hill. 919-918-2545 or ilpalio.com
This fine dining Italian restaurant in Chapel Hill will be open Christmas Eve for a with a special three-course menu for $89 per person. The options include roasted chestnut soup with pancetta, raw oysters, seared scallops, smoked osso bucco and eggnog cheesecake. Reservations can be made over the phone.
▪ IRREGARDLESS CAFE 901 W. Morgan St., Raleigh. 919-833-8898 or irregardless.com
Irregardless will be offering holiday “take and bake” menu of a la carte options, including soups, salads, family style sides and entrees. Order by Wednesday, Dec. 20, with pickup Saturday, Dec. 23.
▪ LONGLEAF SWINE 300 E. Edenton St., Raleigh. 910-330-0702 or longleafswine.com.
Holiday pre-orders are available, with snacks like pimento cheese and deviled eggs, meats like smoked prime rib, pulled pork and brisket. Sides include collard greens, roasted sweet potatoes, whiskey baked beans and sausage balls. For dessert: pecan pie, eggnog cheesecake and a quart of Coquito. The deadline to order is Friday, Dec. 22 with pickups available Dec. 24.
▪ MAC’S TAVERN 1014 Ryan Road, Cary. 919-467-4114 or macstavern.net
Open from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Christmas Day.
▪ MC Restaurant 324 S. Academy St, Cary. 919-650-1738 or mccuisines.com
MC will be open 5-8:30 p.m. Christmas Eve.
▪ PLATES KITCHEN 301 Glenwood Ave. Suite 100, Raleigh. 919-828-0018 or plateskitchen.com
Open for dining in Christmas Eve, 5:30-9:30 p.m.
▪ PLUM 501 Washington St., Suite C, Durham. 919-351-6446 or plumdurham.com
Serving a special meal on “Christmas Eve Eve,” including a three course prix fixe menu for $125 per person.
▪ POOLE’S 426 S McDowell St, Raleigh. (919) 832-4477 or ac-restaurants.com/pooles
Open Christmas Eve until 9 p.m. with reservations still available.
▪ SAM JONES BBQ 502 W. Lenoir St., Raleigh. 984-206-2555 or samjonesbbq.com
These whole hog experts are preparing a take-and-bake feast for eight to 10 people, comprised of smoked turkey breast, mac and cheese, baked beans, green bean casserole, barbecue sauce, sweet potato muffins and a pecan pie. The cost is $149 with pickup Sunday, Dec. 24 before 4 p.m.
▪ TIME-OUT RESTAURANT 201 East Franklin St., Chapel Hill. 919-929-2425 or timeout247.com.
Open all day Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and every other day of the year.
▪ UNION SPECIAL BREAD 2409 Crabtree Blvd., #102, Raleigh. 984-200-3094 or unionspecialbread.com
Holiday pre-orders are accepted, including panettone, butterscotch pecan pie, dark chocolate babka, stollen, blue corn cookies, vegan apple sugar cookies, sausage balls, cheese ball with baguette crostini, rolls and more. The deadline to order is Dec. 20, with pickup available Dec. 23 and Dec. 24.
▪ VIDRIO 500 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh. 919-803-6033 or vidrioraleigh.com
Open regular hours (4-10 p.m.) on Christmas Eve with their regular menu.
▪ WAFFLE HOUSE Located throughout the Triangle, Waffle House is open 24 hours 365 a year, including Christmas.
Raleigh’s first spirit-free bar opens in one of downtown’s most beloved dining rooms