8 restaurants where you can leave the Christmas cooking to the professionals
Have you been laboring in the kitchen a little too much lately? Don’t sweat it anymore this holiday season – give yourself a break by going out to eat on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!
Get out of your kitchen, grab your loved ones, and enjoy a four-course meal or family-friendly brunch at one of these eight Charlotte restaurants. The cooking and cleanup is already taken care of, so you can cross those items off your to-do list!
Note: Don’t forget to make your reservations, as most of these places will fill up quickly.
(1) BLT Steak
110 N. College St.
Info: Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Blackboard Menu.
Hours: Christmas Eve, 5-9 p.m. Christmas Day, 7 a.m.-noon and 2-7 p.m.
Cost: Ranging from $11 – $60.
Bonus: Reservations recommended and complimentary valet is provided at The Ritz Carlton. They also have a limited time Nutcracker brunch, starting this weekend through December 23. They will also have $5 Bloody Marys and mimosas during brunch service.
Reservations: (704) 972 – 4380
(2) Chima Steakhouse
139 S. Tryon St.
Info: Full Rodizio dinner served all day on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day.
Hours: 12-8 p.m. both days.
Cost: $56.90 per adult and $28.25 per child, ages 6 and under are FREE.
Bonus: Bring your stretchy pants, as this dinner comes with a massive selection of salads, meats, and side dishes.
Reservations: (704) 601-4141
(3) Del Frisco’s
4725 Piedmont Row Dr., Suite 170
Info: Serving their full menu Christmas Eve.
Hours: 3-10 p.m. (Closed Christmas Day).
Cost: Ranging from $9 – $95.
Bonus: They recently expanded their menu to feature dry-aged steaks in addition to the core classic, wet-aged steaks. Other updated menu items include creamed corn, lamb, halibut, king salmon, and scallops.
Reservations: (704) 552 – 5502
(4) Ballantyne Hotel & Gallery Restaurant
10000 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy.
Info: Christmas Day Brunch Buffet.
Hours: Christmas Day, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Cost: $85 per adult and $35 per child, ages 4 and under are FREE.
Bonus: Guests can look forward to an elaborate buffet full of assortments of cheese and seafood displays, an omelet station, carving station and decadent desserts. The Gallery Restaurant will also be open both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, offering an a la carte menu for breakfast and lunch, as well as a prix fixe menu for dinner. Advance reservations are required for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Please click here for more details on all the menus, as well as Gallery Restaurant hours.
Reservations: (704) 248 – 4100
(5) Georges Brasserie
4620 Piedmont Row Dr., Suite 110
Info: Christmas Eve brunch buffet & three-course Chef’s Tasting Dinner
Hours: Christmas Eve buffet, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Christmas Eve Dinner, 5-9 p.m.
Cost: Brunch is $32 per adult and $15 per child, ages 3 and under are FREE. Dinner is $45 per adult and $15 per child, ages 3 and under can order from a kid’s menu if needed.
Bonus: This brunch buffet holds nothing back. There’s cooked-to-order specials, like eggs Norwegian, shrimp & grits, Benedict’s, as well as an omelet and prime rib carving station, oysters, clams, pastries, desserts, and much more. Reservations required, as both the brunch and Chef’s Tasting Dinner sell out every year.
Reservations: (980) 219 – 7409
(6) Rocksalt
512 Brandywine Rd., Suite 500
Info: Christmas Eve Chef’s Tasting Menu (Closed Christmas Day).
Hours: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Cost: $65 per person.
Bonus: The tasting menu is a seasonal, locally driven menu that actually starts on 12/19 through Christmas Eve. There will be five-courses of fan favorites from both on and off the menu, new takes on classics, and an optional beverage pairing for an additional $30. A few items to look forward to is a tasting of oysters with smoked caviar, cider braised pork cheeks and their avocado salad. Rocksalt will also offer its regular menu, $1 oysters, and happy hour during this time.
Reservations: (704) 503 – 9945
(7) Stagioni
715 Providence Rd.
Info: Christmas Eve Menu (Closed Christmas Day).
Hours: 5-8 p.m. on Christmas Eve
Cost: $65 per adult and $25 per child, ages 4 and under are FREE.
Bonus: This is a five-course family-style dinner. Get a look at the entire menu here, with items like Roasted Squash Cavatelli and Spaghetti and Meatballs.
Reservations: (704) 372 – 8110
(8) Stoke Charlotte
100 W. Trade St.
Info: A Stoke’d Christmas Day feast.
Hours: Limited seating at 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $65 per adult and $25 per child, ages 3 and under are FREE.
Bonus: Reservations highly recommended. This is a four-course dinner that includes an assortment of family-style roasted sweet potatoes, brioche & mushroom bread pudding, green bean casserole, charred collards. All of this deliciousness ends with a Christmas version of their famous “Doughnut”, so make sure to save room for dessert.
Reservations: (704) 353 – 6005
This story was originally published December 12, 2017 at 12:00 AM.