Where to make reservations for Christmas dinner 2022 in Charlotte
When you don’t want to cook an elaborate holiday meal for Christmas, make reservations instead. While many Charlotte-area restaurants are closed for the holiday, there are still plenty of choices for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining.
Options include brunch at Link & Pin or Gallery Restaurant, and a traditional holiday dinner at Red Salt by David Burke. Or you can pile your plate. high with proteins at Chima, or switch things up with an Argentinian feast at Mico.
Here are some of the Charlotte restaurants open for service on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. (And be sure to check back — more restaurants will be added as menus are released throughout the holiday season.)
Angeline’s
Location: Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel, 303 S Church St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Angeline’s will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Christmas Day breakfast hours will be 8-11 a.m., with its regular menu served. Christmas dinner will be 2-8 p.m., with the regular menu and a few special features.
Dinner menu entrees include:
- Pasta Fra Diavola with bucatini, mussels, shrimp and arrabbiata
- Prosciutto & Arugula Pizza with white sauce, fresh mozzarella, Prosciutto di Parma, arugula, lemon oil
- Roasted Cauliflower Steak with mushroom puree, oyster mushroom conserva and fennel-Brussels slaw
Price: Varies, as items are a la carte.
Make reservations: Online
Chima Steakhouse
Location: 139 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Chima Steakhouse will be open on Christmas Eve from 3-8 p.m. and on Christmas Day from noon-8 p.m., serving its regular menu. Customers ordering the complete rodizio can fill their plates from gauchos roaming the dining room, offering proteins including sirloin, filet, ribs, lamb, pork, chicken, sausage and fish.
Price: $63.90 for the complete rodizio plus gourmet salad bar; $47.90 for gourmet salad bar plus one choice of picanha, salmon or chicken, vegetable skewer and pineapple cinnamon skewer; children 7-11 are half off, and kids 6 and under are complimentary.
Make reservations: Online
Church and Union Charlotte
Location: 127 N. Tryon St #8, Charlotte, NC 28202
Church and Union will offer a Christmas Eve three-course prix-fixe menu in addition to its regular menu from noon-9 p.m. The restaurant will be closed Christmas Day, however.
The Christmas Eve menu includes a first course option of:
- Potato leak soup with bacon dust, crispy leeks
- Baby kale salad with cranberries, walnuts, fennel, orange segments and muscadine vinaigrette
- Mushroom risotto with oyster mushrooms, porcini oil
Entrees are:
- Duck breast with parsnip walnut puree, baby kale, roasted butternut squash, Brussels, and natural jus
- Filet with truffle pomme, asparagus, oyster mushrooms and cranberry bordo
- Mushroom bolognese with tagliatelle, porcini oil and butternut ricotta
- Seared ahi tuna with Miso pommes puree, gai lan, black vinaigrette glace and burnt onion
Dessert choices are:
Hummingbird cake with roasted pineapple marmalade, bananas foster sauce and candied pecans
Chef selection of ice cream and sorbet
Price: $75 per person for adults and $30 for children 12 and under.
Make reservations: Online
Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse
Location: 215 South Main Street, Davidson, NC 28036
Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse will be open Christmas Eve at 5 p.m., but will likely close early — perhaps 8 p.m. Its regular menu will be served, including entrees such as:
- NC Berkshire pork chop with pesto glazed sugar snap peas, broken rice and agrodolce sauce
- Gemelli pasta with Maine lobster, San Marzano tomatoes, saffron, breadcrumbs and basil
- 9+ grade Australian Wagyu ribye with Zephyr squash, summer peas, spirulina, miso and whipped potatoes
Price: Varies, as items are a la carte.
Make reservations: Reservations are only required for parties of 12 or more. Online ordering is also available.
Gallery Restaurant
Location: The Ballantyne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Charlotte, 10000 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28277
Gallery Restaurant, inside The Ballantyne hotel, will be open regular hours on Christmas Eve and modified hours on Christmas Day, offering its brunch menu from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. and a prix fixe dinner from 4-9 p.m. (The dinner menu has not yet been finalized, so check back for details in the coming weeks.)
Price: Brunch items are a la carte. Dinner will be $95 per person, plus tax and gratuity.
Make reservations: Online
La Belle Helene
Location: 300 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Like its sister restaurant Church and Union, La Belle Helene will offer a Christmas Eve three-course prix-fixe menu in addition to its regular menu from noon-9 p.m. The restaurant will be closed Christmas Day, however.
The Christmas Eve menu first course choices are:
- Black Truffle and Caramelized Onion Tart with local greens and fromage blanc
- Pâté en Croûte with duck, rabbit, liver, cranberry, hazelnuts and apricot preserves
Entree selections are:
- Rotisserie Prime Rib with Gratin de Spaetzle, meunster cheese, au jus and horseradish sabayon
- Porcini Ricotta Gnocchi with shiitake mushrooms, roquefort sauce and black truffle
Dessert choices are:
- Black Forrest Gateaux with dark chocolate mousse, sweet cherry compote and hazelnut praline
- Housemade ice cream in White Chocolate Peppermint or Caramel Pecan
Price: $80 per person for adults and $30 for children 12 and under.
Make a reservation: Online
Link & Pin
Location: 155 New Bern St, Charlotte, NC 28203
Location: 8128 Providence Rd #1200, Charlotte, NC 28277
Location: 9723 Sam Furr Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078
Link & Pin locations are open Christmas Eve, serving brunch all day, plus a few dinner menu offerings. All three locations will close early at 6 p.m., however. Dinner menu options will include:
- Steaks
- Market fish
- Lobster rolls
Price: Varies, as items are a la carte.
Make reservations: Online.
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Mariposa
Location: 500 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Mariposa is open on Christmas Eve for a five-course, world-to-table feast!, with each course served with a wine or cocktail pairing.
First course:
- Rosemary and roasted garlic foccacia with house-made tapenade
Second course choice of:
- 100 Gardens salad with local lettuces, lemon-shallot vinaigrette, dried cranberry, toasted walnuts, shaved local carrots and radish with barel aged feta
- West African peanut stew, with sweet potato, tomato, confit chicken thighs, gold rice and scotch bonnet pepper
Third course choice:
- Octopus carpaccio with charred orange potato puree, Calabrian chili aioli, black garlic chips and basil pistou
- Iberico country pate toast with lemon hydrated apricots, apricot jam, pistachios and marinated mustard seeds
Intermezzo:
- Citrus granita with chartreuse and mint
Fourth course:
- Braised short rib with creamy aji amarillo sweet potatoes and cilantro salsa verde
- Grouper bouillabaisse with mussels, squid, tomatoes, leeks, fennel, toasted sourdough and rouille
Fifth course:
- Choice of two dessert options, chef’s whim
Price: $135 per person
Make reservations: Online
MOA Korean BBQ
Location: 128 S Tryon St. Charlotte, NC 28202
MOA Korean BBQ will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with regular hours, 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. for Saturday lunch, 4 p.m.–10 p.m. for Saturday dinner and 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m. on Sunday. For Christmas, it will serve its normal menu of Korean barbecue favorites. Entrees come served with the chef’s choice of banchan sides and white rice, and choices include:
- Braised short rib - Soy braised bone-in beef short rib with daikon radish and carrot and a choice of Kimchi stew with pork, bean paste stew or beef and radish soup
- Ttukbaegi Bulgogi - A stew made with bulgogi (marinated beef, scallions, onions, mushrooms and sweet potato starch noodles, cooked in Korean earthenware
- Ssam Platter with Korean BBQ - A lettuce wrap platter with sauces served with choice of Kimchi stew with pork, bean paste stew or beef and radish soup
Price: Varies, as items are a la carte.
Make reservations: Online. Online ordering is also available.
Mico
Location: 201 W Trade St., Charlotte, NC 28202
Mico will be serving its regular menu of globally inspired flavors during its regular hours on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, from 5-10 p.m. Entree choices include:
- Branzino a la Parilla — Grilled whole branzino, roasted marble potatoes, salsa criolla, grilled asparagus and charred lemon
- Ojo de bife — a 14 ounce beef ribeye with choice of one sauce including huacatay bearnaise, foie gras truffle butter, Malbec demi glace or chimichurri
- Peruvian spiced breast of chicken — With pulled chicken thigh and wild rice croquette, aji verde, baby tomato, haricot vert and cucumber
Price: Varies, as items are a la carte.
Make reservations: Online
Red Salt by David Burke
Location: Le Méridien Charlotte, 555 S McDowell St., Charlotte, NC 28204
Red Salt by David Burke’ is open regular hours on Christmas Eve and is offering a three-course prix fixe menu for Christmas Day, along with limited ala carte options. Christmas Day dining hours are 4-8 p.m.
First course:
- Seared spicy jumbo shrimp with chestnut risotto, blistered cranberries and rosemary oil
Second course:
- Smoked “salt aged” bone-in prime rib with a blue cheese popover, duck fat potato and horseradish jus
Dessert choices:
- Mindy’s Yule log with meringue mushrooms
- Eggnog Bavarian peppermint creme
Price: $75+, plus tax and tip.
Make reservations: Online
Steak 48
Location: 4425 Sharon Rd. Charlotte, NC 28211
Steak 48 will offer extended hours on Christmas Eve, opening early at 1 p.m., although the restaurant will be closed Christmas Day. Its regular menu will be available Christmas Eve, with entrees such as:
- Twin lobster tails
- A variety of cuts of steak, with your choice of additional toppings such as crab cake “oscar” or black truffle-sauteed Maine lobster
- Bone-in veal chop.
Price: Varies, as items are a la carte.
Make reservations: Online or at (980) 580-4848.
Stoke Charlotte
Location: Charlotte Marriott City Center, 100 W Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Stoke will be open on Christmas Day, offering its regular brunch menu from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a four-course menu with seatings at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
First course:
- Pretzel Brioche with whipped honey, lusty monk mustard and Cheerwine butters
- Deviled eggs with smoked trout, aleppo and herbed bacon salad
Second course choice of:
- Warmed Rocket’s Robiola Salad with mulled wine poached seckel pear, spiced walnuts and lamb’s lettuce
- Rutabaga Bisque with pickled apple, cinnamon crème fraiche
- Roasted Wild Mushrooms with black truffle, alliums and emerged egg
- Braised Oxtail Ragu with potato gnocchi, black garlic and pearl onions
Third course options are:
- Peppercorn Crusted Prime Rib with natural au jus, horseradish cream
- Crisp North Carolina Pork Belly with roasted Stayman apples and lusty monk mustard vinaigrette
- Pan Roasted Cobia with Meyer lemon caper sauce
- Mint Crusted Rack of Lamb with tarragon mustard sauce and lamb reduction
Sides, served family style, are:
- Whipped Potato Puree with chives
- Crisp Brussels Sprouts with blood orange gastrique
- Spiced Spoonbread with jalapeno, white cheddar and burnt honey
- Roasted Butternut Squash Casserole with house-made sage sausage and UAV feta
Dessert:
- The Doughnut, with peppermint sugar and chocolate diplomat cream
Price: A la carte for brunch, and $72 per person, plus tax and tip for the afternoon and evening seatings.
Make reservations: Online
This story was originally published December 5, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
