Where to Eat on Christmas Day

Season's Eating

Katharine Shilcutt

Amazon Grill's fries come with its burger as well as its empanadas and tacos.

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More About

• Dr Pepper
• Christmas
• Tony Vallone
• Soft Drinks
• Meat

The presents are unwrapped, the place is destroyed and the pine needles from the Christmas tree have formed a fine carpet throughout the house. The last thing you want to do is dirty up a bunch of dishes cooking after all that. So why not let one of the many Houston restaurants open on Christmas Day take care of that for you, so you can relax and enjoy your family?

Quattro, Four Seasons Houston Hotel

1300 Lamar, 713-276-4700

From 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Quattro offers a special Christmas Day brunch where you fill your plates directly off the line from the chefs. For Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Quattro offers a dinner featuring an antipasti buffet, roasted venison loin with a grilled lobster tail and an array of pastries that'll feed the whole family. Quattro will be open for regular lunch service on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Carmelo's

14795 Memorial, 281-531-0696

Visit Carmelo's on Christmas Eve for lunch or dinner and Christmas Day for lunch from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Enjoy their regular menu, with a few special holiday items like prime rib, baked ham and roast turkey.

Hubbell & Hudson Market and Bistro

24 Waterway, Suite 125, 281-203-5641

Hubbell & Hudson opens both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for everyone to wine and dine or shop for their holiday meal. Visit the bistro for a delicious dinner filled with menu items cooked with all the ingredients from the market next door. If you'd rather cook a Christmas meal at home, visit the market before 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve and 6 p.m. on Christmas Day.

Turquoise Grill

3701 Kirby, 713-526-3800

The Turquoise Grill opens its doors on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with delicious Mediterranean cuisine including stuffed grape leaves, Moroccan chicken with jasmine rice, grilled lamb chops, and a baklava or cheesecake for dessert.

Kiran's Restaurant and Bar

4100 Westheimer R, 713-960-8472

Kiran's offers a Christmas Day brunch buffet from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. filled with the 12 Dishes of Christmas featuring a tandoori leg of lamb, handmade tamales, and a gingerbread trifle with poached pears and spiced cream. The menu starts with a cranberry martini or pomegranate champagne cocktail.

The Cafe at Hilton Americas-Houston

1600 Lamar, 713-577-8000

Family coming in town to stay? Set them up at the Hilton Americas downtown, where you can all enjoy a Christmas Day brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. complete with a huge breakfast buffet, carving station with a roasted prime rib, and a selection of savory entrées including pan-seared salmon and Cornish game hen. The cost is $34.95 for adults, $29.95 for seniors, $14.95 for children ages seven to 12 and free for children six years old and under.

Bistro Alex

800 Sorella Court, 713-827-3545

On the 25th, Bistro Alex inside Hotel Sorella will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring a three-course holiday menu in addition to their full menu items.

Line & Lariat at the Hotel ICON

220 Main, 713-224-4266

The Line & Lariat inside Hotel ICON will be offering a Christmas Day buffet from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Christmas Day. Enjoy items such as beef and pork tamales, oven-roasted turkey, applewood-smoked ham, cornbread and sausage dressing with giblet gravy, candied yams, roasted cranberry-ancho chile relish, and Mexican chicken mole with rice and corn tortillas. Save room for pumpkin and pecan pies, fruitcakes and a Yule log. The cost is $42.50 per adult and $15 for children. Kids five years and under eat for free.

RA Sushi

3908 Westheimer, 713-621.5800

799 Town & Country Blvd., 713-331-2792

RA Sushi will be offering all-day happy-hour pricing on December 25 from 6 p.m. to midnight. The happy-hour menu features more than 35 appetizers, sushi specials and drink selections ranging from $2.25 to $7.25. Try RA favorites like the Viva Las Vegas Roll and Tootsy Maki or a specialty cocktail such as the Emperor's Cucumberita or Strawberry Saketini.

Royal Sonesta

2222 West Loop South, 713-627-7600

The Restaurant inside the Royal Sonesta Hotel will feature a special four-course prix-fixe menu ($70) on Christmas Day in addition to its regular à la carte menu items. The restaurant will even keep its normal hours that day: 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5:30 to 10 p.m.

Monarch at the Hotel ZaZa

5701 Main, 713-526-1991

Enjoy your Christmas Day at Monarch Bistro in Hotel ZaZa from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., where executive chef Jonathan Jones has revamped the menu and put his own touches on every detail — including the four-course holiday menu that's available for $55 a person. Call 713-527-1800 for reservations and more details.

024 Grille

945 Gessner, 281-501-4350

In addition to its regular menu, 024 Grille at the Westin Memorial City will also offer a prime rib on Christmas Day.
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Beverages

HOT DR PEPPER WITH LEMON
The ultimate Texas cold-weather drink.

Katharine Shilcutt

When I was in college, Dr Pepper ruled our campus (and so did Drayton McLane, but that's a story for another day). No, seriously. It became the official soft drink of Baylor back in 1997. And along with it came Dr Pepper Hour, formerly Coke Hour.

Baylor University isn't just renowned for being the largest Baptist university in the world (along with all the questionable behaviors and eccentricities that accompany that title). It's also known for its weekly Dr Pepper Hour, when the president of the university (hey, that's Ken Starr now! Wonder how he's holding up...) enjoys Dr Pepper floats with students for an hour or two at the Student Union Building.