Eliminate some of the holiday stress this year by letting some of the best Houston chefs serve you and your family on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. After you've finished shopping, decorated the house and welcomed all of your family members into your home, you deserve a scrumptious meal prepared by someone else.
No need to worry about cooking the perfect meal for each person in your home, or stress about cleaning up the kitchen before you go to bed on Christmas Eve. We have compiled a list of restaurants open on Christmas Eve (and some on Christmas Day), so you can see what they have to offer on each of those days. As always, make your reservations in advance; the sooner, the better! We will update this list as it gets closer to Christmas.
Open on Christmas Eve:
Bistro Provence 13616 Memorial Dr., 713-827-8008
Enjoy a three-course dinner for $52 on Christmas Eve at Bistro Provence. The French restaurant requires a $25 deposit for either seating from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The meal begins with your choice of a mixed-greens salad with smoked duck magret, goat cheese and honey vinaigrette, marinated and smoked salmon tartare, or classic French onion soup. Entrée options include monkfish medallions Armoricaine with Camargue rice, beef filet with foie gras, wild mushrooms en croute and Lyonnaises potatoes, or a rack of lamb with herbs de Provence and roasted almond risotto. Conclude the meal with a traditional Buche de Noel or lavender crème brulee.
Rudi Lechner's German-American Restaurant 2503 S Gessner Rd, 713-782-1180
From 5 to 8:30 p.m., Rudi Lechner's will serve a special Christmas Eve a la carte meal with appetizers, soups, entrees and desserts. Starter options include a grilled sausage sampler with sauerkraut for $8.25, potato latkes with sour cream or apple sauce for $6.95, and Maryland crab cakes for $11.95. Choose from chicken noodle, French onion, goulash or white wine cheese soup for $5.25 each. Entrée selections include grilled salmon with a dill caper sauce, creamed spinach and potatoes for $23, roasted leg of lamb with mashed potatoes and sautéed zucchini for $22, and Wiener Schnitzel Austrian potatoes with red cabbage for $22.
Sorrel Urban Bistro 2202 W. Alabama St., 713-677-0391
This year's Christmas Eve dinner at Sorrel will feature dishes from around the world; it's an international Christmas Eve dinner. From 5-9 p.m., Sorrel will serve a la carte options, including South African lentil salad with tomato, lentils and coriander leaves for $9, and mofongo of fried plantains with roasted garlic and house pork rinds for $10 as appetizers; soup options include Korean miso soup with local market fish for $9 and Austrian Goulash with Hungarian crème fraiche for $8. Entrées include house-made pork confit tamales served with yucca mash and cucumber-cactus salad for $26, roasted squab with apples, currants and hazelnuts, red wine demi and braised cabbage-potato dumplings for $34, and charmoula lamb chops with curried cous cous and ancho honey glaze for $32. End the meal with a meringue and toasted hazelnut brittle topped with Houston's very own Cloud 10 vanilla bean ice cream for $11, a chocolate torte with blueberry-basil salad and fleur de sel for $10, or a sweet potato crème brulee with cranberry compote for $9.
The Bird & The Bear 2810 Westheimer, 713-528-2473
On Christmas Eve, The Bird & The Bear will serve a variety of appetizers for the entire family, including calamari, crab cakes, tuna tartar and fried gulf oysters, as well as main courses for every palate. Vegetarian options include a wild mushroom pasta, butternut squash ravioli and a gluten-free garden pasta. The restaurant will also serve crispy chicken roulade and bacon-wrapped brace of quail, seared Chilean sea bass, seafood paella, braised pork osso buco and The Ouisie's original chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes, black eyed peas, mustard greens and Lucy's corn pudding. Each item is priced a la carte.
Ouisie's Table 3939 San Felipe, 713-528-2264
Ouisie's Table will offer a similar menu to The Bird & The Bear on Christmas Eve; however, it will feature a few different items, such as a baked Cornish hen, baked Alaskan baby coho salmon and seared wild boar chops with port reduction. Each item is priced a la carte.
Backstreet Cafe 1103 S Shepherd, 713-521-2239
Backstreet Cafe will offer a three-course dinner on Christmas Eve for $49, including a complimentary amuse bouche of roasted cauliflower with aged white cheddar dip. Appetizer options include a petite lobster potpie and Saint Arnold-braised rabbit with wild mushrooms and sourdough garlic bread. Entrée options include grilled rib eye with a mushroom ragout and three-cheese scalloped potatoes, snapper with celery purée and roasted root vegetables, and rack of lamb with Brussels sprouts and a cauliflower gratin. End the meal on a sweet note with the delightful pumpkin cheesecake, sweet apple tarte tatin, chocolate pecan pie or mixed berries with orange custard sauce.
Hugo's 1600 Westheimer, 713-524-7744
This Christmas Eve, Hugo's will offer a Christmas Eve Buffet (Buffet de Noche Buena). The buffet costs $39 per person and $12 per child. Viento will provide live music throughout the buffet.
Kata Robata 3600 Kirby Dr, 713-526-8858
Who says you can't have sushi on Christmas Eve? Kata Robata will be open from 11:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve. The restaurant won't offer a happy hour on Christmas Eve, but will offer its full menu.
Kenny & Ziggy's 2327 Post Oak Blvd, 713-871-8883
Kenny & Ziggy's will be open on Christmas Eve until 8 p.m. serving all the classics -- giant sandwiches and salads, matzoh ball soup and Hungarian-style stuffed cabbage.
Mockingbird Bistro Wine Bar 1985 Welch, 713-533-0200
Enjoy either a three-course Christmas Eve lunch or dinner at Mockingbird Bistro for $65 per adult, $95 with wine pairings; children eat for $28. The first-course selections include smoked salmon timbale with a carrot-cucumber slaw, red snapper ceviche and roasted beet carpaccio. The main-course options include Rohan duck cassoulet, Kurabuta pork shank and a duet of grilled petit beef filet and Kobe beef cheeks. Enjoy a pumpkin crème brûléewith spiced cinnamon cookies, a flourless chocolate cake with white chocolate ice cream, chocolate pecan pie with vanilla been ice cream or a caramelized apple and pear crostata for dessert.
Osteria Mazzantini 2200 Post Oak Blvd, #140, 713-993-9898
This restaurant will serve The Feast of the Seven Fishes, a traditional Italian Christmas Eve meal, for $90 a person, or $120 with wine pairings. The meal will be served from 5:30-10 p.m., beginning with a choice of baccala fritto, fried salted cod, or ragno granchio insalata, a spider crab salad with crostini and ricotta. The rest of the menu includes options such as fried Gulf shrimp with mizuna, sea urchin bucatini with squid ink pasta, and whole grilled branzino with grilled radicchio, fennel, potato and lemon jam. Dessert options include a white chocolate cheesecake with peppermint swirl gelato and chocolate peppermint bark, or a caramel pudding with a double chocolate sea salt cookie and salted caramel sauce.
Prego 2520 Amherst, 713-529-2420
Prego will be open from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. serving its regular menu on Christmas Eve. The bar will be open as well.
Ray's Grill 8502 FM 359 Rd S, 281-533-0099
Ray's Grill will serve a four-course Christmas Eve dinner from 5-9 p.m. Each plate is a la carte. Appetizer options include marinated grilled Texas quail and seared sugar chili-cured diver scallop; salad options include a baby spinach frisee with goat cheese, almonds, pears and beat emulsion, a Caesar salad and chopped iceberg salad. Entrée selections include citrus crusted Chilean sea bass and an iron skillet-seared filet mignon. Choose either spiked eggnog crème brulee, red velvet cheesecake, or flourless chocolate truffle cake for dessert.
Brasserie 19 1962 West Gray, 713-524-1919
Brasserie 19 will be open all day on Christmas Eve serving its regular menu.
Brenner's Steak House 10911 Katy Fwy, 713-465-2901
Brenner's Steakhouse will serve its regular menu on Christmas Eve.
Cafe Benedict 15455 Memorial Dr, 281-558-6607
Cafe Benedict will serve its regular menu on Christmas Eve, as well as a few holiday specials, until 9 p.m.
Cavatore Italian Restaurant 2120 Ella Blvd, 713-869-6622
Take the family to Cavatore for an Italian dinner on Christmas Eve. The restaurant will also provide live piano music throughout the evening.
Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse 8250 Westheimer Rd, 713-978-6500
Enjoy a feast at Fogo de Chao on Christmas Eve during lunch from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. for $34.50 per person, or for dinner from 5-10 p.m. for $51.50 per person. As always, the Brazilian steakhouse will serve 16 cuts of fire-roasted meats.
Grotto Ristorante 9595 Six Pines, Ste 100, 281-419-4252 4715 Westheimer Rd, 713-622-3663
Each Grotto location will be open on Christmas Eve serving classic Italian dishes throughout the day.
Haven 2502 Algerian Way, 713-581-6101
On Christmas Eve, Haven will serve a three-course dinner complete with an amuse bouche. Starter options include butternut squash soup, a seafood salad and braised 44 Farms beef tamale with wild boar chili con carne. Main entree selections include herb-roasted pork prime rib, a duo of lamb, and gulf fish with jumbo lump crab. Haven will offer vanilla bean pound cake, peppermint crème brulee, satsuma meringue pie, ambrosia, chocolate ice box pie and coconut tres leches bread pudding for dessert. Complimentary milk and cookies will be served at each table as well -- a perfect way to get the kids excited for Santa's visit.
Kirby's Steakhouse 1111 Timberloch, 281-362-1121
Treat your family to a steak dinner at Kirby's Prime Steakhouse on Christmas Eve. Kirby's will open at 4 p.m.
La Griglia 2002 West Gray, 713-526-4700
La Griglia will be open on Christmas Eve serving its regular menu.
Morton's Grille 25 Waterway Ave, 832-585-0794
Morton's Grille will serve dinner from 4-9 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Oceanaire Seafood Room 5061 Westheimer Rd, Ste 8050, 832-487-8862
Enjoy a seafood dinner at Oceanaire on Christmas Eve with the entire family. The restaurant will serve its regular menu.
Rainbow Lodge 2011 Ella Blvd, 713-861-8666
Rainbow Lodge will serve its dinner menu on Christmas Eve. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Bistro Des Arts 12102 Westheimer Rd, 281-597-1122
Bistro Des Arts will offer a Christmas Eve dinner from 5:30-8:30 p.m. for $48.95 per person. First-course options include house-smoked salmon with salad, lobster bisque with cheese feuillete, and snails in cassolette with artichoke in a sweet garlic sauce. Second-course options include beef filet mignon, traditional French turkey with chestnuts, and venison stew. Bistro des Arts will serve 13 desserts of Provence at Christmas to conclude the meal.
La Balance Cuisine 20680 Westheimer Pkwy, Ste 10, 281-206-7974
From 4-10 p.m., La Balance Cuisine will serve a three-course Christmas Eve dinner for $95 per person. Choose from ginger and carrot soup or a beet salad with truffle jus and quail eggs for the first course, scallops with celery root and mustard seeds, or oxtail ravioli with cream bordelaise for the second course, and root with vegetables and lemon butter sauce, or beef bourguignon with mashed potatoes, onions and pancetta for the final course.
Sale-Sucre 2916 White Oak, 713-623-1406
Each course of this traditional Parisian Christmas Eve menu will be paired with Champagne. The appetizer options include a dozen oysters with horseradish sauce or homemade terrine de foie gras; main entree options are either halibut in a white butter sauce with mashed potatoes or lamb shank with a cognac and mushroom sauce. Sale-Sucre will serve a Christmas trifle made of sponge cake, English cream, strawberry marmalade and fruit for dessert. Seatings begin at 5 p.m. for this $54 dinner.
Arturo's Uptown Italiano 1180-1 Uptown Park Blvd, 713-621-1180
Arturo's Uptown Italiano will offer lunch and dinner specials on Christmas Eve in addition to the regular menu. The two specials include pistachio-crusted lamb chops with a mustard demi-glace, polenta and grilled asparagus, and a whole Mediterranean sea bass branzino.
Etoile Cuisine et Bar 1101 Uptown Park Blvd, 832-668-5808
Etoile will serve a three-course Christmas Eve dinner featuring classic French dishes, such as foie gras au torchon (duck foie gras terrine with fig mousseline) and tartare de saumon (salmon tartare with grapefruit, cucumber, herbs and passion fruit) for appetizers; and winter mushroom and vegetable risotto, and roasted duck breast with huckleberry gastrique and celery root mousseline for entrees. Dessert options include a buche de noel, butterscotch parfait, and lime and berry cheesecake with pistachio ice cream.
Tony Mandola's 1212 Waugh, 713-528-3474
Tony Mandola's will be open on Christmas Eve serving its regular menu.
Head to the next page for a list of restaurants that are open on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day...
Open on Christmas Eve and Day:
Quattro, Four Seasons Hotel 1300 Lamar, 713-276-4700
For $65 per adult and $32 per child, enjoy a Christmas Eve dinner from 5:30-10 p.m. The meal begins with an antipasti buffet featuring smoked salmon, cured meats and assorted salads. Then, choose from roasted sea breamfilet, Texas quail stuffed with chestnuts and foie gras, and beef tenderloin filet. Dessert includes an assortment of seasonal pastries served in the middle of the table for the entire family to enjoy.
After the presents have been opened, head to Quattro for a Christmas Day brunch featuring cocktails, classic breakfast dishes, chef action stations and lunch options. The brunch will be served from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. for $85 per adult and $40 per child.
Quattro will also be open for a Christmas dinner from 5:30-10 p.m. For $65 per adult and $32 per child, enjoy an antipasti buffet featuring a roasted root vegetable salad, an assortment of American Farmstead cheeses and a Niçoise salad with tuna. Choose from braised veal cheeks with white polenta and smoked Gouda, roast turkey with panettone stuffing, whipped potatoes, Brussels sprouts and cranberry compote, or pumpkin risotto with black truffle, for the plated entrée. Dessert includes an assortment of seasonal pastries served in the middle of the table for the entire family to enjoy.
Buca di Beppo 5192 Buffalo Speedway, 713-665-2822 19075 N. Freeway, 936-321-6262
This family-style restaurant will be open all day on Christmas Eve serving its regular Italian offerings.
This family-style restaurant will be open on Christmas Day at 11 a.m. serving its regular Italian offerings.
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant 1151-01 Uptown Park Blvd., 713-840-7900 1201 Fannin St., 713-658-8100
Each location will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day serving its regular menu.
Morton's The Steakhouse 1001 McKinney St, 713-659-3700 5000 Westheimer, 713-629-1946
Morton's The Steakhouse will serve dinner from 4-9 p.m. on Christmas Day.
Palm Restaurant 6100 Westheimer, 713-977-2544
Palm Restaurant will be open on Christmas Eve for lunch or dinner. The steak and seafood restaurant will open its doors at 11 a.m. for lunch and will close at 10 p.m.
The restaurant will also be open on Christmas Day serving its regular dinner menu from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m.
Ristorante Cavour 1080 Uptown Park Blvd, 713-418-1000
Ristorante Cavour inside Hotel Granduca will serve a four-course menu on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for $82 per person. The menu begins with citrus-scented ahi tuna with toasted pine nuts, followed by parsnip- and ricotta-filled tortellini for the first course. The second course includes a choice of two entrees -- salmon brandade with citrus, fennel wild rice salad and roasted chestnut sauce, or grilled veal chop with creamy polenta, wilted arugula and Barolo glace. The meal ends with a warm panettone bread pudding with vanilla gelato. Add wine pairings to each course for an additional $48.
Smith & Wollensky 4007 Westheimer Rd, 713-621-7555
Each Smith & Wollensky location will serve a Winter Menu on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, featuring jumbo shrimp stuffed with lump crab meat and garlic butter, braised beef and morels with rosemary pappardelle for appetizers, and a beef tenderloin trio with three different toppings (Cajun seasoning, Gorgonzola crust and Madeira demi-glace), as well as a double-cut lamb chop for entrees.
Cafe at Hilton Americas 1600 Lamar St, 713-577-8000
On Christmas Day, Hilton Americas will serve a brunch buffet from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. for $39.95 per adult, $34.95 per senior, and $14.95 per child ages 7-12 (children 6 and under eat for free). Enjoy breakfast items such as bagels, oatmeal and bananas foster French toast; savory items such as Waldorf salad, roasted prime rib, salmon with roasted beets and parsnip puree, turkey with giblet gravy, as well as Yukon gold potato puree, apple cornbread stuffing, carrots and green beans for sides. Desserts include pastries, cakes, tarts and petit fours.
Strata Restaurant and Bar 122 Vintage Park Blvd, Ste A, 281-379-2889
Head to Strata in Vintage Park for a Christmas Eve meal between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. Starter options include osso bucco ravilio and tempura lobster; entrees range from butternut squash ravioli to beer-braised lamb shank with Brussels sprout ragout and potatoes. Don't forget dessert! Choose from a festival candy cane crème brulee and chocolate raspberry mousse cake.
Fusion Taco 801 Congress, Ste 1, 713-237-8805 5535 Memorial, 713-422-2882
Fusion Taco will be open at both locations on Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m., as well as on Christmas Day from 12-9 p.m. serving its regular menu and all-day happy hour specials for beer, wine and cocktails.
Monarch Restaurant and Lounge 5701 Main, 713-526-1991
Monarch Restaurant and Lounge inside Hotel Zaza will serve a three-course Christmas Day menu for $55. Enjoy fried oysters or yellow-corn grits from Homestead Gristmill for an appetizer, followed by pork osso buco, duck breast, seafood chile enogada or spinach ravioli for the main course. Dive into a festive eggnog cheesecake topped with a walnut streusel crumble, or Red Velvet cake with traditional cream cheese frosting for dessert.
Kiran's Restaurant and Bar 4100 Westheimer, 713-960-8472
Kiran's will serve a Mistletoe Buffet from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Christmas Day for $55 ($20 for children under 12). Begin the meal with spiced mulled cider, followed by a Caesar salad made with garlic brioche vindaloo croutons, black garlic Caesar dressing and tandoori Cornish hen in the salad. Buffet selections include a leg of lamb carving station, bison meatballs, apricot biryani, buttered naan and triple cheese curried cauliflower gratin. Kiran's will offer a dessert spread including almond toffee, Nutella crescents and ginger crème brulee.
Turquoise Grill 3701 Kirby Dr, 713-526-3800 16109 City Walk, Sugar Land, 281-937-7447
Turquoise Grill will be open on Christmas Day from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. at both locations. Starter options include a mezze platter of hummus, feta cheese, stuffed grape leaves, feta roll, falafel and lebni spread; entree options include turkey with trimmings, brick oven-baked lamb shank with Jasmine rice, or grilled wild salmon with sauteed spinach and Jasmine rice. Dessert options include baklava or pumpkin pie. A children's menu (ages 6-12) is also available for $12.
Ruth's Chris Steak House 6213 Richmond Ave, 713-789-2333
Ruth's Chris will be open on Christmas Day for extended hours from 2-8:30 p.m. The steakhouse is serving two surf-n-turf specials: twin cold water North American lobster tails and a filet for $47.95, or lobster tails with rib eye for $57.95. If you don't want to eat out, but also don't want to cook, you can order holiday sides to-go from Ruth's Chris, including sweet potato casserole, green beans and creamed spinach, each for $29.95; the sides feed approximately 10-12 guests.
