Regardless of your need to get out of the house – be it too many guests or not enough — you don't have to sit at home and be a recluse around Christmas. Plenty of area favorites will close their doors for the holidays, but there's still a number of excellent options to cure any craving for a killer entree or a stiff cocktail on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Whether you're looking for a place to spend Christmas Day with the family or would rather leave the Christmas Eve entertaining to the professionals, these area bars and restaurants offer options galore from Christmas Eve cocktails and Christmas Day sushi to everything in between. Revel in the season of gluttony and make your reservations now before you're stuck on the couch eating whatever's hiding in the back of your fridge.
Is your favorite holiday haunt missing from this map? Shout it out in the comments.
Visit this newly opened hot spot for 20+ varieties of ramen plus Japanese dishes prepared by Okinawan chef Hisashi Uehara. Look for the Tan Tan Tonkotsu, Buta Curry Rice (Japanese pork curry with fukujinzuke, a Japanese relish, and signature savory Parmesan kotteri). Dinner is served on Christmas Eve from 11 am – 9 pm.
The Brenner’s family has you covered from morning ‘til night with yet-to-be-announced chef features at each plus brunch at the Steakhouse. Bayou is open from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Christmas Day. Visit the Steakhouse from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve and go for Christmas Day brunch from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Dine in for the regular lunch and dinner menus on Christmas Eve complete with a special one-hour live caroler performance from 8pm-9pm. Order up a meal to go for Christmas Day with fancy options like crown roast of pork, beef Wellington and truffled mac & cheese. Note that to go orders for Christmas Day must be placed 24 hours in advance with final orders taken by 6 p.m. on December 23 for pick up on December 24.
Get jolly with fellow revelers on Christmas Eve and Christmas day from 11am-2am while noshing on a traditional turkey dinner available Christmas Day if you're not feeling like cooking. Dinner will run you $24 per person.
Enjoy a three course menu with dishes like Korean calamari, agave glazed ham, butternut squash soup and cobbler for $45 per person. Open for brunch on Christmas Day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and dinner from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Reserve space for the annual Buffe de Noche Buena, or Christmas Eve buffet for Mexican favorites accompanied by live music from Viento. $39/adults and $12/children plus beverages, tax and gratuity. Call 713-524-7744 for more information and to make reservations.
Make reservations for a four-course dinner of brown butter gnocchi, roasted beet and citrus salad, herb-crusted prime rib and choice of dessert offered Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Christmas weekend. $60/non-members, $54/members, $20/age 12 and under with $25 optional wine pairing. The Tuck Room will open for regular hours Friday and Saturday; Christmas Day 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Select from a large range of choices like pumpkin lobster bisque, lamb chops “Sierra Nevada”, Piedmontese flat iron steak and even grilled organic tofu plus Christmas Duck with apple red cabbage and potato pancake aux Jus. Open Christmas Day 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Visit this CityCentre Italian favorite for regular hours for a special Christmas Eve prix fixe menu of wild winter mushroom soup with black truffles and Parmesan broth and Porchetta with chestnut spread, apple Barolo glaze and caramelized chestnuts. Spend Christmas Day brunch as well for a carving station complete with whole pig and salt-crusted red snapper plus pasta and omelet stations, eggplant cannoli and a table full of desserts. Christmas Eve dinner will be served at $75 per person from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Christmas Day brunch will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Christmas Day for $40 per person.
Find a special a la carte menu featuring sea bass with Osetra caviar and Champagne sauce and the Buche de Noel Au Chocolate until 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve in addition to a featured Hannukah dinner menu for potato latkes and matzoh ball soup from December 24-January 1.
Take out of town guests to this Montrose favorite and check out their newly launched Bottle List of 80 beer selections carefully selected by owner Kevin Floyd and team while celebrating Christmas Eve with an excellent burger. Open for regular hours on Christmas Eve, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Celebrate with a Christmas Eve Supper featuring starters like stuffed quail with jalapeño sausage and cheese grits and mussels with house made chorizo plus entrees of lobster risotto, pistachio-encrusted lamb chops, and crispy pan seared duck. Dessert offerings include butterscotch bread pudding to a golden delicious apple crostada. $52/per person plus beverage and gratuity.
Shopping in Uptown Park is sure to get the appetite revving, so grab French favorites of or make reservations for a more formal affair. Open Christmas Eve for regular lunch and dinner hours.
Eat elsewhere then grab a seat at the bar for range of selections like the Green Swing made with green Chartreuse, Velvet Falernum, lime, crème de violette, Burlesque Bitters and pineapple or House of Lancaster made with Gordon’s Gin, cherry Heering, lemon, Kronan Swedish Punsch, green Chartreuse and rosemary. Bar only open Christmas Day from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., just in time for the end of your family festivities.
Deck yourself out in fun frocks to meet friends for oysters, cocktails – like the Sparkle Motion made with edible glitter – and celebrated Southern fare. On your way home, drive around River Oaks to see all the mansions aglow with holiday lights. Open 5pm-11pm Christmas Eve.
Visit this newly opened hot spot for 20+ varieties of ramen plus Japanese dishes prepared by Okinawan chef Hisashi Uehara. Look for the Tan Tan Tonkotsu, Buta Curry Rice (Japanese pork curry with fukujinzuke, a Japanese relish, and signature savory Parmesan kotteri). Dinner is served on Christmas Eve from 11 am – 9 pm.
The Brenner’s family has you covered from morning ‘til night with yet-to-be-announced chef features at each plus brunch at the Steakhouse. Bayou is open from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Christmas Day. Visit the Steakhouse from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve and go for Christmas Day brunch from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Dine in for the regular lunch and dinner menus on Christmas Eve complete with a special one-hour live caroler performance from 8pm-9pm. Order up a meal to go for Christmas Day with fancy options like crown roast of pork, beef Wellington and truffled mac & cheese. Note that to go orders for Christmas Day must be placed 24 hours in advance with final orders taken by 6 p.m. on December 23 for pick up on December 24.
Get jolly with fellow revelers on Christmas Eve and Christmas day from 11am-2am while noshing on a traditional turkey dinner available Christmas Day if you're not feeling like cooking. Dinner will run you $24 per person.
Enjoy a three course menu with dishes like Korean calamari, agave glazed ham, butternut squash soup and cobbler for $45 per person. Open for brunch on Christmas Day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and dinner from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Reserve space for the annual Buffe de Noche Buena, or Christmas Eve buffet for Mexican favorites accompanied by live music from Viento. $39/adults and $12/children plus beverages, tax and gratuity. Call 713-524-7744 for more information and to make reservations.
Make reservations for a four-course dinner of brown butter gnocchi, roasted beet and citrus salad, herb-crusted prime rib and choice of dessert offered Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Christmas weekend. $60/non-members, $54/members, $20/age 12 and under with $25 optional wine pairing. The Tuck Room will open for regular hours Friday and Saturday; Christmas Day 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Select from a large range of choices like pumpkin lobster bisque, lamb chops “Sierra Nevada”, Piedmontese flat iron steak and even grilled organic tofu plus Christmas Duck with apple red cabbage and potato pancake aux Jus. Open Christmas Day 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Visit this CityCentre Italian favorite for regular hours for a special Christmas Eve prix fixe menu of wild winter mushroom soup with black truffles and Parmesan broth and Porchetta with chestnut spread, apple Barolo glaze and caramelized chestnuts. Spend Christmas Day brunch as well for a carving station complete with whole pig and salt-crusted red snapper plus pasta and omelet stations, eggplant cannoli and a table full of desserts. Christmas Eve dinner will be served at $75 per person from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Christmas Day brunch will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Christmas Day for $40 per person.
Find a special a la carte menu featuring sea bass with Osetra caviar and Champagne sauce and the Buche de Noel Au Chocolate until 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve in addition to a featured Hannukah dinner menu for potato latkes and matzoh ball soup from December 24-January 1.
Take out of town guests to this Montrose favorite and check out their newly launched Bottle List of 80 beer selections carefully selected by owner Kevin Floyd and team while celebrating Christmas Eve with an excellent burger. Open for regular hours on Christmas Eve, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Celebrate with a Christmas Eve Supper featuring starters like stuffed quail with jalapeño sausage and cheese grits and mussels with house made chorizo plus entrees of lobster risotto, pistachio-encrusted lamb chops, and crispy pan seared duck. Dessert offerings include butterscotch bread pudding to a golden delicious apple crostada. $52/per person plus beverage and gratuity.
Shopping in Uptown Park is sure to get the appetite revving, so grab French favorites of or make reservations for a more formal affair. Open Christmas Eve for regular lunch and dinner hours.
Eat elsewhere then grab a seat at the bar for range of selections like the Green Swing made with green Chartreuse, Velvet Falernum, lime, crème de violette, Burlesque Bitters and pineapple or House of Lancaster made with Gordon’s Gin, cherry Heering, lemon, Kronan Swedish Punsch, green Chartreuse and rosemary. Bar only open Christmas Day from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., just in time for the end of your family festivities.
Deck yourself out in fun frocks to meet friends for oysters, cocktails – like the Sparkle Motion made with edible glitter – and celebrated Southern fare. On your way home, drive around River Oaks to see all the mansions aglow with holiday lights. Open 5pm-11pm Christmas Eve.
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