Restaurants Open On Christmas Day In Tampa Bay 2021

TAMPA BAY, FL — Granted, it's hard to beat mom's famous green-bean casserole topped with the requisite fried onions in a can, or your brother-in-law's version of Alec Baldwin's Schweddy Balls from "Saturday Night Live," extra bourbon included.

But after a morning spent following the kids around with a trash bag, grabbing up the ripped wrapping paper, figuring out how to put together the impossible-to-assemble Dreamland dollhouse, and removing the stick-on Christmas bows from the dog's head, you just want a hassle-free Christmas dinner away from home.

No worries. Tampa Bay restaurants are prepared to give you a reprieve from all the "Christmas magic."

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

This holiday season, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 4322 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa, is hosting a four-course dinner and wine pairing experience through Jan. 3 in partnership with Duckhorn Vineyards.

This dining experience will be available throughout December including Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Fleming’s will be closed for Christmas Day. The core dinner menu will also be available for the holidays for guests who enjoy Fleming’s staples.

For holiday pairings, Director of Wine Stephen Blevins will be on hand to provide insights.

First Course
Seafood Louie Salad – shrimp and jumbo lump crab tossed in a creamy mustard, pickled onions with lemon balsamic vinaigrette & old bay seasoning
Paired with Duckhorn Vineyards' Napa Valley Chardonnay

Second Course
Wild Mushroom Polenta Cake – lightly fried creamy goat cheese with mushrooms, balsamic glaze, peppercorn sauce & green onions
Paired with Duckhorn Vineyards' Napa Valley Merlot

Third Course
Choice of Petite Filet Mignon* & North Atlantic Lobster Tail – mushrooms, demi-glace and merlot salt served with drawn butter
or
Petite Filet Mignon* & Shrimp Scampi – topped with four shrimp, sautéed roasted campari tomatoes, white wine herb butter & toasted croutons
Paired with Duckhorn Vineyards' Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Fourth Course
Orange Olive Oil Cake – orange segments with housemade orange chantilly cream & curd
Paired with Decoy, California Brut Cuvee

Click here for reservations.

À La Carte At Willa's

Willa’s, the neighborhood restaurant and bar located in North Hyde Park, is serving an à la carte holiday dinner takeout menu. The menu is available throughout December for pre-order here or by emailing hi@willastampa.com.

Guests can choose from holiday favorites with a Willa’s twist like Roasted Beef Tenderloin with horseradish mustard crema, Applewood-Smoked Nueske Ham glazed with maple dijon, cheese and charcuterie platters, and Bûche De Noël, a traditional French sponge cake with raspberry jam, malted chocolate filling and dark chocolate frosting for dessert.

Complete the holiday feast with savory sides like Coconut Squash with brown butter, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with chicken schmaltz and herbs and Braised Greens with confit garlic and apple cider vinegar. Pick-up can be scheduled Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Willa’s, 1700 W Fig St., with 48 hours notice.

For those looking to deck the halls with friends this season, Willa’s can accommodate parties of any size for holiday dinners at the restaurant. The family-style menu is ideal for treating loved ones to some of Willa's greatest hits. Details on booking a family dinner or work holiday party are available here or by emailing ellie@willastampa.com.

Snacks for apps ($5 each)

• Potato Chips – house noochy seasoning
• Toasted Almonds – marconas, citrus zest & fresh herbs
• Cured Castelvetrano Olives – citrus, chili & fennel pollen
• Jambon de Paris – shaved newspaper-thin
• Willa's Cheese – rotating cow's milk cheese
• House Pickles – half-sour cucumbers, onions & fennel
• Shrimp Cocktail – poached in court-bouillon with lemon & cocktail sauce

Sides

• Biscuits – cheddar & chive ($4 per biscuit)
• Braised Greens – confit garlic & apple cider vinegar ($8 per pint)
• Coconut Squash – brown butter ($8 per pint)
• Roasted Mushrooms – thyme, rosemary & garlic butter ($8 per pint)
• Macaroni Au Gratin – gruyere, cheddar & provolone ($14 for 1⁄4 Pan)
• Roasted Fingerling Potatoes – chicken schmaltz & herbs ($8 for 1⁄4 Pan)

Salad

• Tahini Caesar – little gems & kale with a mountain of Grana Padano & rustic croutons ($16 for 1⁄4 pan)

Main Course

• Rotisserie Chicken – all natural, free-range half chicken slow-roasted on the spit, with salsa verde ($15 for ½ chicken)
• Cured Faroe Island Salmon – capers, dill & red onions ($27 for 8oz)
• Herb Crusted Tenderloin – horseradish mustard crema, pre sliced ($35 for 8oz)
• Applewood Smoked Nueske Ham – maple dijon glazed ($19 for 8oz)

Dessert

• Bûche De Noël – Christmas cake ($40)
  • Chocolate Sponge Cake – malted vanilla buttercream & dark chocolate frosting
  • Vanilla Sponge Cake – raspberry jam, malted chocolate filling & dark chocolate frosting

Willa's offers brunch Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., dinner Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m.

Bon Appétit Hosts Holiday Dinners

Following a sold-out Thanksgiving Day Dinner & Buffet, the Bon Appétit Restaurant team sets its sights on the upcoming holiday dinners hosted on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.

• Christmas Eve Dinner — Dec. 24 from 4 to 9 p.m. ($85)
• Christmas Day Dinner — Dec. 25 from noon to 9 p.m. ($85)
• Christmas Day Buffet — Dec. 25 from noon to 6 p.m. ($85)
• New Year’s Eve Dinner — Dec. 31 from 4 to 9 p.m. ($95)

This year’s celebrations promise a sense of elegance and spectacle. With the restaurant preemptively adorned in holiday dressing, from garland and tinsel to giant nutcrackers and boughs of holly, the ultimate accouterment is the timely sunset that bathes the restaurant in saturated shades of orange, pink and blue throughout the early evening.

Not to be outdone by the ambiance, this year’s menus offer a taste of both Bon Appétit as well as seasonal specialties. Popular menu staples like the Maine Lobster Bisque, a rich and savory salute to this favorite crustacean, is available as the first course of each dinner.

However, other items reflect the seasonality of ingredients and the tradition in which they are served. For example, the Christmas Eve and Day menus offer a first course of Seared Ahi Tuna while the New Year’s Eve menu puts a spin on this acclaimed appetizer in the form of a Yellowfin Tuna Martini.

This is a pattern that can also be observed in the main course for each dinner. Traditional favorites like the Filet Mignon, the Roasted Rack of Lamb and the Pan-Seared Chilean Sea Bass will be familiar to those who have dined at Bon Appétit previously.

Each holiday will also enjoy some special accommodations. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will both showcase Pan-Seared Venison Medallions and Slow-Roasted Christmas Goose, while Christmas Day Dinner also offers guests a chance to enjoy the Roasted Carolina Turkey. Meanwhile, unique to the New Year’s Eve menu is the 8-ounce lobster tail, an entrée that reflects Bon Appétit's culinary expertise in the field of seafood.

To view the full menus, including the Christmas Day buffet and kids’ menus, click here. Reservations are highly recommended. Call ahead to the front desk at 727-733-2151. The restaurant is located at 148 Marina Plaza, Dunedin.

Élevage SoHo Kitchen & Bar

Epicurean Hotel and its signature restaurant, Élevage SoHo Kitchen & Bar, 1207 S Howard Ave., Tampa, is hosting a special family-style Christmas three-course prix fixe dinner from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Prices are per person, based on entrée selection. Children 12 and under are $25.

• Salad & Bread Service: Mixed Greens and Dressings, Winter-Inspired Breads
• Choice of One Entrée, accompanied with cranberry sauce: Traditional Christmas Goose ($65); Slow Braised & Glazed Beef Short Ribs ($65); Rosemary & Garlic Roasted Porchetta ($60); Orange & Hazelnut Crusted Grouper ($60); or Mixed Vegetable Risotto ($50)
• Family-Style Sides: Traditional Turkey Stuffing, Buttery Mashed Potatoes, Three Cheese Baked Mac & Cheese, Baby Carrots Roasted with Harissa and Maple, Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Sherry Gastrique and Green Bean Casserole with Truffle Bechamel, Crispy Garlic and Shallots
• Dessert Social in the Ballroom complete with a complimentary glass of champagne and activities for children: Pumpkin Pie; Pecan Pie; Cinnamon Cheesecake; Cranberry Apple Cobbler; Cookie Display and Brownies

Holiday dinners are also available To Go. Pricing is the same as above and orders need to be submitted by Thursday, December 23.

Guests can also enjoy regular brunch menu from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Click here for reservations, visit Yelp or call 813-999-8726

HEW Parlor & Chophouse

HEW Parlor & Chophouse at the Fenway Hotel, 453 Edgewater Drive, Dunedin, is offering a family-style Christmas Dinner from noon to 8 p.m.For $75 per adult, $25 for children 6-13 and complimentary for children 5 and under, the feast includes:

• First Course: Fenway Signature House Salad with Champagne and Assorted Artisanal Rolls with Whipped Butter
• Main Course: Hand-Carved Chateaubriand of Beef, Carved Roasted Turkey Breast and Grilled Country Ham
• Sides: Buttermilk Whipped Potatoes, Traditional Turkey Stuffing, Roasted Asparagus Almandine, Honey Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Cranberry Orange Marmalade
• Dessert: Traditional Pumpkin Pie and Chocolate Mousse Layer Cake

Guests can also enjoy regular brunch menu from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Click here for reservations, visit Yelp or call 727-608-6620

K Club Bar & Bistro

K Club Bar & Bistro at The Karol Hotel, 2675 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater, is offering a three-course, family-style, prix-fixe Christmas Day Dinner* from 1 to 8 p.m. that includes:

• Choice of One: Caesar Salad; The Karol Salad or Mushroom Bisque
• Choice of One Entrée: Honey Glazed Ham ($37); Roasted Turkey Tenderloin ($39); Pan-Roasted Salmon ($36); Herb Rubbed Rack of Lamb ($42); or Prime Rib ($44)
• Choice of Two Family-Style Sides: Cornbread Casserole, Glazed Carrots, Whipped Potatoes, Rice Pilaf, Green Bean Casserole or Garlic Broccolini
• Choice of One Dessert: Apple Tartan, Tiramisu or Key Lime Pie

* Just $14 for children 12 and under.

For reservations, visit OpenTable or call 727-273-7850.

River's Edge Restaurant

This year, the Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel’s Rivers Edge Restaurant, 200 N Ashley St., Tampa, is dishing up delectable meals on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s. On Dec. 24, diners can enjoy a three-course dinner with an array of mouth-watering options such as Maine Lobster Bisque, Seared Tenderloin Carpaccio, 12-Hour Short Ribs and Grilled Black Grouper.

Adults can enjoy this meal for $65. The restaurant’s children’s menu will be available for guests 12 and under.

Not only can attendees skip the stress of planning and cooking on Christmas Eve, but they can also dine at Rivers Edge Restaurant on Christmas and New Year’s Day mornings. There will be a special holiday buffet offering morning classics for $27 per person.

The fun doesn’t stop there. Rivers Edge will ring in 2022 with a three-course dinner on New Year’s Eve. The menu will include a diverse spread of dishes like Ruskin Tomato Bisque, Seared Diver Scallops, Grilled New York Strip and Vanilla Crème Brûlée. Adults can enjoy this meal for $85 and the children’s menu will be available for guests 12 and under.

With floor-to-ceiling windows at Rivers Edge Restaurant, attendees can enjoy panoramic views of the Hillsborough River right from their tables. The Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel offers direct access to the Riverwalk, so families can stroll down the 2-mile trail with lighted displays and experience the holiday season following the feasts.

The dinners take place from 5 to 10 p.m. and the breakfast buffets are from 7 to 11 a.m. Although reservations are not required, they are highly recommended. Attendees can call 813-226-4400 to reserve seats at Rivers Edge Restaurant.

Sugar Factory

Sweeten up the holidays with Sugar Factory’s seasonal treats — the ‘Tis The Season Insane Milkshake and Mistletoe Mule goblet.

A creamy blend of eggnog and vanilla ice cream, the ‘Tis The Season Insane Milkshake is served in a white-chocolate dipped mug. It is decorated with mini candy canes, festive gumdrops and green sugar, and topped with more gumdrops and a gingerbread man. This shake is sure to get you in the holiday spirit. It's priced at $21.

The Mistletoe Mule is a sweet blend of cherry vodka, ginger beer, cranberry juice and fresh lime. Also, it is stuffed with gummy Christmas wreaths and gummy cherries. This photo-worthy smoking goblet can also be ordered without alcohol. It is priced at $39.

Both drinks will be available through Dec. 31 so grab them while you can. The Sugar Factory is located at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 5223 Orient Road, Tampa.

Hard Rock Cafe will be open on Christmas Day, offering a Holiday Menu available for dining in, delivery or pickup. Some Hard Rock Cafe locations will be open as late as 11 p.m.

Del Frisco's Grille

Del Frisco's Grille, 4138 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa, will be open on Christmas Day and is also offering Holiday Family Packs that serve six to 12 people. Preorders need to be placed by Dec. 24. You can also dine in for a three-course prime rib dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Boston Market

Nearly all 350 Boston Market locations will be open on Christmas Day. However, menu items and hours will vary. Additionally, Boston Market is offering heat-and-serve meals, whole pies, hot side dishes and appetizers that can be picked up on or before Christmas Day. To find out more, visit the Boston Market catering page.

Kona Grill

Open from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, enjoy Kona Grill’s full menu or one of their Christmas specials such as the Surf & Turf for $41 that features a Kona Roll and a NY strip. All of Kona Grill’s Christmas specials are available for delivery and curbside pickup. To learn more, make a reservation or place an order at Kona Grill, 4134 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa.

Macaroni Grill

Open during regular hours, from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m., Macaroni Grill is a great dine-in Christmas Day meal option. Or you can enjoy Macaroni Grill’s Holiday Feast for $30, available for takeout or delivery. Be sure to make a reservation if dining-in.

Ruth's Chris Steak House

Open on Christmas Day for dine in and takeout, you can enjoy a festive holiday meal at Ruth’s Chris Steak House, 1700 N Westshore Blvd., Tampa, and 131 2nd Ave N, St. Petersburg. Prefer to spend the holiday at home? Then preorder a Celebration Feast that serves four people for $195.

Shoney’s

Starting at 11 a.m. on Christmas Day, Shoney’s at 11740 N 15th St., Tampa, is inviting you and your family for an All-You-Care-to-Eat food bar. If you can’t make it into the restaurant, they’re also offering Family Pack Meals to-go that feeds four, six or 10 people.

Waffle House

Most Waffle House restaurants will be open on Christmas Day. Choose your location and give them a call to check on their hours.

Take-Out Specials

Bahama Breeze

Escape to the islands with a Bahama Breeze Caribbean Bundle for four people starting at $44.99. Bahama Breeze is at 3045 N Rocky Point Drive, Tampa.

Bonefish Grill

Let Bonefish Grill prepare your family’s holiday meal this year. The restaurant is offering Family Bundles that serves four to five people starting at $35. You have a choice of choosing from six selections including: Grilled Salmon, Grilled Mahi Mahi, Grilled Chicken, Lily’s Chicken, Shrimp Tacos or Mahi and Shrimp. Just preorder and schedule for pickup during a convenient time slot on Dec. 24.

Carrabba's###/h3Carrabba’s does have Family Bundles starting at $39.99 available for carside carryout or delivery as well as catering packages that serve 10 or more people.

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen: Starting at $24.99, enjoy Family Bundles including Chicken Tenders or Grilled Salmon for takeout at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen on Christmas and throughout the holidays.

Cracker Barrel

This year you can enjoy a Heat n’ Serve Christmas Dinner at Cracker Barrel designed to be picked up in advance then heated and served at home. Choose between the Heat n’ Serve Feast (starting at $149.99 serving eight to 10 people) or the Family Dinner (starting at $99.99 serving four to six people). Order will be available to pick up through Dec. 28 while supplies last.

The Capital Grille

Enjoy a Holiday Grille Box starting at $140 from The Capital Grille this holiday season.

Metro Diner

Metro Diner will offer family meals to go to eat in the comfort of your own home. Metro Diner is located at 4011 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, and 5250 4th St. N., St. Petersburg. Click here.

Olive Garden

Enjoy Family Style Meals including Chicken Alfredo, Spaghetti with Meat Sauce or Classic Lasagna from Olive Garden

this Christmas and throughout the holiday season. Meals serve four to six people and start at $35.49.

Seasons 52

Offering a complete take-out dining experience for Christmas, Seasons 52 has put together The Green Box which features a choice of either Wood-Grilled Tenderloin or Whole Side of Cedar Plank Salmon, salad, sides and six mini-indulgence desserts, starting at $145. Seasons 52 is at 204 N Westshore Blvd., Tampa.

Golden Corral

On Christmas Eve, pick up your Holiday Meal from the Golden Corral. Choose from a whole roasted turkey meal or holiday spiced ham. Each meal includes mashed potatoes, gravy, choice of sides, a whole pie and their famous yeast rolls. Locations are 6942 W Hillsborough Ave, Tampa; 10050 Ulmerton Road, Largo; 5300 Commercial Way, Spring Hill; 11801 56th St., Temple Terrace; and 6855 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills.