Holiday News

Best Dallas restaurants for dining out on Christmas Eve in 2023

Where to dine on Christmas Eve.

Lake Lawn

In Dallas, the window of Christmas holiday dining is wide. It could start in early December with a preliminary holiday tea. Or maybe a brunch with Santa.

This list is about dining out on Christmas Eve, the night before, whether for a chance to catch your breath, or an opportunity to start the holiday early. In 2023, Xmas Eve falls on a Sunday, providing the perfect opportunity for brunch. In Dallas, you never pass on brunch.

(And if you're looking for places to eat on Christmas Day itself, that list is here. Our New Year's Eve list is here, and New Year's Day is here.)

Here's the Dallas restaurants that'll be open on Christmas Eve in 2023:

Blue Mesa. Brunch with ginger chipotle glazed ham, prime rib, red chile salmon, red & sweet potatoes, broccolini, poblano mac & cheese, Chimayo corn chicken, black bean Adobe Pie, blue corn cheese enchiladas, and a build-your-own street taco station. Breakfast items feature made-to-order omelets, huevos rancheros, Belgian waffles with berries or fried chicken, biscuits & gravy. Sweets station includes bite-size sweets, mini flans, banana pudding, fruit cobbler, and bread pudding with cajeta sauce. 9 am-4 pm. $35, or $10 for 12 and under. Addison 972-934-0165, Fort Worth 817-332-6372, Plano 214-387-4407.

Coupes. Dallas wine bar is not hosting an official holiday event but it is hosting its weekly Sunday afternoon brunch with its chicken caesar salad, crab croquettes, breakfast pie gratin, French Toast bananas foster, caviar, cocktails, and plenty of bubbly. 12-4 pm. 214-434-1347.

Eddie V's. Open with regular menu from 12-9 pm. Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano.

Elm & Good. Restaurant at the Kimpton Pittman features Christmas Eve dinner plated specials 5-10 pm. 469-498-2500.

Fearing’s. 3-course brunch at Ritz-Carlton Dallas includes starter, main course, and dessert trio with choices from filet mignon, sea bass, or lamb osso bucco. $185, $90 for vegetarian, $50 for 12 and under. 5-9 pm. 214-922-4848.

Ferah Tex- Med Kitchen. Brunch buffet features prime rib carving station plus chicken, mashed potatoes, cast iron vegetables, Greek salad, assorted meze dips, pita, breakfast Danish & croissants, fruit, scrambled eggs, sausage & bacon, dessert bar. 11 am-3 pm. Regular lunch/dinner menu is available at 3 pm. $32, or $13 for 12 and under. Christmas Eve dinner with 12-oz Prime rib, mashed potatoes, asparagus. 3-9 pm. $38. Garland 972-496-0201.

The Finch. 3-course meal with salad, choice of prime rib or ham with sweet potato casserole, and choice of chocolate cake or coconut pudding. $55, plus $25 for optional wine pairing. 11 am-10 pm. 469-893-0990.

Hall Arts Hotel. Christmas Eve jazz brunch features a 3-course menu with baked acorn squash fondue, sturgeon or peppercorn filet mignon, and red velvet cake with currants and white chocolate sauce. $85. A la carte menu also available. 5-10 pm. 214-953-1717.

Haywire. Signature Hill country brunch includes the ranch hand breakfast, biscuits & gravy, or chicken fried steak. Prices a la carte. 10 am-2 pm. Reserve at haywirerestaurant.com or call Plano 972-781-9473 or Uptown 469-501-5522.

Isabelle’s. Hotel Swexan eatery will be open 7 am-11 pm, with a brunch from 7 am-4 pm, plus a caviar tasting menu for $105 with caviar French toast, crab tart, crab fritter, 40-day dry aged steak tartare, and sweet corn custard. Reserve online. 469-405-1911.

Knife Dallas Christmas Eve special is a Prime rib in two cuts: 14 ounces or 16 ounces. 5-10 pm. Regular menu also served. 214-443-9339.

Knife Steakhouse Plano. Christmas Eve special is a Prime rib in two cuts: 14 ounces or 16 ounces. 5-10 pm. Regular menu also served. Additionally, the restaurant will feature special dishes such as the 44 Farms Prime Rib offered in two cuts: 14 ounces and 16 ounces, and the 120 day dry aged Tajima Wagyu Ribeye. 5 -10 pm. 214-299-5943.

Maggiano’s. 3-course holiday menu features refined Italian classics with choices from salads, 14 starters, 10+ pastas, and 11 entrees ranging from stuffed mushrooms, Italian sausage & peppers, lobster fondue, branzino crab Imperial, beef tenderloin medallions, 4-cheese ravioli, NY Strip with garlic mashed potatoes, and chocolate profiteroles with peppermint ice cream, hot fudge, and whipped cream. $46 or $18 for 12 and under. 11 am-6:30 pm. Dallas 214-360-9061, Plano 972-781-0776.

Mansion on Turtle Creek. 4-course menu include choices from winter salad, lobster spaghetti with black truffle, Miyazaki A5 Wagyu striploin glazed in ponzu sauce, and chocolate peppermint yule log. 5:30-9:30 pm. $160, or $75 for 12 and under. 214-559-2100.

McRae’s American Bistro & Cocktails. East dallas restaurant will celebrate Christmas Eve two ways: brunch from 11 am-2 pm, and a 4-course dinner from 4-8:30 pm, featuring choices from Southern deviled eggs, tenderloin crostinis, tomato soup, Granny Smith salad, cream leek blue cheese chicken, almond-crusted salmon, filet mignon, flourless chocolate espresso cake, or bourbon pecan pie. 214-792-9944.

Mercat Bistro. Brunch with a special Christmas-themed ambiance. 10 am-3 pm. 214-953-0917.

Mexican Bar Co. Plano restaurant will be open for brunch and dinner, plus a special 5-course shared menu for two featuring tocino guacamole, quesa birrias, chile en nogada, 18 oz. ribeye, and Atole Azul y Buñuelos. (This special menu is also available on Saturday, December 23.) $100. 972-972-4466.

Oceanaire Seafood Room. Full menu with seafood, oysters, raw bar, sushi, chowder. 12-9 pm. 972-759-2277.

Pappas Bros. Serving full dinner menu with steak, seafood, salads. 5-9 pm. 214-366-2000.

La Parisienne. 4-course menu includes butternut squash soup, mushroom Boursin soup, Caesar salad, artichoke asparagus salad, chicken breast roulade, steak au poivre, scallop pasta, Rocher praline, and Napoleon. $75. Plus regular brunch menu 9 am-3 pm, and dinner menu 3-8 pm. 469-200-5411.

Pearl. Sushi and holiday cocktails with a Japanese twist. 5-10 pm. 972-803-6686.

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille. 3-course menu with soup or salad, Prime rib, and sides. $79. 5:30-10 pm. 214-855-5151.

The Porch. Open for brunch and lunch with the last seating at 4 pm. 214-828-2916.

The Pyramid. Restaurant at the Fairmont Dallas will serve a special Christmas Eve brunch featuring gingerbread spiced doughnuts with Bavarian cream, chestnut bisque with mushrooms Bananas Foster French toast with caramel sauce, red velvet waffle & fried chicken, Smoked Prime Rib with truffle mashed potatoes, and citrus Peppermint Chocolate Mousse with orange gelee and raspberries. Prices a la carte. 11 am-2 pm. 214-720-5249.

Republic Texas Tavern. Special Christmas Eve menu features Texas chowda ($14), brisket bites ($16), lobster ravioli ($27), sea bass Milanaise ($32), bacon-wrapped Petite filet ($37), and smoked prime rib ($45). Reservations start at 4 pm. 972-385-6004.

Saint Ann. Brunch with Santa includes brunch plus photo with Santa. 10 am-3 pm. $55, or $35 doe 12 and under. 214-782-9807.

Starship Bagel. Artisan bagel shop will be open at both locations in Lewisville and downtown Dallas on Christmas Eve, from 7 am-1 pm, with bagels, coffee, and bagel sandwiches including cucumber, lox, and avocado with tomato, cucumber, red onion, and sprouts.

Stillwell’s. Hotel Swexan restaurant will feature a Beef Wellington special, wrapped in puff pastry, filled with a spinach and mushroom duxelle, accompanied by carrots, potato puree, and bone marrow bordelaise sauce. $98. 5-9 pm. 469-405-1911.

Table 13. 4-course meal includes choices from deviled eggs, bacon-wrapped dates, house salad, lobster bisque, tenderloin lobster Oscar, filet with shrimp, sea bass, Prime ribeye, lemon caper chicken, pecan-crusted salmon, candy cane cheesecake or chocolate cake. $99. 5-10 pm. 972-789-9558.

Urban Seafood Co. Christmas Eve Feast of Seven Fishes Wine Dinner featuring seven courses paired with seven wines. $125. 5:30 pm. 214-251-8771.

Villa Azur. Christmas Eve dinner includes a 3-course chef's menu featuring oysters, bison filet with mushroom casserole, and La Buche de Villa - dulce de leche, passion fruit lime, and vanilla mousse. 5 pm-12 am. 214-389-2602.

Whistle Britches. Brunch menu includes chicken & waffles, chicken fried steak, and cream corn skillet cornbread. 10 am-4 pm. 214-299-5971.

lists bests holidays

A Roundup of Restaurant News

Fill up on the festive fare in this roundup of Dallas restaurant news

Maison Chinoise

Spread at Maison Chinoise

This roundup of restaurant news around Dallas is all about new menus, with lots of festive-themed dishes and menu additions. There's a new brunch at a surprising destination, new cocktails, and lots of hot chocolate, fitting for the season.

Here's what's happening in Dallas restaurant news:

Taziki’s Mediterranean Café is opening a location in Las Colinas, at 5910 N. MacArthur Blvd. Taziki's is known for its hummus, whipped feta, kebabs, Greek salad, and Mediterranean lamb burger. This is the chain's fourth Dallas location and 100th location nationwide.

Catch Dallas, the seafood restaurant at Maple Terrace, ha some splashy new items including truffle sashimi, rainbow sashimi pizza, and a Wagyu hot rock dish with options of A5 Kobe beef, olive beef, and snow beef cooked tableside.

Dive Coastal Cuisine in Snider Plaza has new seasonal specials, including beet & blood orange salad, butternut squash soup, fingerling potatoes, coconut rice, and portobello mushrooms, available through the end of November.

TK's Addison, the comedy club, has a new brunch every Sunday from 10 am-3 pm. Shareable options include cast-iron cinnamon rolls with Grand Marnier cream cheese icing, deviled eggs, and Belgian waffle bites. Meals include filet mignon Benedict, crab cakes Benedict, Nashville chicken biscuit, and the hangover burger, with a short rib/chuck/brisket blend patty with bourbon bacon, four-cheese bechamel, a fried egg and crispy onions.

Fish City Grill, Half Shells restaurants are launching a name brand oyster on November 19 called the Mystic Mermaid, which have a heavy brine and shell ranging from 3-3 1/2 inches, served with cucumber-citrus mignonette. Available for for $21 per half-dozen and $42 per dozen at all Dallas, Flower Mound, Richardson, and Plano locations.

Dog Haus is celebrating Thanksgiving all month with a twist on the Turducken: a turkey, duck, and chicken sausage topped with garlic aioli, turkey gravy, onions, and scallions, served on King’s Hawaiian rolls; and the Turducken burrito, a turkey, duck, and chicken sausage, three sunny side up eggs, white American cheese, sweet potato fries, caramelized onions, and spicy mayo in a toasted flour tortilla.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar has a new lunch menu with a two-course prix fixe starting at $28. New options include steakhouse filet chopped salad, and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse burger, steak frites, and a barbecue salmon fillet. All lunch dishes are $30 or less. There are new cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages, like Tropical Tee and Blackberry Lavenderade.

Carrabba’s Italian Grill has new menu items including Arancini, a risotto bite with fennel sausage, mozzarella, parmesan, & Romano cheese; rigatoni al forno, with tomato cream sauce, Italian sausage, Romano, parmesan, mozzarella and goat cheese; and short rib marsala, bone-in short rib over garlic mashed potatoes with Lombardo Marsala wine sauce. Dessert includes a triple chocolate bread pudding. New festive cocktails feature the merry berry martini and wood-fired old fashioned. Available through January 13.

Taziki’s has brought back its tomato basil soup. Prices start at $5.49, and the soup is also available as part of a soup-and-salad combo with pricing varying by market. This soup is available through January 26.

Beyond Sun Sausage is now available at Whole Foods Markets across Dallas. It’s made from plant-based ingredients, including yellow pea, brown rice, and red lentil proteins. There are 12 grams of plant-based protein per link with no cholesterol, soy, gluten, added antibiotics, or hormones. Flavors include Cajun and pesto, and a four-count package is $11.

Al Biernat’s has new cocktails with a festive twist. At the Oak Lawn location, find Golden Hour with Basil Hayden, Dolin Blanc, Campari, Giffard Piment d’espelette, and grapefruit bitters; Frosted Poinsettia with Titos, spiced cranberry syrup, lemon juice, and Zerbina with red glitter sugar; and Bloody Sidecar, with The Macallan 12, Fruitful Blood Orange, Cointreau, and lemon juice. The Al Biernat’s North menu has Spicy Pineapple Margarita with Flecha infused tequila, Grand Marnier, pineapple juice, and lime juice; Camp Fire Mule with whiskey, lemon juice, maple syrup, and Ladybird ginger beer; and Gin Apple Pie with Roku Gin, cinnamon syrup, and apple cider.

Maison Chinoise in Uptown has launched a new Dim Sum Happy Hour, available Monday-Thursday, with a selection of dim sum for $10. A new Sunday offering features all bottles of wine under $100 available at half-price all day for dine-in.

P.F. Chang’s has added Asian fried chicken to the menu for the first time. It comes in two options, Korean fried chicken and Taiwanese popcorn chicken, with a choice of sauces, including sweet soy glaze, dynamite, hot honey, and chili crisp. Available as bone-in three-piece or six-piece and boneless four-piece or five-piece, eight-piece or 10-piece for shareables.

Laredo Taco Company, 7-Eleven's in-house restaurant, has two holiday specials: Quesabirria, featuring shredded beef and melted cheese, available as a taco or bowl, paired with consommé dipping sauce; and tamales in choice of pork or chicken, in packs of three, six, or 12 or a family size with two dozen tamales and two sides.

Menchie's Frozen Yogurt is collaborating with candy brand Hi-Chew for a limited-edition Key lime pie flavor, inspired by Hi-Chew Dessert Mix’s Key Lime Pie. The flavor is available through November 30.

Main Event has new frozen hot chocolate shakes in three flavors: Classic, a frozen hot chocolate with chocolate candy frosted rim, and a Little Debby Christmas tree cake; s’mores with marshmallow rim and graham crackers; and peppermint with peppermint frosted rim and a candy cane. Bailey’s Irish Cream or Caffè Borghetti can be added to any flavor for $3. Prices start at $11. Available through January 7.

Rita’s Frozen Custard has two limited-time frozen treats: Frozen Hot Cocoa Gelati, which layers Rita’s Frozen Hot Cocoa Cream Ice with Vanilla Custard, blending the taste of hot cocoa with cool Italian Ice; and Frozen Hot Cocoa Gelati Blender with a crushed peppermint topping.

Dunkin' is bringing back holiday favorites and new menu items. Drinks include the cookie butter cold brew, peppermint mocha latte, toasted white chocolate latte, and white hazelnut bark coffee. New items include the cookie butter donut, holiday cookie latte, almond croissant, and hash brown brisket scramble bowl.

Barrilitos, the Mexican soda, has returned to Texas shelves. Originally produced nearly 100 years ago, the drink is available in four flavors: Mandarina, Manzana, Piña, and Ponche de Frutas in both 12-ounce and 1.5-liter bottles. The aguas frescas were sold until 2020-2021, and the sodas were sold until 2017. Now they're available at El Rancho, La Michoacana, and Fiesta stores across Dallas.

Wendy's has a new salted caramel Frosty. It can also be paired with the limited-time mushroom bacon cheeseburger, which features roasted mushrooms, bacon, Muenster cheese, and garlic spread. The Frosty is $3 and the burger is $6.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has shut down two oyster harvest areas in the Gulf: the 14-acre Desperation Reef and the 529-acre Dollar Reef, both in Galveston Bay, to allow the oyster population to recover the reef is healthy enough that they can start harvesting oysters again. They'll reopen in November 2026.

Chipotle has launched a wacky new merchandise collection that includes a $10 cilantro soap, a nod to the small percentage of the population who are genetically wired to experience a soapy flavor when eating cilantro; the $28 “Water” Cup candle, a lemonade-scented candle; and $20 car napkin holder. The collection will be available for individual purchase, or as a bundle for $50.

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