Christmas dining 2023: Dine-in and carryout options for a tasty holiday

Options abound for memorable Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining experiences in the suburbs. Many restaurants are also offering to-go packages so you can enjoy the holiday in the comfort of your home without toiling in the kitchen. Here’s what we found.

Aboyer

64 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, (847) 441-3100, georgetroisgroup.com/aboyer. Chef Michael Lachowicz is preparing a family-style Christmas Eve menu featuring an appetizer course of potato-truffle soup and a mixed green salad followed by main courses of wagyu beef short ribs and grilled filet of Faroe Island salmon provencal. Sides include haricots verts in brown butter, ratatouille gratin and creamy whipped pomme puree. Enjoy a chocolate-hazelnut bombe for dessert. Served from 4-8 p.m. Dec. 24, the dinner is $105 per adult and $75 for kids younger than 8. Reservations are required through OpenTable.

Allgauer’s on the Riverfront

2855 N. Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook, (847) 664-7999, allgauersriverfrontrestaurant.com/. Make reservations early for Christmas Day brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It’s $79 for adults and $39 for kids.

Antico Posto

118 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 586-9200, antico-posto.com/. For the holidays, the Italian cafe is serving specials now through Jan. 4, including truffle crusted beef medallion risotto with butternut squash and natural jus, and Sicilian crabcake with jumbo lump crab, Dijon aioli and pomegranate seeds. Available for dine-in, carryout and delivery. The restaurant is open from noon to 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve and is closed on Christmas Day.

Beatrix

272 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 491-1415, beatrixrestaurants.com/beatrix/oak-brook/. Join Beatrix for dinner on Christmas Eve for a special featuring grilled filet medallions with short rib ragout, smashed potatoes and truffle-onion jus. Hosting at home? The Christmas Dinner To-Go for two includes Brussels sprouts and Honeycrisp apple salad, butternut squash and apple soup, chicken Bebe, filet medallions with truffle-onion jus, smashed potatoes, brown butter spaghetti squash and Oh My! Caramel Pie for $119.95 per package. Each package is served cold with reheating instructions. Orders must be placed by noon Friday, Dec. 22, for carryout or delivery between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 24.

Bien Trucha Group

Restaurants include A Toda Madre in Glen Ellyn, Bien Trucha in Geneva, Quiubo in Naperville or Bien Trucha Kitchen in Lombard. bientruchagroup.com/. The restaurant group is offering their beef barbacoa feast to-go package for pickup on Dec. 23 at any of their restaurants. The $100 package for four comes with all the fixings and reheating instructions to enjoy a Mexican-style feast at home that includes barbacoa, poblano rice, pinto beans, salsa martajada and tortillas.

The Blossom Cafe

8349 W. Lawrence Ave., Norridge, (708) 453-5300, theblossomcafe.com/. Blossom Cafe is offering dine-in specials for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, including prime rib, baked ham, baked stuffed shrimp, filet and lobster, halibut and shrimp and lobster Alfredo. Hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days. Or consider the complete takeout dinners that feed eight to 15 and include ham, roast turkey or rotisserie roast pork for $299. Order by Thursday, Dec. 21, for pickup on Christmas Eve or Day.

Bonefish Grill

1604 Randall Road, Algonquin, (847) 658-9268; 15537 S. Lagrange Road, Orland Park, (708) 873-5170; 9310 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, (847) 674-4634; and 180 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg, (847) 534-0679; bonefishgrill.com/. For dine-in on Christmas Eve, sip on the Winter White Cosmo with the new crispy bang artichokes. Winter specials include the old fashioned cedar plank salmon and the smoky tomato grouper with Parmesan risotto.

Brick House Tavern + Tap

1461 Butterfield Road, Downers Grove, (630) 963-1104, brickhousetavernandtap.com/event/christmas/. On Christmas Day, make things easy by bringing your crew to dine on the roasted turkey dinner that includes sides, stuffing and a slice of pumpkin pie for $26 for adults and $14.99 for kids 12 and younger.

Bub City

5441 Park Place, Rosemont, (847) 261-0399, bub-city.com/rosemont/. Bub City will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve for brunch and dinner for dine-in, carryout and delivery. The restaurant will be closed on Christmas Day.

Chandler’s Chophouse

401 N. Roselle Road, Schaumburg, (847) 885-9009, chandlerschophouse.com/xmaseve.php. Chandler’s will be serving from a special Christmas Eve menu that includes apps, prime rib, twin filet Oscar, Parmesan-crusted grouper, baked honey-glazed ham, carved leg of lamb, peppermint ice cream and more. Dec. 24 hours are 3-8 p.m. Reservations are recommended.

Disotto Italian

310 Green Bay Road, Highwood, (224) 765-9490, disottoitalian.com/. Open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Christmas Eve and 3-9 p.m. Christmas Day, the Italian restaurant will be serving specials such as a shaved fennel salad ($15), campanelle aragosta ($29) and braised beef shank with creamy mascarpone polenta ($39). Reservations are requested.

Dover Straits

890 E. Route 45, Mundelein, (847) 949-1550, doverstraits.com/. Make reservations now to dine in on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The Drake Oak Brook

2301 York Road, Oak Brook, (630) 571-0000, thedrakeoakbrookhotel.com/. The Drake will be hosting a lavish Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet from 3-7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 24. It’s $90 for adults, $33 for kids 6-12, and free for kids younger than 5. Limited availability and reservations are required.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

960 Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire, (847) 793-0333, flemingssteakhouse.com/. Fleming’s is open from 4 to 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Reservations required.

Fox & Turtle

400 East Orchard St., Itasca, (630) 773-1801, foxandturtle.com/. Open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Christmas Eve, the restaurant will be serving their full menu, plus Christmas specials including Thai shrimp salad ($22), sea bass Oscar ($42) and Parmesan encrusted filet ($62).

Francesca’s

Locations in Arlington Heights, Barrington, Bolingbrook, Chicago, Elmhurst, Lake Forest, Naperville, Northbrook, St. Charles and surrounding suburbs; miafrancesca.com/. Feast on Christmas dinner specials Dec. 22-25 that include lobster bisque ($9.95), four-cheese agnolotti pasta ($28.95), risotto all’ arlecchino with shrimp, sea scallops and manila clams ($31.95) and dry-aged New York strip with smashed fingerling potatoes ($54.95) from 3-9 p.m. Christmas Day. Reservations required.

Gibson’s

2105 S. Spring Road, Oak Brook, (630) 954-0000, gibsonssteakhouse.com/gibsons-oak-brook/. Gibson’s is offering Christmas Eve dine-in reservations from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Grill House

3061 Dundee Road, Northbrook, (847) 205-2200, eatgrillhouse.com/. The winter holiday catering menu features entrees (roasted turkey breast with gravy, roasted chicken, tenderloin roast, sliced brisket, lamb chops, salmon), sides, salads, apps, pasta, desserts and more. Order ahead for pickup.

Jameson’s Charhouse

1331 W. Dundee Road, Arlington Heights, (847) 392-7100, jamesonscharhousearlingtonheights.com/. Jameson’s is open from noon to 9 p.m. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with a limited menu available for dine-in, carry out and delivery. Holiday catering that includes a prime rib package for $425 or a bone-in ham package for $250 is available and includes sides, salad and bread and feeds six to 10. Order by Wednesday, Dec. 20, for pickup on Dec. 24 or 25.

Johnny’s Kitchen & Tap

1740 Milwaukee Ave., Glenview, (847) 699-9999, johnnyskitchenandtap.com/. The restaurant will be open for dine-in from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. If you’re feeding a crew at home this year, Johnny’s offers dinner packages to-go with sides, rolls and cheesecake. The rotisserie roasted pork for six to 10 is $219.95 and the prime rib for six to eight is $325. Larger sizes serving more than 12 are also available. Single dinners available on Dec. 24 and 25 include rotisserie roasted pork ($29.95) and prime rib ($37.95-$44.95). Order ahead for pickup on Dec. 24 or 25.

Katie’s Kitchen

623 N. Wolf Road, Des Plaines, (847) 803-3544, katieskitchenonline.com/. Katie’s is open from 6:30 a.m. until noon on Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas. The holiday dinner package, which feeds eight to 10 for $325, includes maple-glazed pork tenderloin or cranberry orange balsamic airline chicken, three sides, bread and limoncello cake. Prime rib or braised short ribs are available for an extra $130. Dinner for two, which features pork tenderloin or chicken breast for $95 and prime rib or braised short ribs for $175, includes two sides, salad, bread and limoncello cake. Breakfast options for Christmas morning are also available. Order by Dec. 20 for pickup by noon Saturday, Dec. 24.

Kona Grill

3051 Butterfield Road, Oak Brook, (630) 515-8395, konagrill.com/happenings/Christmas. Kona’s Hoilday Cheers menu includes the aptly named Holiday Martini, a tasty-sounding mix of vodka, peppermint bark rumchata, Licor 43 and espresso, to start off your meal. Enjoy entrees of prime rib surf and turf ($49) and seafood fettuccine Alfredo ($39). Open for dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Reservations are required.

Lucille

100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, (630) 530-8300, lucillerestaurant.com/holiday-events/. Make Christmas morning easier with the extensive Christmas Day Brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 25. Nosh on made-to- order omelets, crepes, doughnuts and waffles or hand-carved prime rib and other meats, a seafood station and top it all off with a warm vanilla bread pudding drizzled with caramel-bourbon sauce. Plus, sip on unlimited mimosas, bellinis, Bloody Marys and champagne. It’s $100 for adults, $40 for kids 3-12, and free for kids 2 and younger. Reservations are required.

L. Woods

7110 N. Lincoln Ave., Lincolnwood, (847) 677-3350, lwoodsrestaurant.com/. Make reservations now for dine-in on Christmas Eve, open 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Or consider the Christmas dinner for two to-go, which includes oven-roasted turkey breast and gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, housemade cranberry and apple strudel for $72.95. Order by 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, for pickup from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 24. Closed on Christmas Day.

Maggiano’s

1847 Freedom Drive, Naperville; 240 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook; 1901 E. Woodfield Road, Schaumburg; 307 Hawthorn Center, Vernon Hills; maggianos.com/. Now through Dec. 24, order a holiday bundle to-go that feeds four to six for $120 and features Mom’s Lasagna, fettuccine Alfredo, chicken piccata, Caesar salad, bread, Gigi’s Butter Cake, Vera’s Lemon Cookies and more. Orders must be placed 24 hours in advance of pickup. Closed Christmas Day.

McCormick & Schmick’s

3001 Butterfield Road, Oak Brook, (630) 571-3700, and 5320 N. River Road, Rosemont, (847) 233-3776, mccormickandschmicks.com/event/christmas-new-years/. Make plans for the dine-in holiday prix fixe menu that includes a soup or salad; sugar and spice cedar-planked salmon ($50), Chilean sea bass Oscar ($75), filet mignon ($65) or cracked black pepper open blue cobia ($55); and choice of dessert. It’s available on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Reservations are required.

Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse

1225 W. 22nd St., Oak Brook, (630) 828-2932, michaeljordansteakhouse.com/oak-brook/. Feeding a crowd? Consider MJ’s, which offers to-go packages that feed up to six featuring whole roasted beef tenderloin ($223), roasted prime rib ($189) and maple-glazed pork loin ($79). Add on the $123 Sides & Sweets package, which includes rolls, salad, four sides and dessert (caramel apple bread pudding, Key lime pie or peanut butter pie). Pickup on Dec. 22 or 23.

Miller’s Ale House

778 N. Route 59, Aurora; 455 Butterfield Road, Lombard; 1300 N. Meacham Road, Schaumburg, and other suburbs; millersalehouse.com/. Open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Christmas Eve, closed Christmas Day. Holiday special offerings include steak and lobster ravioli, starting at $21.99, Parmesan-crusted strip steak for $28.99 and a peppermint Ghirardelli brownie sundae for $9.99.

Moretti’s

Locations in Barrington, Bartlett, Edison Park, Elgin, Fox Lake, Hoffman Estates, Lake in the Hills, Mount Prospect, Morton Grove, Rosemont and Schaumburg; morettisrestaurants.com/. Dine with Santa from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, in Hoffman Estates and from 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23, in Morton Grove. Reservations are required.

Morton’s The Steakhouse

1751 Freedom Drive, Naperville, (630) 577-1372; 699 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, (847) 205-5111; 9525 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont, (847) 678-5155; 1470 McConnor Parkway, Schaumburg, (847) 413-8771, mortons.com/. Morton’s is offering a three-course Chateaubriand menu for two for dine-in Dec. 24-31. The $179 dinner includes a winter salad, chateaubriand for two, two sides, and sticky toffee bread pudding, Morton’s Legendary Hot Chocolate Cake or bananas Foster cheesecake. Reservations required.

Niche

14 S. 3rd St., Geneva, (630) 262-1000, nichegeneva.com/. Call to make reservations for Niche’s Christmas Eve Dinner, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and dinner starting at 6. The $85 three-course dinner with an optional wine pairing ($40) includes Sambal and tamarind glazed confit chicken hind quarter; roasted beef tenderloin, goat cheese and parsnip puree and honey-glazed baby beets; and sticky toffee pudding.

Palm Court

1912 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, (847) 870-7770, palmcourt.net/. Open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Palm Court’s holiday dine-in specials include prime rib, crabmeat-stuffed flounder, beef Wellington, filet Oscar, and surf and turf. Don’t forget the holiday desserts, including Key lime pie, New York cheesecake, chocolate fudge cake and carrot cake. Reservations are required.

Perry’s Steakhouse and Grille

5 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 571-1808, and 1780 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg, (847) 648-7451, perryssteakhouse.com/. From 3-10 p.m. Christmas Eve, Perry’s will be offering a three-course prix fixe menu that includes a choice of a soup or salad, entree and dessert for $69 per person before 5:30 p.m. and $79 per person from 5:45 p.m. and later. It’s $69 per person for the meal to-go curbside.

Port Edward

20 W. Algonquin Road, Algonquin, (847) 658-5441, portedward.com/. The seafood restaurant is hosting a Christmas Eve Champagne brunch from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a Surf and Turf buffet from 4 to 8 p.m. Both menus are $65 for adults; $20 kids 5-11; and free for kids younger than 4. Reservations required. Closed on Christmas Day.

Prairie Grass Cafe

601 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, (847) 205-4433, prairiegrass.cafe/. The Christmas Eve dinner for two to-go features slow-braised barbecue short ribs, sides, salad and sticky toffee date cake for $132. There’s also a tenderloin package ($180) and prime rib package ($258) for four people. Preorder for Saturday, Dec. 23 pickup between 3-5 p.m. The restaurant is closed Dec. 24-25.

Rosebud Restaurants and Carmine’s

Locations in Deerfield, Lemont, Naperville and Chicago; Carmine’s has locations in Rosemont and Chicago; rosebudrestaurants.com/holiday-to-go-orders/. Rosebud and Carmine locations are open for dine in on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, or you can create a customizable package of all your favorites for pick up on either day. All orders must be placed by Dec. 20.

Ruth’s Chris

933 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, (847) 498-6889, and 100 W. Higgins Road, Suite U-1, South Barrington, (847) 551-3730, ruthschris.com/promotions/christmas-and-new-years-at-ruths/. Ruth’s Chris is open on Christmas Eve. To make dining at home easier, try their holiday sides to go, which serve anywhere from six to 12 people. Order 48 hours in advance of pickup, which is available from 4-6 p.m. daily until Dec. 23.

Saranello’s

601 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, (847) 777-6878, saranellos.com/events/christmas-eve-specials/. Dine-in on Christmas Eve with a menu that includes a crunchy Christmas salad, rib-eye with fontina potatoes and lobster tortellini with a tomato cream sauce. Closed on Christmas.

Scratchboard Kitchen

5 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights, (847) 749-3103, scratchboardkitchenah.com/. Order to-go Christmas dinner for two for pickup on Saturday, Dec. 23. The $105 package includes slow-braised short rib with pomegranate chutney, cacio e pepe grits, candied maple sweet potatoes, and mushroom and kale ragu.

Seasons 52

3 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 571-4752, and 1770 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 517-5252, seasons52.com/. Open for dine-in on Christmas Eve, closed on Christmas Day. Want to take it home? Make the holidays easier with Season 52’s The Green Box, which serves four to six. Choose from Kona-crusted wood-grilled tenderloin ($225) or whole side of cedar plank salmon ($185), plus a salad, sides and six mini indulgence desserts. Order 24 hours in advance of pickup.

Shaw’s Crab House

1900 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 517-2722, shawscrabhouse.com/schaumburg-illinois/. Shaw’s will be serving the regular menu from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day. Reservations required.

Stan’s Donuts & Coffee

529 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 590-1060; 17W615 Butterfield Road, Oakbrook Terrace, (630) 317-7044; 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, (224) 353-6092; stansdonuts.com/. For the holidays, Stan’s has added seasonal doughnut flavors, including Peppermint Bark Old Fashioned, Gingerbread Gluten-less, Sugar Cookie and Eggnog Le Stan, and drinks such as Peppermint Latte, Winter Cherry Vanilla Refresher, Matcha Cinnamon Latte and a Soy Horchata Hot Chocolate.

Truluck’s Seafood, Steak and Crab House

9860 Berwyn Ave., Rosemont, (847) 233-9404, trulucks.com/. Truluck’s will be open from 4-9 p.m. on Christmas Eve, serving their regular menu plus specials such as the Holiday Nog, Nutcracker Rum Punch and Peppermint Chocolate Cake. Take home a whole cake for $70. Reservations are required.

Violi

260 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 592-2104, tavernavioli.com/. The Greek restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner on Christmas Eve.

Weber Grill

2331 Fountain Square, Lombard, (630) 953-8880, and 1010 N. Meacham Road, Schaumburg, (847) 413-0800, webergrillrestaurant.com/. This year, Weber Grill is offering half (serves four to five) and full (serves eight to 10) Christmas Eve platters, including winter salad, gulf shrimp cocktail, hickory smoked prime rib, Carolina smoked pork loin, white cheddar mac and cheese, green beans almondine, garlic mashed potatoes, triple chocolate Bundt cake, Dutch apple pie and more. Orders require 24 hours notice and must be placed by Dec. 19.

Wildfire

1300 Patriot Blvd., Glenview, (847) 657-6363; 235 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire, (847) 279-7900; 232 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 586-9000; and 1250 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 995-0100; wildfirerestaurant.com/. The regular menu will be available for dine-in, delivery and carryout. Whole pies can be ordered ahead for carryout. All locations will be open on Christmas Eve, but closed on Christmas Day.