Restaurants open on Christmas Day in South Florida

Whether you've been naughty or nice, diners can cross a stress-free holiday meal off their wish list. A number of restaurant chains will be open Christmas Day. So, once the presents are opened, it's OK to leave the mess for later.

Following are some helpful ideas of places to eat. Oh, and we're fairly certain that most restaurants inside hotels will be open to serve guests and visitors alike but don't forget call ahead to confirm. Times and availability are subject to change.

Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay

Here are some low-cost and moderate-price options. As always, we urge you to call ahead and confirm, as some independently-operated franchises opt to close on Christmas or limit their hours.

• Benihana: There are 10 restaurants that will be open at 11 a.m. in all three counties.
• Denny's: Christmas is actually the diner chain's busiest day of the year. Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner all 24-hours of Christmas Day.
• IHOP: Open all day (24-hours restaurants will keep to schedule, hours may vary at other locations).
• Golden Corral: Some locations are open but varies by restaurant. Call ahead to confirm.
• RA Sushi: Serves its limited time seasonal menu on Christmas Day 2-10 pm. While there are 10 locations in South Florida, only 1 is a sit-down restaurants (the rest are for take-out and delivery).
• TGI Fridays: There are 11 locations in South Florida that will open at 11 a.m.
• TooJay's Deli & Bakery: There are 11 locations in Broward and Palm Beach counties that will be open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. 
• Waffle House: Waffle House is open on Christmas Day, also following their 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week normal schedule.

These have limited openings:

• Boston Market: Some are open so check before you go.
• Dunkin‘: Some are open and others have limited hours.
• McDonald's: The ones that are corporate-owned are open while franchises may be closed.
• Red Lobster: Limited restaurants open. Click HERE for a complete listing by state.
• Starbucks: Most Starbucks are open on Christmas Day and you can pick up some breakfast, lunch, dinner, and of course coffee. Hours vary by location.

NOTE: Look to your neighborhood ethnic restaurants. Many Asian and Indian spots are open on Christmas for lunch and/or dinner, as are some Jewish delis.

Following is a sample list of moderately priced local eateries:

Restaurants open on Christmas Day

Broward County

• Batch New Southern Kitchen & Bar, located at 525 N Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale, will open at noon on Christmas Day. On the menu you will find southern food favorites like Baby Back Ribs, Chicken ‘n Waffles, Assorted Burgers and more. For more information, visit batchsouthernkitchen.com
• Brio Italian restaurants will be open on Christmas. Guests can enjoy the a la carter menu. Reservations can be made online
• Del Frisco's, located 501 E. Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale, will be open from 1 to 8 p.m. and serving an a la carte menu featuring holiday favorites like Whole Maine Lobster, 16 oz Dry Aged Ribeye, holiday cocktails and more. For more information and to book a reservation, call (754) 312-3235.
• Enjoy your favorite Mexican food favorites at El Camino, with multiple locations throughout South Florida. May we suggest the Watermelon Jalapeño Margarita paired with the Carnitas Tacos and chips and guacamole and you're set for a festive night out. El Camino locations will be open from noon until midnight on Christmas Day. El Camino has multiple locations including Delray Beach, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and the soon-to-open Boca Raton.
• The Terrace Grill located at The Dalmar, 299 N Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale will be serving a special 3-course prix-fixe dinner for $75 per person. Highlights include Roasted Squash Veloute with candied rosemary, Seared Sea Scallop with truffle risotto and Bûche de Noël with cranberry compote.  For reservations, visit OpenTable or call (954) 945-9300.

Miami-Dade County

• Italica Midtown, 3201 NE First Ave., Miami, will host its sumptuous, a la carte Italian brunch on Christmas Day from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. so get ready for a feast of your sense. Standout dishes include Bunogiorno ($8), French toast with Nutella, pistachio and mascarpone; Asiago cheese-stuffed gnocchi  with short rib ($28), assorted pizzas, 2-for-1 cocktails and select bottomless drinks. 
• PAUL Miami Beach on Lincoln Road will be open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Christmas Day. This decadent French bakery and cafe will be serving up your favorite coffee and tea drinks, along with traditional bakery treats and festive holiday specials like Yule Logs and Kings Cakes. PAUL has locations in both Miami Beach and in Sunrise.
• Chef Marcus Samuelsson's Red Rooster will be serving up a special prix-fixe dinner menu, served family-style, for $75/adult and $20/children under 12 from 4  until 10 p.m. Guests will enjoy house favorites like Marcus' cornbread, Cajun spiced smoked turkey breast & BBQ pulled smoked turkey legs, mac & cheese, crispy jerk sweet fingerling potatoes and more. Red Rooster is located at 920 NW 2nd Avenue in Miami. For reservations, call (305) 640-9880. 
• Keep it casual on Christmas Day and head to Spris Pizza located at 741 Lincoln Road. From noon until 10:30 p.m., guests can order pizzas (ranging from a traditional Margherita to a not-so-traditional Mortadella e Pisttacchio), salads or heartier entrees for the whole family to enjoy. For more information, call (305) 673-2020. NOTE: Spris has multiple locations and the hours may vary. Please check with your nearest location to verify hours.
• The Strand at Carillon Miami will offer a festive a la carte Christmas Day brunch from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. complete with sweet and savory breakfast options, sandwiches and other tempting dishes like fennel citrus burrata, Scottish smoked salmon plateau and pizza fiorentina starting at $18. Add on bottomless mimosas for $28++ per guest. Carillon Miami is located at 6801 Collins Ave, Miami Beach.

Palm Beach County

• The Atlantic Grille, located at the Seagate Hotel in Delray Beach, will be serving a selection of holiday specials, along with their a la carte menu from 12 p.m. until 10 p.m. Highlights include Crab Stuffed Snapper, Roast Prime Rib of Beef, Yule Log Christmas Tree and Raspberry Linzer Tart. Seagate Hotel is located at 1000 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. For more information and to make a reservation, call (561) 665-4900 or visit opentable.com.
• Bistro Ten Zero One at the West Palm Beach Marriott will serve a 3-course prix-fixe dinner on Christmas Day for $50. Enjoy your choice of an appetizer; maple glazed salmon, NY strip or chicken breast; and a choice of dessert. Call 561-803-1908 to make a reservation.
• Get a taste of modern Italian cuisine with live entertainment at Cafe Centro in West Palm Beach's Northwood Village at 2409 N Dixie Hwy. The restaurant will be open starting at 4 p.m. and will be offering their a la carte dinner menu that includes a selection of traditional Italian appetizers, pizzas, pastas, entrees and luscious desserts. For more information, visit cafecentro.com or call (561) 514-4070. 
• Deck 84 will be serving up their regular a la carte menu, along with holiday specials from 12 to 7:30 p.m. along the waterfront in downtown Delray Beach. As an added bonus, the restaurant will be offering happy hour drink pricing on Christmas Day with the purchase of entrée at the bar top only. Reservations can be made by calling 561-665-8484 or visiting sevenrooms.com/reservations/deck84
• Enjoy your favorite Mexican food favorites at El Camino, with multiple locations throughout South Florida. May we suggest the Watermelon Jalapeño Margarita paired with the Carnitas Tacos and chips and guacamole and you're set for a festive night out. El Camino locations will be open from noon until midnight on Christmas Day. El Camino has multiple locations including Delray Beach, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and the soon-to-open Boca Raton.
• All Lemongrass Asian Bistro locations will be open on Christmas Day from 5 p.m. until close. The restaurants will be serving up their regular a la carte menu, complete with a variety of sushi rolls and sashimi, curries, rice bowls, classic Thai dishes and more. Lemongrass Asian Bistro has locations in Boynton Beach, Wellington, Boca Raton and Delray Beach.
• Park Tavern will be open from 11 a.m. until midnight on Christmas Day and will serving up their  regular a la carte menu complete with your favorite cocktails, salads, sandwiches, burgers, entrees and more — with everything being made in house. Book your reservations early, as time slots are filling up quickly. Park Tavern is located 32 E Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach.

We will be updating this list often, so be sure to check back.

Looking for a more formal dining experience? Check OpenTable. The online restaurant reservations site lists upscale restaurants (the kind that take reservations) open on Christmas Day. You can search by city.

Information from our parent site, Living On The Cheap, was used to supplement this article

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