Ready or not, Christmas is two weeks away (assuming that whole Mayan prophecy thing doesn't pan out). Perhaps you have grand plans to cook a Christmas goose, but if not, there are plenty of local restaurants that will be open and ready to serve you on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, whether you desire the more traditional route of prime rib and popovers, the super-traditional route of traditional English pudding and mincemeat pies, or something a little different—Indian, Chinese, or BBQ. Here, we've mapped a bakers' dozen options for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining.
Popular Longfellow neighborhood pub Merlin's Rest will be open from 4 pm to 2 am on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, serving the regular menu (and mulled wine!). And on the 25th, there will also be live music, traditional English pudding, and mincemeat pies.
This Longfellow standby is open every day of the year, including regular hours on the 24th and the 25th (11:30 am to 3 pm for lunch and 5 pm to 10 pm for dinner). They'll be serving the regular menu with some specials. Reservations are recommended for large parties (6 or more).
No Christmas dining guide would be complete without a Chinese restaurant, but Szechuan Spice would earn its place regardless for its Beef Big Bowl alone. It's open 11 am to 10 pm both days for delivery, take-out, and dine-in.
This Uptown BBQ staple has one of its busiest nights of the year on Christmas Eve, when it's serving up its trademark ribs and sides until 9 pm. The bar is open until 10 pm, for those of you who need a little break from the fam. Reservations recommended for Christmas Eve; closed Christmas Day.
Get your supper-club classics at Normandy Kitchen, which will be serving up its regular menu (think: veal meatloaf, deviled eggs, shrimp toasts) from 7 am to 11 pm on the 24th and 5 pm to 11 pm on the 25th.
If all you want for Christmas is a nice rib-eye steak, then Manny's is the place for you. The downtown steakhouse is open until 9 pm on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, serving its normal menu. Reservations recommended.
Want someone else to make you breakfast after opening presents? Basil's is open from 7:30 am to 1 pm on Christmas Day, serving up a family style brunch that includes dishes like caramel pecan rolls and deep-dish onion bacon quiche. Basil's will also be open Christmas Eve Day until 2 pm. Reservations recommended for Christmas Day Brunch.
D'Amico Kitchen will be open both the 24th and 25th for breakfast (6:30-11 am), lunch (11 am - 2 pm), and dinner (starts at 5 pm, last reservation at 7:15 pm). It will be serving the regular menu with some specials. Reservations recommended.
The classic downtown holiday destination will be open on both Christmas Eve (4-8 pm) and Christmas Day (6-11 am for breakfast and 11 am - 8 pm for lunch and dinner). They'll be serving the entire regular menu plus prime rib and popovers. Reservations recommended.
Cosmos will be open regular hours (6:30 am - 10 pm) with the regular menu on Christmas Eve. On the 25th, it's open 11 am to 8 pm with a special three-course menu ($45/person) featuring dishes like sweet potato soup with pink peppercorn crème fraiche and seared yellowfin tuna. Reservations recommended.
Copper Pot Indian Grill will be open regular hours both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (lunch from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm and dinner from 5 pm to 10 pm). Christmas Day will bring a special Indian menu, as well as the regular menu. Reservations recommended.
Nicollet Island Inn will be open on Christmas Eve for dinner with its regular menu (5:30-9 pm). On Christmas Day, it will serve a special three-course menu ($70/person) with choices including lobster bisque and seafood mixed grill (10:30 am - 8 pm). Reservations recommended.
Get a little classic Minneapolis on your holiday at the oldest restaurant on the oldest street in the city. Pracna on Main will be serving its regular menu from noon to 4 pm on the 24th and noon to midnight on the 25th. Reservations recommended.
Popular Longfellow neighborhood pub Merlin's Rest will be open from 4 pm to 2 am on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, serving the regular menu (and mulled wine!). And on the 25th, there will also be live music, traditional English pudding, and mincemeat pies.
This Longfellow standby is open every day of the year, including regular hours on the 24th and the 25th (11:30 am to 3 pm for lunch and 5 pm to 10 pm for dinner). They'll be serving the regular menu with some specials. Reservations are recommended for large parties (6 or more).
No Christmas dining guide would be complete without a Chinese restaurant, but Szechuan Spice would earn its place regardless for its Beef Big Bowl alone. It's open 11 am to 10 pm both days for delivery, take-out, and dine-in.
This Uptown BBQ staple has one of its busiest nights of the year on Christmas Eve, when it's serving up its trademark ribs and sides until 9 pm. The bar is open until 10 pm, for those of you who need a little break from the fam. Reservations recommended for Christmas Eve; closed Christmas Day.
Get your supper-club classics at Normandy Kitchen, which will be serving up its regular menu (think: veal meatloaf, deviled eggs, shrimp toasts) from 7 am to 11 pm on the 24th and 5 pm to 11 pm on the 25th.
If all you want for Christmas is a nice rib-eye steak, then Manny's is the place for you. The downtown steakhouse is open until 9 pm on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, serving its normal menu. Reservations recommended.
Want someone else to make you breakfast after opening presents? Basil's is open from 7:30 am to 1 pm on Christmas Day, serving up a family style brunch that includes dishes like caramel pecan rolls and deep-dish onion bacon quiche. Basil's will also be open Christmas Eve Day until 2 pm. Reservations recommended for Christmas Day Brunch.
D'Amico Kitchen will be open both the 24th and 25th for breakfast (6:30-11 am), lunch (11 am - 2 pm), and dinner (starts at 5 pm, last reservation at 7:15 pm). It will be serving the regular menu with some specials. Reservations recommended.
The classic downtown holiday destination will be open on both Christmas Eve (4-8 pm) and Christmas Day (6-11 am for breakfast and 11 am - 8 pm for lunch and dinner). They'll be serving the entire regular menu plus prime rib and popovers. Reservations recommended.
Cosmos will be open regular hours (6:30 am - 10 pm) with the regular menu on Christmas Eve. On the 25th, it's open 11 am to 8 pm with a special three-course menu ($45/person) featuring dishes like sweet potato soup with pink peppercorn crème fraiche and seared yellowfin tuna. Reservations recommended.
Copper Pot Indian Grill will be open regular hours both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (lunch from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm and dinner from 5 pm to 10 pm). Christmas Day will bring a special Indian menu, as well as the regular menu. Reservations recommended.
Nicollet Island Inn will be open on Christmas Eve for dinner with its regular menu (5:30-9 pm). On Christmas Day, it will serve a special three-course menu ($70/person) with choices including lobster bisque and seafood mixed grill (10:30 am - 8 pm). Reservations recommended.
Get a little classic Minneapolis on your holiday at the oldest restaurant on the oldest street in the city. Pracna on Main will be serving its regular menu from noon to 4 pm on the 24th and noon to midnight on the 25th. Reservations recommended.
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