The trend of dining out on Christmas Day is growing.
“It’s becoming an increasingly attractive day for families to get out of the house to celebrate by breaking bread together in a relaxed environment,” said Adam Roe, executive chef at The Chattanoogan. “Our reservation numbers have been steadily increasing year over year.”
While he says he would love to attribute the rise to the ability of restaurants to recreate the flavors and smells of being home for the holidays, he believes it has “just as much to do with the option of sharing a great meal with the ones you hold dear without the chores of cooking and cleaning up following the celebration.”
Despite the growth of Christmas Day traffic, there are still just a handful of eateries that will be open, and a couple will have their kitchen elves busy preparing foods beyond their regular menus:
Santa sings with children at the 2015 Breakfast with Santa holiday kickoff at the Chattanoogan Hotel on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The event featured carolers and the chance for children to have their picture made with Santa.* The Chattanoogan‘s ballroom will be filled with a wide assortment of dishes, beginning with a holiday harvest bar overwhelmed with an assortment of fresh salads, seafood, breads and cheeses. The carving station will feature horseradish-Dijon-crusted prime rib and roasted-garlic pork shoulder. A hot buffet continues with chicken sausage and caramelized onion and apple bread pudding, petit veal osso buco, burgundy-braised chicken and lobster ravioli with saffron cream and bell pepper coulis. For dessert? The popular chocolate waterfall with assorted sweets for dipping, as well as a host of pies, tarts and cakes.
Cost: $38.95 adults, $18.95 children ages 6-12, under 6 free
Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Reservations: 424-3700
* At Bluff View Art District, oven-roasted turkey and Dijon-crusted prime rib au jus will play the starring role for Christmas Brunch on the Bluff, alongside an assortment of vegetables and salads, plus French toast with apple compote, fruits, quiche, home-baked breads and pastries. Dinner will be served in both Back Inn Cafe and Renaissance Commons.
Cost: $34.95 adults, $17.95 children age 12 and under
Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Reservations: 265-5033, ext. 4.
The following restaurants are also open for Christmas, and will be serving off their regular menus. Keep in mind, however, that their hours may be different from usual so their employees can have some time with their families.
* Beast and Barrel, 16 Frazier Ave., 4-11 p.m. 805-4599.
* Big River Grille, 222 Broad St. location only, 4-10 p.m. 267-2739.
* Buffet King, 5230 Highway 153, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 877-8816.
* Chef Lin, 5084 South Terrace, 11:30 a.m.to 10 p.m. 510-1998.
* China Rose, 9203 Lee Highway, Ooltewah, 2-9 p.m. 238-1268.
* City Cafe Diner, 901 Carter St., 634-9191; and 7641 Lee Highway, 485-8222, both 24 hours.
* Fox & Hound, 2040 Hamilton Place Blvd., 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. 490-1200.
* Hair of the Dog Pub, 334 Market St., 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. 265-4615.
* Honest Pint, 35 Patten Parkway, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. 468-4192.
* Huddle House, all locations, 24 hours.
* IHOP, 5814 Brainerd Road, 490-0559; and 5113 Highway 153, 877-4732; both open at 11 a.m., then 24 hours a day.
* New China Buffet and Grill, 3450 Cummings Highway, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. 821-6988.
* Porter’s Steakhouse, 827 Broad St. (inside the Read House), 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. 643-1240.
* Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, 2321 Lifestyle Way, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (dinner menu served all day), 602-5900.
* Sweet Basil Thai, 5845 Brainerd Road, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. 485-8836.
* The Big Chill, 103 Cherokee Blvd., 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. 267-2445.
* Waffle House, all locations, 24 hours.
Contact Anne Braly at abraly@timesfreepress.com.