List of Triangle restaurants open and serving Christmas meals this year

If cooking a big meal isn’t your idea of a fun holiday, lots of Triangle restaurants are here take on that extra chore.

This year’s list of restaurants includes carry-out or catering options that you can order ahead of time and pick up just before the big day, plus spots that are actually open for dining in on Christmas Day. We’ve also included restaurants offering special Christmas Eve meals.

Send updates and additions to ask@newsobserver.com.

Here’s the list of Triangle restaurants offering tasty holiday meals.

ACME 110 E. Main St., Carrboro. 919-929-2263 or acmecarrboro.com

Serving a four-course meal for two, including apps like summer sausage with tart cherry mustard, classic shrimp cocktail and spicy cheese crisps, choice of salmon or beef, sides and coffee cake with an orange cinnamon glaze for dessert. The cost is $100 and orders can be picked up on Dec. 24.

ALIMENTARI AT MOTHERS & SONS 105 W Chapel Hill St., Durham. 919-864-8841 or alimentariatmothersandsons.com

Alimentari at Mothers & Sons in Durham will be offering a to-go holiday menu, featuring ragu lasagna, antipasto salad, tiramisu and desserts. Last day to order will be Dec. 18. Pickups will be Dec. 23 and 24.

ANGUS BARN 9401 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh. 919-781-2444 or angusbarn.com

The Angus Barn is once again offering its ready-to-cook prime rib special of an 8-pound pre-seasoned bone-in prime rib that will serve about six people, for $195. Cooking instructions included. Pick up is Dec. 22 from 2-6 p.m. at the Angus Barn Lakeside Pavilion. Online orders only.

BAHAMA BREEZE ISLAND GRILLE 3309 Wake Forest Drive, Raleigh. 919-872-3360

Open Christmas Eve until 9 p.m., serving Jamaican cocktails and jerk dishes. Closed Christmas Day.

BEASLEY’S CHICKEN AND HONEY 237 S Wilmington St, Raleigh. 919-322-0127 or ac-restaurants.com/beasleys

Open Christmas Eve 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The restaurant will be serving the regular/à la carte menus, with some potential holiday-related specials.

BENCHWARMERS BAGELS Transfer Food Hall at 500 East Davie St, Raleigh. benchwarmersbagels.com

Benchwarmers will be open Christmas Eve until supplies run out.

BOB EVANS Locations in Durham and Brier Creek in Raleigh. bobevans.com

Open regular hours Christmas Eve, but closed Christmas Day. Holiday feasts available to purchase online.

BOSTON MARKET Locations throughout the Triangle. bostonmarket.com.

Locations are offering holiday meal packages, including a homestyle meatloaf and chicken pot pie.

CLEVELAND DRAFT HOUSE 6101 N.C. 42 West, Garner; 461 Shotwell Road, Clayton.

919-771-2337 (Garner), 919-550-3723 (Clayton) or clevelanddrafthouse.com

Open Christmas Eve 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and opens Christmas Day 9 p.m.

CROSSROADS AT THE CAROLINA INN 211 Pittsboro St, Chapel Hill. 919-933-2001 or destinationhotels.com/carolina-inn

Christmas Eve at Crossroads will feature a la cart breakfast 7-10:30 a.m., lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., a bar menu with holiday specialty entrees (and drinks until midnight) 2:30-11 p.m. Dinner will have limited availability in the hotel bar area from 5-9 p.m.

On Christmas Day, Crossroads Sunday Brunch will be served 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. And a bar menu with specialty holiday entrees will be served 2-11 p.m.

DEATH & TAXES 105 W Hargett St, Raleigh. (984) 242-0218 or ac-restaurants.com/death-taxes

Open Christmas Eve 4-8 p.m. The restaurant will be serving the regular/à la carte menus, with some potential holiday-related specials.

DENNY’S Three locations in the Triangle. dennys.com

Will be open Christmas Day serving a regular menu.

ELEMENTS 2110 Environ Way, Chapel Hill. (919) 537-8780 or elementsofchapelhill.com

Elements will be open for dine-in on Christmas Eve 5-8:30 p.m. They are offering a Christmas package to be picked up Christmas Eve.

GUGLHUPF 2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham. 919-401-2600 or guglhupf.com

Now taking holiday orders for pastries, cakes and stollen. Featured items include red berry tart, riesling poached pear tart, and chestnut chocolate tart. Pre-ordering is available until Dec. 18 at 4 p.m., then baked goods will be sold in stores on a first-come basis.

GRAVY 135 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh. 919-896-8513 or gravyraleigh.com

Gravy will be open Christmas Eve until 8 p.m.

HERONS 100 Woodland Pond Drive, in the Umstead Hotel, Cary. 919-447-4050 or theumstead.com/dining/herons

Seatings are available 4-8 p.m. on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Dinner is $155 per person and $35 per child (ages 2 to 10). Wine pairings are available tableside for $100.

IHOP Nine Triangle locations. ihop.com

Open regular hours Christmas Day with a menu of holiday specials.

IL PALIO 1505 E. Franklin St., in the Siena Hotel, Chapel Hill. 919-918-2545 or ilpalio.com

This fine dining Italian restaurant in Chapel Hill will be open Christmas Eve for a three-course Italian feast.

IRREGARDLESS CAFE 901 W. Morgan St., Raleigh. 919-833-8898 or irregardless.com

Irregardless will be offering a to-go holiday menu with Beef Bourguignon, roast turkey, vegan Wellington, sides and dessert. Pickup is 11 a.m.to 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23.

KABABISH CAFE 201 W. Chatham St., Suite 103, Cary. 919-377-8794 or kababishcafe.com

Pre-orders include family meals for 4 or 8 that include chicken kababs, garlic naan, zeera basmati rice and more.

LONGLEAF SWINE 300 E. Edenton St., Raleigh. 910-330-0702 or longleafswine.com.

Holiday pre-orders are available, with options like smoked prime rib, pulled pork and brisket. Sides include collard greens, roasted sweet potatoes, whiskey baked beans and sausage balls. For dessert: bourbon peacn pie, eggnog cheesecake and persimmon upside town cake. The deadline to order is Monday, Dec. 19 with pickups available Dec. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

MATEO 109 W. Chapel Hill St., Durham. 919-530-8700

Open regular hours (5-10 p.m.) on Christmas Eve offering its regular menu plus specials.

MOTHERS & SONS TRATTORIA 107 W. Chapel Hill St., Durham. 919-294-8247

Open regular hours (5-10 p.m.) on Christmas Eve offering its regular menu plus specials, including the return of its most popular dishes: Chestnut Testaroli with braised duck, pickled golden raisins and duck skin cracklings.

PLATES KITCHEN 301 Glenwood Ave. Suite 100, Raleigh. 919-828-0018 or plateskitchen.com

Open for dining in Christmas Eve, 5:30-9:30 p.m. DIning room also open Christmas Day from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m serving a special menu with dishes like beef tenderloin, pork ossobuco, charcuterie board and figgy pudding, plus brunch options from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (Availability is nearly sold out, but patio dining may be open depending on the weather — check with them on Dec. 22 for that decision). A take-home meal is also available for pickup, with the $179 package feeding six to eight people, and including turkey, sides and dessert. The deadline to order is Dec. 18, with pickup Dec. 24 from 9 a.m. to noon.

PLUM 501 Washington St., Suite C, Durham. 919-351-6446 or plumdurham.com

Serving diners in person from 5-9 p.m. on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, with a prefixe 4-course meal that costs $80 per person. The main course offers a choice of rib roast, market fish or spaghetti squash terrine.

POOLE’S 426 S McDowell St, Raleigh. (919) 832-4477 or ac-restaurants.com/pooles

Open Christmas Eve 4-8 p.m. The restaurant will be serving the regular/à la carte menus, with some potential holiday-related specials.

POOLE’SIDE PIES 426 S McDowell St, Raleigh. (919) 832-4477 or ac-restaurants.com/pooleside

Open Christmas Eve 3-8 p.m. The restaurant will be serving the regular/à la carte menus, with some potential holiday-related specials.

POPPYSEED MARKET 8801 Lead Mine Road, Raleigh. 919-870-4997 or poppyseedmkt.com

The restaurant is serving a take-home meal for six to eight, including prime rib, potato gratin, roasted Brussels sprouts and rolls for $225. Quiche, other dishes and desserts are available to order a la carte. Orders must be in by 8 p.m. Dec. 17 and can be picked up Dec. 24 from 9 to 11 a.m.

REFECTORY CAFE 2726 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham. 919-949-8623 or therefectorycafe.com

Offering a menu of a la carte take-home options, like maple-glazed ham by the pound, turkey, herb stuffing, mac and cheese a variety of beads and pastries and brunch items for the morning. The deadline to order is Dec. 18 with pick-up by 3 p.m. Dec. 24.

TIME-OUT RESTAURANT 201 East Franklin St., Chapel Hill. 919-929-2425 or timeout247.com. Open all day Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and every other day of the year.

UNION SPECIAL BREAD 2409 Crabtree Blvd., #102, Raleigh. 984-200-3094 or unionspecialbread.com

Holiday pre-orders are accepted, including butterscotch pecan pie, dark chocolate babka, stollen, panettone, blue corn cookies, vegan apple sugar cookies, sausage balls, cheese ball with baguette crostini, rolls and more. The deadline to order is Dec. 20, with pickup available Dec. 23 and Dec. 24.

VIDRIO 500 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh. 919-803-6033 or vidrioraleigh.com

Open regular hours (4-11 p.m.) on Christmas Eve with their regular menu plus Steak Frites a la Bordelaise (filet mignon, pomme frites, shallots) for $39.

WAFFLE HOUSE Located throughout the Triangle, Waffle House is open 24 hours 365 a year, including Christmas.

Chinese restaurants in the Triangle open on Christmas

Many Chinese restaurants are open during Christmas, but may have special hours or offer takeout only. Here are hours for some Chinese restaurants around the Triangle:

BANANA LEAF 1026 Ryan Road, Cary. 919-468-9958 or carybananaleaf.com.

Open regular hours on Christmas Eve (11 a.m.-8:30 p.m.) and Christmas Day (noon-8:30 p.m.).

C&T WOK 130 Morrisville Square Way, Morrisville. 919-467-8860 or ctwokrestaurant.com.

Open normal hours on Christmas Eve for dine-in and takeout, 11 a.m.-2:45 p.m. and 4:30-9:45 p.m. Closed on Christmas Day.

GOURMET KINGDOM 301 E. Main St., Carrboro. 919-932-7222 or thegourmetkingdom.com.

Open normal hours for dine-in and takeout on Christmas Eve (11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 4:30-9:30 p.m.) and Christmas Day (noon-3 p.m. and 4:30-9:30 p.m.).

HAPPY CHINA 2505 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham. 919-237-2021 or myhappychina.com.

Open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from noon-10 p.m.

PEACE CHINA 802 Smart Drive, Raleigh. 919-833-8668.

Open normal hours on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

RED LOTUS 239 S. Elliott Road, Chapel Hill. 919-968-7778 or redlotusch.com.

Open for takeout only on Christmas Eve (11 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. and 4:30-8:30 p.m.) and Christmas Day (5-8:30 p.m.).

SUPER WOK 1401-L SE Maynard Road, Cary. 919-388-8338 or superwokcarync.com.

Open normal hours for dine-in and takeout on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

SZECHUAN GARDEN 10285-300 Chapel Hill Road, Morrisville. 919-468-6878 or szechuangardennc.com.

Open for takeout only on Christmas Eve (3-9 p.m.) and Christmas Day (1-9 p.m.).

TAIPEI 101 121 E. Chatham St., Cary. 919-388-5885 or carytaipei101nc.com.

Open normal hours for dine-in and takeout on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.