If you’re spending Christmas in the Triangle, these restaurants are offering meals to-go
This holiday season, as families make merry in new and different ways, a meal with loved ones remains special.
This year, Triangle restaurants are largely serving those meals to-go, as they have for months in this pandemic-altered 2020. While the setting and spread may be different this year, many holiday classics are on the menu across the Triangle.
Here is our annual roundup of Christmas meals, most with pre-orders already underway. Hams and pies abound, brunch kits are at the ready and all toasts will be the same: to a better new year.
Send updates and additions to jdjackson@newsobserver.com.
AC Restaurants
1519 Brookside Drive, Raleigh. ac-restaurants.com
Offering holiday dinner entrees, sides, appetizers and desserts, with options including smoked ham, crab dip, beef tenderloin, mac and cheese and other sides. The deadline to order is Dec. 15.
Accordion Club
316 W. Geer St., Durham. theaccordionclub.com
Open regular hours Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Acme
110 E. Main St., Carrboro. 919-929-2263 or acmecarrboro.com
Serving a prime rib meal for two, including mashed potatoes, creamed greens, rolls, salad, three steak sauces and dessert. The cost is $85 and orders can be picked up Dec. 17-20.
Alley Twenty-Six
320 E. Chapel Hill St., Durham. 984-439-2278 or alleytwentysix.com.
Offering a wide range of a la carte holiday dishes, including pimento cheese balls and charcueri boards, take and bake lasagna, duck confit pot pie, plus sides like duck fat roasted potatoes, broccoli casserole and green beans with mushrooms and bacon. The dessert case includes key lime, apple and s’mores chocolte cream pies. The deadline to order is Dec. 20 and pickup is Dec. 23 from 12 to 8 p.m.
Angus Barn
9401 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh. 919-781-2444 or angusbarn.com.
Offering a take and bake prime rib meal for four, including pre-seasoned beef, sauces, sides, cheese spread and a whole pie. The cost is $259, with pickup available Dec. 21-23.
Benchwarmers Bagels
500 E. Davie St., Raleigh in the Transfer Co. Food Hall. benchwarmersbagels.com.
Pre-orders for holiday bagel packages are now available, including assorted bagels and spreads, batch chai, house-cured lox, charcuterie packs and other items. Orders can be picked up Dec. 23 and 24.
Bluestone Grille
3800 Hillsborough Road, in the Durham Hilton, Durham. 919-383-8033
Serving its regular menu from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Bob Evans
Locations in Durham and Brier Creek in Raleigh. bobevans.com
Offering holiday meal packages and a la carte dishes to go.
Boston Market
Three locations in the Triangle, offering holiday meal packages, including a prime rib dinner, plus a la carte options. bostonmarket.com.
Boulted Bread
614 W. South Street #2, Raleigh. 919-999-3984 or boultedbread.com.
Christmas Eve pre-orders are now being accepted, including breads, pastries, cookies and scones. Orders can be picked up Dec. 24 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Counting House
111 Corcoran St., Durham. 919-956-6760 or countinghousenc.com.
Offering an Italian-style Christmas dinner to-go, including housemade garlic bread, salad, spinach and bechamel lasagna, meatballs, sausage over polenta and tiramisu for dessert. The deadline to order is Dec. 20, with pickup Dec. 24 from 1 to 5 p.m.
Crossroads Chapel Hill
211 Pittsboro St., in The Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill. 919-918-2777 or carolinainn.com
Serving a Christmas Day brunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. The cost is $85. Take home options are also available.
Denny’s
Three locations in the Triangle will be open Christmas Day serving a regular menu. dennys.com
Elements
2110 Environ Way, Chapel HIll. 919-537-8780 or elementsofchapelhill.com.
Offering a four course take home dinner, with options like egg drop soup, crispy spring rolls, salad, beef Wellington. crab cakes and Japanese eggplant parmesan, plus eggnog cheesecake or pie for dessert. Meals can be picked up Dec. 24 from 12 to 9 p.m.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
4325 Glenwood Ave., No. 5004, Raleigh. 919-571-6200 or flemingssteakhouse.com
The restaurant is open Christmas Eve and is offering a three-course take home dinner for $60 per person or $95 during the holiday season, but closed Christmas Day.
Fresh Market
Triangle locations in Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh. thefreshmarket.com.
Multiple holiday meal packages are available, including whole turkey and ham dinners, entrees by the pound, sides and deserts.
Garland
14 W. Martin St., Raleigh. 919-833-6886 or garlandraleigh.com.
Garland is preparing Christmas meal kits for four people, including confit duck legs, masala scalloped potatoes, salad, roasted spiced sweet potatoes and squash, plus fixings and dessert. The cost is $170, with meals picked up Dec. 24 at a scheduled time.
Guglhupf
2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham. 919-401-2600 or guglhupf.com.
Now taking holiday pre-orders for pastries, cakes and stollen. The deadline to order is Dec. 20 at 4 p.m.
Herons
100 Woodland Pond Drive, in the Umstead Hotel, Cary. 919-447-4050 or theumstead.com/dining/herons
Serving a Christmas Eve dinner from 4 to 8 p.m. for $110 per person.
IHOP
Nine Triangle locations. ihop.com
Offering take-home holiday breakfast feasts, including pancakes with sweet toppings, scrambled eggs, hash browns and bacon or sausage.
Il Palio
1505 E. Franklin St., in the Siena Hotel, Chapel Hill. 919-918-2545 or ilpalio.com
Offering four-course Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals to-go for $75 per person. Dishes include baked clams Casino, lamb and ricotta meatballs, lasagna, sliced leg of lamb and eggnog cheesecake. Each meal includes a midnight snack apple handpie.
Irregardless Café
901 W. Morgan St., Raleigh. 919-833-8898 or irregardless.com
Serving take and bake holiday dinners, including beef bourguignon, vegan Wellington and braised lamb Shepherd’s Pie, family-style sides like broccoli and cheese casserole and potatoes gratin and dessert. Orders are a la carte and pickup is Dec. 23 from 3 to 7 p.m. and Dec. 24 from 1 to 6 p.m.
Kababish Cafe
201 W. Chatham St., Suite 103, Cary. 919-377-8794 or kababishcafe.com
Offering take-home holiday meals for groups of four to eight people, including assorted kababs, tandoori chicken, naan, basmati rice, salad and dessert.
Locals Oyster Bar
530 Foster St., Durham in the Durham Food Hall
500 E. Davie St., Raleigh in the Transfer Co. Food Hall. localsoysterbar.com.
Taking pre-orders for Christmas dishes and seafood, including in-shell oysters and clams, roasted oyster kits, oyster stuffing, shrimp cocktail, smoked fish and other items. Pickup is Dec. 23 and Dec. 24.
Longleaf Swine
300 E. Edenton St., Raleigh. 910-330-0702 or longleafswine.com.
Holiday pre-orders are available, with options like pulled pork by the pound, smoked prime rib and smoked bourbon glazed ham. Sides include collard greens, pimento mac and cheese, whiskey baked beans and sweet potato spoonbread. The deadline to order is Dec. 19 with pickups available Dec. 23 from 3 to 6 p.m. and Dec. 24 from 12 to 6 p.m.
Mandolin
2519 Fairview Rd., Raleigh. 919-322-0365 or mandolinraleigh.com.
Offering take-home Christmas meals for four or eight people, including turkey, ham, fennel and sausage bread pudding, green bean casserole and other sides. Meals include choice of dessert. A meal for four is $165 and the deadline to order is Dec. 17 at 3 p.m., with pickup Dec. 24 from 12 to 5 p.m.
Mia Francesca
4100 Main at North Hills Street, Raleigh. 919-278-1525 or miafrancescaraleigh.com
The North Hills trattoria is serving a Christmas Eve and Christmas Day take-home meal, including prime rib, sides, salad and dessert. Dinner for two is $124.99 and for four is $249.99.
Old North Meats & Provisions
530 Foster St., Durham. oldnorthmeats.com.
Now taking pre-orders for Christmas meals, with options like smoked beef short ribs, pork sausage bread pudding, Swedish meatballs and french onion cheese balls. Pickups are Dec. 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Dec. 24 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The Pit
328 W. Davie Street, Raleigh. 919-890-4500 or thepit-raleigh.com
The downtown Raleigh barbecue spot is offering Christmas dinners to go for groups of two to eight. Meals include salad, whole hog barbecue, smoked ham and sides, plus dessert. The costs range from $50 to $160. The deadline to order is Dec. 21, with pickup on Dec. 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Plates Kitchen
301 Glenwood Ave. Suite 100, Raleigh. 919-828-0018 or plateskitchen.com
Offering family-style meals to-go, feeding six to eight people for $159, including roast turkey and sides. The deadline to order is Thursday, Dec. 17. Plates is also offering dine-in service Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, including brunch. Indoor and outdoor seating is available.
Poppyseed Market
8801 Lead Mine Rd., Raleigh. 919-870-4997 or poppyseedmkt.com.
Preparing a take home meal for six including prime rib, Caesar salad and sides for $195. Breakfast casseroles, other dishes and desserts are available to order a la carte. Orders can be picked up Dec. 24 from 9 to 11 a.m.
Starbucks
If caffeine is your cup of cheer, multiple Triangle Starbucks will be open Christmas Day.
Time-Out Restaurant
201 East Franklin St., Chapel Hill. 919-929-2425 or timeout247.com.
Open 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 now live, including turtle pie and key lime pie, blue corn cookies, peppermint cookies, pimento cheese straws and a housemade cheeseball. The deadline to order is Dec. 22, with pickup available Dec. 23 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Dec. 24 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Waffle House
Located throughout the Triangle, Waffle House is open 24 hours 365 a year, including Christmas.
Chinese restaurants
If a feast of Chinese food is your holiday tradition, many Triangle restaurants will be open, but some are offering to-go orders only.
Banana Leaf
1026 Ryan Road, Cary. 919-468-9958 or bananaleafcary.com.
Open 11 a.m to 8:30 p.m.
C&T Wok
130 Morrisville Square Way, Morrisville. 919-467-8860 or ctwokrestaurant.com.
Open 11 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. and 4:30 to 9:45 p.m.
China Palace
5210 Garrett Road, Durham. 919-493-3088 or mychinapalace.com.
Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30 to 9 p.m.
Goji Bistro
100 Maynard Crossing Court, Cary. 919-466-8888 or gojibistro.us.
Open for curbside pickup only from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Gourmet Kingdom
301 E. Main St., Carrboro. 919-932-7222 or thegourmetkingdom.com.
Open for takeout only 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 to 10:30 p.m. Pre-orders are encouraged.
Happy China
2505 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham. 919-237-2021 or myhappychina.com..
Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Neo-Asia
6602-1 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh. 919-783-8383 or neoasiaraleigh.com
Open 4:30-9 p.m.
Neo-China
4015 University Drive, Durham. 919-489-2828 or neochinarestaurant.com
Open 3:30 to 8:30 p.m., to-go only.
Orient Garden
202 N.C. 54, No. 401, Durham. 919-806-3333.
Open 4 to 9 p.m.
Peace China
802 Smart Drive, Raleigh. 919-833-8668.
Open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Red Lotus
239 S. Elliott Road, Chapel Hill. 919-968-7778 or redlotusch.com.
Open 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 9:30 p.m.
Super Wok
1401-L SE Maynard Road, Cary. 919-388-8338 or superwok.wikidot.com.
Open 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Szechuan Garden
10285-300 Chapel Hill Road, Morrisville. 919-468-6878 or szechuangardennc.com.
Open 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 4:30-9:30 p.m for takeout only.
Szechuan Taste
6404 Tryon Road, Cary. 919-706-5862 or stastecary.com/
Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. for takeout only.
Taipei 101
121 E. Chatham St., Cary. 919-388-5885 or carytaipei101nc.com/.
Open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for takeout only.
This story was originally published December 12, 2020 at 10:00 AM.
