Angus Barn holiday reservations are long gone. Here’s how you can still get in

A painful realization may have struck you as the calendar turned to December: you forgot to make an important reservation.

In this most magical of seasons, there isn’t reservation more coveted than a December table at The Angus Barn.

There is some bad news. Dinner reservations for December at the Angus Barn have been gone for months. The restaurant opens up tables 120 days in advance, which means those Christmas reservations needed to be booked in August.

Angus Barn holiday decor

The Angus Barn is renowned for its annual holiday displays. There are thousands of twinkling lights, towering and glittering Christmas trees, endless yards of garland and ribbon and countless ornaments. Families have made the Angus Barn part of their holiday tradition for generations.

And while Raleigh has grown, the number of seats in the Angus Barn dining room have not, general manager Jill Highsmith said.

“Raleigh has grown so fast and so quickly, but the Angus Barn isn’t able to expand,” Highsmith said. “We have the same number of seats as we did when we opened in 1960.”

But even without a reservation, there are ways to experience the holiday hoopla at the Angus Barn, you just have to temper your expectations and be patient.

Here’s how to experience the Angus Barn’s holiday magic.

Walk-in tables are available

A reservation is your only guarantee of a table at the Angus Barn, but there are still ways to get inside. Every day, the Angus Barn allows walk-ins, but you have to play it smart.

The restaurant opens at 5 p.m. weekdays the first two weeks of December, 4 p.m. the second two weeks and at 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. You have better odds if you show up early, but you should still expect to wait. Highsmith said hopeful diners start lining up an hour to 90 minutes before the doors open.

Don’t show up at 7:30 p.m. and expect to walk in without a reservation. You could be looking at a two-hour wait (or more). Also don’t show up at 9:30 p.m., because the restaurant would likely close before your name is called.

“We’re so appreciative of everyone who comes to visit us. Some travel a long distance,” co-owner Steve Thanhauser said. “We hate that they’re sitting and waiting for up to three hours.”

First-come, first-served

The Angus Barn has two lounges where every table is first-come, first served. Those without reservations will find their best luck in the Wild Turkey Lounge, named for its collection of Wild Turkey whiskey decanters, or in The Meat Locker, a former meat aging area that is now an indoor/outdoor lounge.

While you wait

If you’re keen on waiting, or just want a cocktail and a look at the outdoor decorations, there is a front bar called The Saloon that’s the most accessible part of the Angus Barn.

Keep in mind that food can’t be ordered in The Saloon, but there are complimentary cheese and crackers just inside the restaurant.

Look to January

Again, December reservations are booked solid, according to a message on the Angus Barn website.

But the decorations will stay up until Sunday, Jan. 25 and there are still reservations available. (As of Tuesday, Dec. 2, some weekday tables are available throughout January.)

Grab a pie

If you don’t have hours to spare and still want a peek and maybe a pie, you can always drop in on the Angus Barn’s market, which sells souvenirs, snacks, the famous cheese and crackers and chocolate chess pies.

This story was originally published December 2, 2025 at 7:56 AM.

Drew Jackson

The News & Observer

919-829-4707

Drew Jackson writes about restaurants and dining for The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun, covering the food scene in the Triangle and North Carolina.