More ham, less hassle

10 top Austin restaurants for Christmas 2023 dining in or feasts to-go

It is okay to divert some cooking time to baking-and-eating-cookies time.

Photo courtesy of Central Market

If the thought of cooking another big festive meal is leaving you more exhausted than excited, you’re not alone. Thankfully there are plenty of restaurants offering dine-in or takeout options during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so you spend less time kitchen and more time enjoying this holiday with your friends, family, or loved ones.

Whether you’re looking for a nontraditional Christmas Eve dinner, a classic holiday feast, or even a Christmas Day brunch, these top Austin eateries are open for ordering or reservations.

In-person dining

Stella San Jac
December 22-26
If a Christmas day brunch is what you’re after, Stella San Jac will be the place to go. The beloved downtown spot known for its biscuits and pecan praline French toast will be extending its regular brunch through Christmas and even the day after. The eatery will also be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for dinner featuring a prime rib chef special. Reserve on OpenTable.

Casa do Brasil
December 24-25
This Brazilian steakhouse popular among meat-lovers will be offering a holiday menu on Christmas Eve, featuring honey-glazed ham along with signature skewered meats. It'll also serve Brazilian classics like arroz carreteiro, followed by a decadent Christmas Day brunch available all day starting at 11 am. Reserve on OpenTable.

Corner Restaurant
December 25
Corner Restaurant is digging into its Texas roots for its Christmas dinner, with a holiday feast full of Southern and Tex-Mex flair. The restaurant will be open on Christmas Day, with a special menu featuring Texas brisket, carnitas tamales, sweet pepper cornbread, fried bread pudding, and much more. Reserve on OpenTable.

Diner Bar — Noche Buena pig roast
December 24
Celebrate Christmas Eve with a Cuban twist. Diner Bar, located inside the Thompson Austin, is bringing an unexpected-yet-fun menu inspired by the Cuban “noche buena:” the famous lechon asado (slow roasted pig), dirty rice, plantains, and flan along with some Southern favorites from head Chef Mashama Bailey. The four-course menu is $90 per person. Reserve on Resy.

The Peacock Mediterranean Grill
December 24-25
The Peacock Mediterranean Grill, inside Proper Hotel, is bringing another elevated experience to the table this Christmas, putting a Mediterranean twist on the holiday classics, along with wine pairings and cocktails. The Peacock will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for brunch and dinner. Reserve on OpenTable.

W Austin
December 24-25
W Austin is amping up the holiday celebrations in its main restaurant and lounge, offering a three-course meal on Christmas Eve ($65 per person) plus another three-course lunch or dinner ($80) on Christmas Day. The menu features an elevated take on the classics such as herb-crusted prime ribs and whipped mashed potatoes. Reserve on OpenTable.

Wu Chow
December 24-25
This popular Chinese eatery known for lamian noodles will be open for dine-in and takeout on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The restaurant takes pride in its “farm to wok” style featuring fresh ingredients, while showcasing authentic flavors from eight different Chinese regions. Wu Chow has two locations in Austin (West 5th and North Lamar). Reserve on OpenTable.

Caroline — Holiday pop-up
December 25
Caroline is decking its halls with a fun and festive menu on Christmas Day. Diners can enjoy mulled cider and flank steak roulade, along with other holiday classics. Make sure to check out the Naughty or Nice pop-up on the upstairs patio for an extra dose of holiday cheer and fun cocktails. Reserve on OpenTable.

Pre-orders

Central Market
December 22-24 pickup
HEB’s sophisticated cousin Central Market is offering chef-made holiday feasts to go. This year's options include complete meals starring herb-encrusted beef tenderloin, honey-smoked ham, braised mushrooms short ribs, and shrimp casserole, plus numerous side dishes and a la carte options. Meals serve 4-8 people. Pre-order before December 22 at centralmarket.com.

Aba
December 24 pickup
The South Austin eatery is offering a to-go Christmas Eve dinner for two ($124.95), featuring a menu of tamarind short-braised ribs, chicken kebabs, whipped feta, sticky date cake, and more. Take the experience to the next level by adding wine or cocktails to go. Pre-order before December 22 via Tock.

holidays tex-mex brunch dinner

Grocery news haul

Grocery service Farmhouse Delivery returns to Austin with fun surprise

Courtesy photo

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After suddenly halting its operations in May, grocery service Farmhouse Delivery is on its way back, with an extra surprise for Austin: a new storefront.

Known for offering locally prepared foods and produce from small Central Texas farms, the subscription-based service emailed its loyal customers on Monday, November 18, to share the relaunch news and outline its plans for the future.

“We’ve missed you and are beyond grateful for your patience as we’ve been hard at work planning the next chapter of Farmhouse Delivery,” the newsletter reads. “Soon, you’ll once again have fresh, local food delivered straight to your doorstep[.]”

Farmhouse Delivery is aiming for a December date to resume deliveries, they say. They've used the intervening six months to not only revamp their existing business model, but to expand their offerings.

The biggest surprise in the newsletter was a revelation of plans for a new storefront in Austin, blending a cozy farmer’s market vibe with what they call “the best parts of your favorite grocer — where you can discover fresh foods, refill on essentials, connect with other members on sustainable living, and, of course, [shop] our best local products — all in innovative, reusable packaging.”

The email did not divulge details for the location or timing of the storefront project.

The company also plans to introduce a new membership model with exclusive benefits such as sneak peeks of new products and promotions.

Underscoring its commitment to sustainability, Farmhouse also announced that it’s working toward a completely plastic-free delivery:

“Expect to see your favorite items in sustainable packaging, with rewards for returning and reusing Farmhouse materials. Together, let’s reduce waste and make sustainable choices the coolest thing to do.”

The newsletter invited customers to complete a survey to help shape the ongoing Farmhouse experience. There, customers can indicate their desired delivery day (or days) and the factors that influence that preference (meal planning, work schedule, etc.), as well as specific products they would like to see in future deliveries.

Survey participants can also designate their preferred price point for memberships and the most appealing benefits from a long list, including free deliveries, additional delivery days, free products, members-only cooking classes, exclusive content, and more.

Neither the newsletter nor the Farmhouse website announced a specific date for relaunching, but returning and new customers can keep an eye on the website and social media for further details.

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