Christmas is just around the corner, and several top restaurants around town are open for business on December 25, and boast a diverse array of offerings. If Yuletide cooking isn't on your list, we suggest you skip the take-out pizza and Chinese food delivery, and hit up the nine restaurants below for some stellar Christmas Day dining in Houston.
Carmelo's Ristorante Italiano
Open since 1980, Carmelo’s in West Houston closes for good on December 25, but not before serving a final blowout meal. The Italian restaurant presents a buffet feast including pollo osso buco, spicy veal meatballs, Caprese salad, and mini cannoli. (10:30 am to 3 pm; $44.95 per person)
14795 Memorial Dr.; 281-531-0696
Mastro’s Steakhouse
Mastro's, the newest restaurant in Houston billionaire restaurateur and Rocket’s owner Tilman Fertitta’s empire, presents mainstays from land and sea including a 48-ounce double-cut porterhouse, Chilean sea bass, and jalapeno Bigeye ahi tuna sashimi. Save room for the alluring butter cake, so good it will have you hooked at first bite. (3 to 9 pm; pricing a la carte)
1600 West Loop South; 844-386-1600
Lucienne at Hotel Alessandra
How do crab cakes with roasted red pepper sauce, beef Wellington, oven-roasted chicken in rich morel sauce, and caramel chocolate mousse sound? Make ours a double. All this and more can be yours at Lucienne restaurant, located on the second floor of downtown’s Hotel Alessandra. (11 am to 3 pm; $55 per person)
1070 Dallas St.; 713-242-8555
Kiran’s
Hit up the Christmas Day buffet at Kiran’s near Upper Kirby for global dishes with explosive North Indian flavors. Load up on crab samosas, Texas quail with sabudana (pearl tapioca), Chilean sea bass with poblano-mango chutney and mushroom biryani, and more. There’s also long roster of desserts, from gingerbread brandy trifle to Cabernet-poached pears, apples, and pineapple. (Seatings are at 11 am, 1:30 pm, and 3:30 pm; $75 per person.)
2925 Richmond Ave.; 713-960-8472
Fielding’s Local Kitchen + Bar
Along with the regular menu, the kitchen at Fielding’s Local Kitchen in The Woodlands is cooking up some seriously must-try specials, from lobster Milanese with saffron spaghetti ($29) to a 38-ounce Wagyu tomahawk with two sides ($159) to veal osso buco with chili orange glaze ($36). Pair your fare with the ever-changing lineup of 20 craft beers on tap. (11 am to 9 pm; pricing a la carte)
26400 Kuykendahl Rd., The Woodlands; 281-351-2225
Cleburne Cafeteria
Comfort food favorites (think fried chicken and roast turkey) may be the hallmarks of Cleburne, but the recently reopened cafeteria takes it to a whole new level with added offerings of freshly grilled steaks, beer, and wine. The West University area eatery also accepts credit cards now, for larger living. (11 am to 8 pm; prices a la carte)
3606 Bissonnet St.; 713-667-2386
Radio Milano
Spend the holiday at CityCentre’s Radio Milano, where they're plating up a three-course prix fixe brunch. Standout dishes include Hong Kong fried toast (stuffed French toast with chocolate, nutella, banana, berry compote, and cream), Chilean sea bass, and a frittata. There's also a chocolate bomb dessert, made with mousse and milk chocolate, and served with vanilla gelato.
(11 am to 3 pm; $45 per adult and $20 per child)
800 Sorella Ct.; 713-827-3545
Toulouse Cafe and Bar
Toulouse at River Oaks District doles out a special holiday menu of French fare. Dig into Australian rack of lamb with sweet potato puree, crispy lardon, and wild mushrooms, and praline chocolate cake with ice cream. Also on the menu: the can’t-miss Dover sole served with homemade gnocchi and champagne truffle sauce. (lunch: 11 am to 4 pm, dinner: 4 to 11 pm; pricing a la carte)
4444 Westheimer Rd.; 713-871-0768
Ristorante Cavour at Hotel Granduca
At Ristorante Cavour, no less than 10 buffet stations are fully stocked with salads, seafood items, and breakfast favorites. What's more, there's also several carving stations and an array of sweets, making this a deal we can’t refuse. (11 am to 2 pm, $75 per adult and $25 per child)
1080 Uptown Park, 713-418-1000
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The bone-in filet is a sizzling offering at Mastro's Steakhouse.
