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Tampa Bay restaurants open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Just in case you’re dreaming of a no-cook Christmas.
Isabelle's at the Historic Peninsula Inn in Gulfport will do Christmas Eve dinner, plus lunch and dinner on Christmas Day.
Isabelle's at the Historic Peninsula Inn in Gulfport will do Christmas Eve dinner, plus lunch and dinner on Christmas Day. [ Tampa Bay Times (2011) ]
Published Dec. 17, 2019|Updated Dec. 18, 2019

Dash out of your kitchen and in to the dining rooms of these Tampa Bay restaurants serving up festive menus for the night before Christmas and the holiday itself. As always, most strongly encourage reservations, and we’ll add to this list as the big meals approach.

Bizou Brasserie: The regular dinner lineup accompanies a pair of Christmas Day and Christmas Eve specials: roasted rack of lamb and 12-ounce prime rib. Wash it all down with Naughty or Spiced (Bacardi Oakheart, amaretto, eggnog, cinnamon brown sugar rim) or three other jolly cocktails. $29 and up. 4-9 p.m. Dec. 24, 3-8 p.m. Dec. 25. Le Meridien, 601 N Florida Ave., Tampa. (813) 227-9555. bizoutampa.com.

Tampa's Bizou Brasserie plans to offer two Christmas Day and Christmas Eve specials.
Tampa's Bizou Brasserie plans to offer two Christmas Day and Christmas Eve specials. [ Tampa Bay Times (2014) ]

Bon Appetit Restaurant: A four-course plated dinner is served on Christmas Eve (4-9 p.m.) and Christmas Day (noon-9 p.m.), plus a Christmas Day buffet (noon-6 p.m.) also awaits in the Crystal Ballroom. $69.95 and up, $12.95 and up children 10 and younger. 148 Marina Plaza, Dunedin. (727) 733-2151. bonappetitrestaurant.com.

Columbia Restaurant: In addition to the full dinner menu, the iconic Spanish eatery’s local outposts in Ybor City, Clearwater and Sarasota put roast turkey and lechon asado in the spotlight as specials. $22.95 and up. 11 a.m. Dec. 25. Various locations. columbiarestaurant.com.

Council Oak Steaks & Seafood: Celebrate the season with apple and goat cheese salad, dry-aged prime rib and tiramisu yule log. $13 and up. 3-10 p.m. Dec. 24 and 25. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 5223 Orient Road, Tampa. (866) 388-4263. seminolehardrocktampa.com.

Currents: A pair of soups, five tapas, seven entrees and a trio of desserts make up the holiday menu. 2-10 p.m. Dec. 24. 200 E Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs. (727) 940- 5377. currents-tarpon.com.

Elevage: Down roasted winter squash, a salad built upon organic greens from St. Petersburg’s Brick Street Farms and whole roasted branzino, as well as stations of porchetta and prime rib. A dessert table completes the spread. $72, $25 children 12 and younger. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 25. Epicurean Hotel, 1207 S Howard Ave., Tampa. (813) 999-8726. epicureanhotel.com.

Eliza Ann’s Coastal Kitchen: The two-day Feast of Seven Fishes presents small plates, specialty pasta dishes and main plates with a seafood focus, among them crab arancini, sea urchin “carbonara” and Florida cacciucco. 5-10 p.m. Dec. 24 and 25. Waterline Marina Resort & Beach Club, 5325 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. (941) 238-6262. waterlineresort.com.

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Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: Treat yourself to a three-course meal that promises filet mignon with lobster tail or crab-stuffed shrimp. $85. 6 p.m. Dec. 24. 4322 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa. (813) 874-9463. flemingssteakhouse.com.

HEW Parlor & Chophouse: This three-course family-style feast spotlights favorites like focaccia, roasted turkey breast, pan-seared snapper, traditional stuffing and roasted asparagus amandine. After dinner, head for the Caladesi Balroom for dessert, everything from chocolate pecan pie to apple-cranberry streusel cobbler to eggnog creme brulee. $75, $25 children 6-13, free for children 5 and younger. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 25. Fenway Hotel, 453 Edgewater Drive, Dunedin. (727) 683-5990. fenwayhotel.com.

Isabelle’s: This charming restaurant taking a modern approach to Southern fare offers a festive Christmas Eve dinner. The holiday merriment continues on Christmas Day with lunch and dinner. 4-9 p.m. Dec. 24, noon-8 p.m. Dec. 25. Historic Peninsula Inn, 2937 Beach Blvd., Gulfport. (727) 346-9803. historicpeninsulainn.com.

Marchand’s Bar & Grill: A prix-fixe feast is planned on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Featured dishes include pomegranate-braised short rib and milk chocolate cheesecake. $70 and up, $23 and up children. 4:30-9:30 p.m. Dec. 24, 12:30-9 p.m. Dec. 25. The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, 501 Fifth Ave. NE. (727) 894-1000. marriott.com.

The Melting Pot: Go a different route for Christmas Eve dinner with the four-course menu that highlights your choice of cheese fondue, salad, entree and chocolate fondue. $49.95. Noon-8 p.m. Dec. 24. 2221 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. (727) 895-6358. meltingpot.com.

The Melting Pot in St. Petersburg will feature chocolate fondue as part of its four-course menu on Christmas Eve.
The Melting Pot in St. Petersburg will feature chocolate fondue as part of its four-course menu on Christmas Eve. [ Courtesy of the Melting Pot ]

Paul’s Landing: On Christmas Eve, order the special of stuffed whole fish or crab-stuffed lobster tail. Christmas Day brings another special, too — smoked prime rib with roasted garlic mashed potatoes — alongside the regular menu. $32 and up. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 24 and 25. The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, 501 Fifth Ave. NE. (727) 824-8007. paulslandingstpete.com.

The Pearl: Chef-owner Karim Chiadmi offers an a-la-carte selection of appetizers, meat and seafood dishes and pastas, including bouillabaisse and rack of lamb. $10 and up. 5-10 p.m. Dec. 24, noon-8 p.m. Dec. 25. 163 107th Ave., Treasure Island. (727) 360-9151. thepearlfinedining.com.

The Rez Grill: Herb-crusted prime rib with roasted fingerling potatoes, green beans, au jus and horseradish cream takes center stage as the Christmas Day special. $45 and up. 3-10 p.m. Dec. 25. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 5223 Orient Road, Tampa. (813) 627-8120. seminolehardrocktampa.com.

Roy’s: Slow-roasted chateaubriand with wild mushroom port wine pan sauce drives the three-course yuletide menu. But there is also another three-course lineup that slings Roy’s signatures. $62.95, $12.95 children. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 25. 4342 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa. (813) 873-7697. roysrestaurant.com.