Maybe 2020 has you burnt out on cooking from home, or you’re still recovering from all the dishes you washed on Thanksgiving, or—let’s be real—you’re just plain bad at cooking. Not to fear! We’ve curated a list of ten local restaurants who are open for dine-in on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day or are offering a specialty takeout menu this holiday season.
1. Fork Lore
Fork Lore, a locally-owned American restaurant located in Biltmore Park, will be offering Chef Heath’s own family Christmas menu as a holiday take-and-bake. The menu will include a harvest salad, duroc hickory smoked ham, Gruyere and Parmesan macaroni and cheese, whipped sweet potatoes, southern fried apples, bacon braised kale, a whole pecan pie, and rolls with butter. Pick up for the take-and-bake will take place on December 23rd. Fork Lore will also be open for dine in on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day with a limited menu.
forkloreasheville.com
(828) 209-2715
2. Baba Nahm
Baba Nahm is a Middle Eastern street food restaurant located in the Grove Arcade downtown. They will be offering “Baba’s Feast,” a specialty take-and-bake meal for you and your family this holiday season. Enjoy brined and roasted cornish game hen stuffed with ground lamb, caramelized onions and basmati rice, grilled broccolini with horseradish herb zhoug sauce, Persian chopped salad with Tahini dressing, and Syrian muhammara dip with vegetable crudite. Pick-up slots are available until Christmas Eve at 3 p.m.
babanahm.com
(828) 575-2075
3. Bouchon
Bouchon serves up locally-sourced French comfort food at their location in downtown Asheville. They will be serving a specialty prix fixe (three course meal) on Christmas Eve. You will have a choice of citrus salad, gumbo, or duck leg confit for the first course, dover sole, prime rib, or sea scallops for the second course, and roasted chestnut creme brulee, Michel’s African queen, or pecan pie for the third course. You must make a reservation to enjoy this special event.
ashevillebouchon.com
(828) 350-1140
4. RendezVous
RendezVous, the French sister restaurant to Bouchon, will be offering a Christmas Eve takeout special at their location on New Haw Creek Road. This menu will consist of gumbo with pheasant, foie gras, and a dark roux, 12oz bone-in herb-encrusted prime rib, garlic yukon potato puree, Brussels sprouts, and marchand de vin, and pecan pie with Fleur de sel and chocolate ganache. Pickup will be on Christmas Eve by 3 p.m.
ashevillerendezvous.com
(828) 348-0909
5. The Barrelhouse AVL
The Barrelhouse AVL is an American bar & grill located in North Asheville off of Merrimon Avenue. Kick back and relax at the pub while watching your favorite sports team play while you enjoy some classic American sandwiches such as Philly cheesesteaks, patty melts, and reubens, wings, salads, and more. They will be open from 4 p.m.–2 a.m. on Christmas Eve and Christmas day.
facebook.com/thebarrelhouseAVL
(828) 281-3613
Photo courtesy of Baba Nahm
6. Zambra
Zambra is located downtown and serves locally-sourced Iberian tapas, as well as globally imported wines. Enjoy cold tapas, hot tapas, snacks, and plates, including fan favorites like the pomegranate braised pork spring rolls, sesame crusted scallops, pasta bravas, and grilled North Carolina shrimp. Complement your meal with a bottle of Zinfandel from California, Chardonnay from Oregon, or any number of wines on their extensive list. They will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from noon to 8:30 p.m.
zambratapas.com
(828) 232-1060
7. Glass Onion
Glass Onion is a bar and eatery located on Main Street in Weaverville, who specialize in locally-sourced Italian dishes and Sunday brunch. Their menu consists of soups, salads, and Italian entrees such as horseradish potato gnocchi with braised beef, wild boar bolognese, diver seared scallops, and porcini mushroom ravioli. Their bar serves up multiple Italian imported wines and handmade cocktails. They will be open for dine-in from 5 p.m.–9 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
glassonionasheville.com
(828) 645-8866
8. The Lobster Trap
The Lobster Trap is a premier seafood restaurant located on Patton Avenue in downtown Asheville. The Lobster Trap is known for their sustainable sourcing practices, as well as their decadent Maine lobster, oysters and seafood. Enjoy oysters on the half shell, special large bites like the grilled Maine lobster, special small bites like the oyster rockefeller, “Maine” courses, appetizers, soups and salads, and even chilled seafood towers. They will be open until 7:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
thelobstertrap.biz
(828) 350-0505
9. Cúrate
Cúrate is serving up Spanish-style elevated tapas, cured meat and cheese charcuterie boards, hand-crafted cocktails and more at their bus-depot-turned-restaurant in downtown Asheville. Some of their most popular tapas include the lamb skewers, fried eggplant, pan con tomate, and gambas al ajillo. They also offer a list of snacks and charcuterie boards to pair with their cocktail, beer, and wine menu. They will be open on Christmas Eve. Reservations required.
curatetapasbar.com
(828) 239-2946
10. Vinnie’s
Vinnie’s is well-known for their traditional Italian comfort food at their North Asheville restaurant on Merrimon Avenue. Their menu features antipasti, insalata, pasta, Italian classics, pizzas, and more. Enjoy seafood dishes such as the linguine and clams or salmon gratella, or dishes from the land like the chicken picatta or penne bolognese. Have one of their specialty housemade, hand-crafted cocktails with your meal. They will be open on Christmas Eve.
vinniesitalian.com
(828) 253-1077
