Whether you don’t celebrate Christmas and need a hot meal, are late to making plans or had your get-together ruined by the recent storm, there are several places throughout the state that will be open and serving food on Christmas Day.
These two dozen spots offer everything from fancy prix-fixe meals to Chinese takeout, breakfast spreads and pub food.
Note: all locations require a reservation unless otherwise specified.
EMPIRE CHINESE KITCHEN
WHERE: 575 Congress St., Portland; portlandempire.com
WHEN: 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., takeout only
HOW MUCH: Á la carte menu
MENU: This restaurant elevates classic American-Chinese food. Think daily handmade dumplings, peking duck buns and bacon fried rice. Food can be ordered online here.
RESERVATIONS: None
NATALIE’S AT CAMDEN HARBOUR INN
WHERE: 83 Bayview St., Camden; camdenharbourinn.com/natalies-restaurant
WHEN: Seatings at 1, 4 and 7 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $119, $93 wine pairing
MENU: This five-course, prix fixe menu starts with winter salad and mushroom soup, followed by a choice of duck or lobster, then porchetta or lamb rack, with vegetarian options available. Finish the meal with cookies and milk or a mix of local and imported cheeses.
RESERVATIONS: Reservations can be made by calling 800-236-4266 or online here.
SEA GLASS AT INN BY THE SEA
WHERE: 40 Bowery Beach Road, Cape Elizabeth; seaglassmaine.com
WHEN: Noon to 7 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $90 per adult; $35 per child (ages 4-12)
MENU: Sea Glass is offering a four-course, prix fixe dinner this Christmas. Starting with light snacks for the table, the menu then moves to starters, which includes highlights like mushroom bisque and New England clam chowder. For an entrée, choose between ham, prime rib, halibut, or sweet potato cassoulet. To finish, dessert is either pumpkin or apple pie. Vegetarian and vegan options are available.
RESERVATIONS: Reservations can be made by calling 207-799-3134
BROAD ARROW TAVERN AT THE HARRASEKETT INN
WHERE: 162 Main St., Freeport; harraseeketinn.com
WHEN: Noon to 5 p.m.
HOW MUCH: Á la carte menu
MENU: This hotel restaurant offers small plates, mains and desserts on its Christmas menu. Some notable dishes are braised pork belly, wild mushroom cavatelli and eggnog bread pudding.
RESERVATIONS: No reservation necessary
MISTER BAGEL
WHERE: 599 Forest Ave., Portland; misterbagelforestave.com
WHEN: 7-10 a.m.
HOW MUCH: Á la carte menu
MENU: The Forest Ave location of Mister Bagel will be open on Christmas day, serving bagels and cream cheese.
RESERVATIONS: No reservation necessary
ZEN CHINESE BISTRO
WHERE: 45 Danforth St., Portland; zenchinesebistro.com
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., takeout only
HOW MUCH: Á la carte menu
MENU: This bistro will be serving its dinner menu, takeout only, on Christmas Day. Think classic American-Chinese takeout, with highlights including crab rangoons with real crab meat and jumbo shrimp with lobster sauce. Visit the restaurant’s website to view the whole menu and to order takeout here.
RESERVATIONS: No reservation necessary
ALTO TERRACE BAR + KITCHEN AT THE CAMBRIA HOTEL
WHERE: 25 Hancock St., Portland; altoportland.com
WHEN: 8 a.m. to noon
HOW MUCH: Á la carte menu
MENU: This hotel restaurant serves its rotating Sunday brunch menu on Christmas morning.
RESERVATIONS: No reservation necessary
HARBOR BISTRO + TERRACE AT THE HARBOR HOTEL
WHERE: 468 Fore St., Portland; harborbistroandterrace.com
WHEN: 7-10 a.m.
HOW MUCH: Á la carte menu
MENU: This hotel bistro will serve breakfast items like smoked lox and bagels, egg and lobster benedict and biscuits and gravy for Christmas. You can view the full breakfast menu on the restaurant’s website here.
RESERVATIONS: No reservation necessary
ROSIE’S RESTAURANT & PUB
WHERE: 330 Fore St., Portland; rosies-oldport.com
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.
HOW MUCH: Á la carte menu
MENU: Rosie’s will serve its normal menu, which consists of wings, burgers, pizza, and Mexican dishes. Additionally, Rosie’s offers a Christmas special that typically includes things like ham, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, squash and pumpkin pie.
RESERVATIONS: No reservation necessary
GOLDEN LOTUS
WHERE: 511 Congress St., Portland; goldenlot.us
WHEN: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; takeout only for food, bar open for drinks
HOW MUCH: Á la carte menu
MENU: This Chinese restaurant will be open for takeout only, which can be ordered in person or by calling 207-747-5322. The bar will be open, offering seating and drinks for customers waiting to pick up their food. Lunch specials will not be offered; however, the rest of Golden Lotus’s regular menu will be available. Regarding food, this location offers class American-Chinese, with multiple items including dim sum, soups, entrées, and some noodles made to order. You can view the full menu on the restaurant’s website here.
RESERVATIONS: No reservation necessary
LOTUS RESTAURANT
WHERE: 279 Center St., Auburn
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
HOW MUCH: Á la carte menu
MENU: This restaurant offers Japanese and Chinese cuisine, including sushi, Szechuan-style proteins, and home-style bean curd. In addition to its regular menu, this restaurant will also offer ham, stuffed haddock, and classic American sides this Christmas.
RESERVATIONS: Reservations are required for parties with six or more people. To make a reservation, call 207-241-0870.
PANDA GARDEN
WHERE: 1041 Brighton Ave., Portland; pandagardenportland.com
WHEN: 4-8 p.m.
HOW MUCH: Á la carte menu
MENU: This American-Chinese joint offers its full menu this Christmas; dine-in and takeout are available. You can view the full menu here.
RESERVATIONS: No reservation necessary
EVERGREEN
WHERE: 29 Western Ave., South Portland; evergreenchineserestaurantmaine.com
WHEN: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
HOW MUCH: Á la carte menu
MENU: This Chinese restaurant boasts that it serves ‘authentic Chinese cuisine’ on its website, including classic dinner combinations and house specials like dragon and phoenix (lobster chunks in brown sauce, sauteed checked, and General Tso’s chicken) and pineapple sweet and sour chicken.
RESERVATIONS: No reservation necessary
EIGHTEEN95 AT THE REGENCY HOTEL
WHERE: 20 Milk St., Portland; theregency.com
WHEN: 7:30-11 a.m.
HOW MUCH: Á la carte menu
MENU: This hotel restaurant will be offering its regular breakfast menu, including items like malted pancakes, three-egg omelets, and a smoked salmon board.
RESERVATIONS: Reservations can be made here.
THE ARMORY LOUNGE AT THE REGENCY HOTEL
WHERE: 20 Milk St., Portland; theregency.com
WHEN: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
HOW MUCH: Á la carte menu
MENU: This hotel lounge is offering an exclusive menu for Christmas. Some highlights include beet salad, Maine seafood dip, truffle gnocchi and a Meyer lemon tart.
RESERVATIONS: Reservations can be made on OpenTable here.
TOMASO’S CANTEEN
WHERE: 18 Hampshire St., Portland; tomasoscanteen.com
WHEN: 5 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. for food; bar opens at 4 p.m.
HOW MUCH: Á la carte menu
MENU: Tomaso’s will be offering its normal menu for Christmas, with items like mac and cheese, wings, hot sausages and more. Plus, there will be a few surprise Christmas specials.
RESERVATIONS: No reservation necessary
CITY FARMHOUSE KITCHEN AND BAR
WHERE: 200 Sable Oaks Dr., Portland
WHEN: Noon to 3 p.m., buffet; 5-9 p.m., prix-fixe meal
HOW MUCH: $46 per adult; $23 per child (under 12) for both the buffet and prix-fixe meal
MENU: The buffet will have soups, salads, seafood and pasta dishes, along with a carving and hot food station. For dessert, select from four types of cakes, pies and crisps – or try all of them. The prix-fixe menu includes three courses, allowing guests to pick one starter, main and dessert. Highlights are apple and butternut squash bisque, wood-grilled lamb T-bone, swordfish parmesan and a chocolate espresso tartlet.
RESERVATIONS: Reservations can be made by calling 207-871-8000, holiday hotline extension: 6071.
LA BELLA VITA AT THE SAMOSET RESORT
WHERE: 220 Warrenton St., Rockport; opalcollection.com/samoset
WHEN: 1-6 p.m.
HOW MUCH: Á la carte menu
MENU: This hotel restaurant will serve its regular menu, along with four Christmas day specials: butter-basted turkey, ribeye steak, seared local scallops and seared Norwegian salmon.
RESERVATIONS: Reservations can be made by calling 207-593-1549
THE MILLBROOK TAVERN AND TERRACE
WHERE: 21 Broad St., Bethel; bethelinn.com
WHEN: 12:30-3 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $65 per adult, $28 per child
MENU: This hotel bar and grill serves a three-course, prix-fixe menu that allows guests to select one starter, entrée and dessert. Notable items include pork belly deviled eggs, wild mushroom and onion strudel, lobster alfredo and cherry glazed chocolate mousse.
RESERVATIONS: Reservations can be made on OpenTable or by calling 207-824-2175.
TIMBER KITCHEN AND BAR
WHERE: 22 Bass Park Blvd., Bangor; timberkitchenandbar.com
WHEN: 1-8 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $42.95 per adult; $16.95 per child (under 12)
MENU: This location serves a three-course, prix fixe menu that allows guests to select one starter, entrée, and dessert. Notable items include local butternut squash soup, slow-roasted prime rib, honey garlic glazed halibut and eggnog cheesecake.
RESERVATIONS: Reservations can be made by calling 207-433-0844.
DOCK FORE
WHERE: 336 Fore St., Portland; facebook.com/dock.fore
WHEN: Noon to 9 p.m.
HOW MUCH: Á la carte menu
MENU: This pub offers its regular menu, with snack items like pasta salad, hummus and chips, and pizza. Additionally, Dock Fore serves turkey sandwiches and lobster rolls for Christmas. Hot food will be available until 3 p.m.; after that time, only cold items will be available.
RESERVATIONS: No reservation necessary
TAJ
WHERE: 200 Gorham Road, #8, South Portland
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
HOW MUCH: Free set meal available or a la carte menu, for eat-in or takeout
MENU: The Indian restaurant is serving a free meal of chicken tikka masala, saag paneer, chickpea curry, appetizers, naan and rice, but its entire regular menu is also available for paying customers.
RESERVATIONS: Free meals can be ordered in advance at 207-828-6677 or by email at tajofmaine1@gmail.com but also will be available to walk-ins.
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