SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Area restaurants are putting out their holiday menus for customers to start making plans as the big day looms two weeks from now.
Below are local eateries ready to serve up the tastiest meals for you and yours come Dec. 24 and some on Dec. 25. Not all are dine-in and require pre-ordering, and many have cut-off dates for pickup. Others require reservations.
Whichever you choose, be sure to make your decisions early and wisely, and call ahead to ensure availability. Happy holidays!
Have a restaurant to to add to the list? Email info@portcitydaily.com
8207 NOMA
8207 Market St., F • (910) 686-9343 • noma8207.com
Christmas morning will be a treat, thanks to NOMA’s various biscuit offerings, everything sausage bars, or ham and raspberry preserves, plus sticky buns and cinnamon rolls ($10-18).
The restaurant also can help with dinner with a menu of appetizers, including dips (jalapeño-corn, Buffalo chicken or shrimp scampi) and chicken pot-pie bites. It also is offering prime rib, lasagne, collards, Boursin au gratin potatoes, lobster and truffle mac and cheese, and other items ($4.50-$130).
The meal can be finished with a variation of treats: coconut, Key lime, pecan or chocolate pie ($22-$32).
Orders must be placed by Saturday, Dec. 18, and picked up on Thursday or Friday, Dec. 23-24, 9 a.m. – noon.
Bluewater Waterfront Grill
4 Marina St. • (910) 256-8500 • bluewaterdining.com
Bluewater will serve Christmas Eve dinner from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. They’ll have fresh grilled specialties and holiday features, including a Dijon-mustard-and-herb-roasted prime rib, served with red-wine demi, roasted garlic mashed potatoes and Romanesco ($38).
Also featured will be Alaskan king crab ($42) and pink-peppercorn and scallion black bass ($38).
Bridgewater Wine and Dine
1132 New Pointe Blvd #5, Leland • 178 Porters Neck Rd. • bridgewaterwines.com
Both Bridgewater’s Leland and Porters Neck locations are accepting orders for fully cooked to-go Christmas dinners. For $45 per person, each meal comes with an extra jumbo shrimp cocktail and house salad to start, tender prime rib with au jus and horseradish sauce, steamed broccoli, baked potato, and assorted petite pastries for dessert.
Substitutions and special requests cannot be accommodated. All meals come packaged individually and are microwave ready. Pickup is noon to 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Click here to place the order by midnight on Monday, Dec. 20 or until sold out, whichever is first.
Casey’s
5559 Oleander Dr. • (910) 798-2913 • caseysbuffet.com
Casey’s Buffet will be open Christmas Eve, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., and will be closed Christmas Day. Buffet prices run $16.99 for adults, $15.99 for seniors (62 and up) and $8.99 for children (4-12).
The restaurant also offers catering for $9.99 a person for pickup or drop-off. Folks can choose from a vast offering of country cookin’, as each plate comes with two meats, two vegetables or sides, plus bread. Meats include turkey and dressing, ham, pot roast, oxtail, stew beef, beef ribs, hamburger steak, baked chicken, BBQ, among others. Sides run the gamut from baked to string to lima beans, turnip to collard greens, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, sweet potato soufflé, squash casserole, cornbread dressing, and more.
Adding vegetables or sides is $1 more, while dessert is an additional 0.75 cents per order.
Casey’s also offers drop-off service for $20 extra, which includes the food being delivered in disposable aluminum platters 20 minutes ahead of any event. Casey’s will provide disposable serving products, tea (sweet or unsweetened), sauces, butters and condiments. Drop-off caterings must be booked 48 hours ahead to ensure availability.
The Harp Irish Restaurant and Pub
1423 S. Third St. • harpwilmington.com
Open from noon – 6 p.m. on Christmas Day, The Harp will serve a buffet for $19.95 a person. Ham, turkey, roast beef, and other traditional holiday items will be on it.
To make a reservation, call 910-763-1607.
Indochine
7 Wayne Dr. • indochinewilmington.com
Indochine’s extensive menu of curries, noodles, sushi, chef’s specialties and the like will be offered Christmas Eve for both lunch, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., and dinner, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. First-come, first-serve only — reservations are not accepted at the popular Thai and Vietnamese eatery.
The restaurant will be closed Christmas Day.
Lake Park Steakhouse
12 S Lake Park Blvd. • lakeparksteakhouse.com
Carolina Beach’s steakhouse will be open Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m. – 9 p.m., and is taking reservations. The menu features a variety of steaks and seafood, ranging in price from $22-$50. Call 910-707-0996 to reserve a table.
Grand Cru and Wine
1904 Eastwood Rd., Ste. 109 • grandcruwb.com
Located in Lumina Station, Grand Cru is open on Christmas Eve, serving its menu of charcuterie and cheeses, salads, small plates and signature dishes.
Michael’s Seafood
1206 N. Lake Park Blvd. • (910) 458-7761 • mikescfood.com
Though closed Christmas Day, Michael’s Seafood is open Christmas Eve. They’re also accepting orders from their catering menu with 24-hour advance notice.
The menu includes items like “Soups for Groups,” which feeds 12-15 people and comes with soup crackers ($60) or large salad bowls that can feed small groups (10-15), medium groups (20-30) and large groups (40-50), with prices ranging from $35-$200.
Michael’s also does a variety of platters — charcuterie, fruits and vegetables, salad lovers, hummus, wings, meatballs and more — all varying in size of small, medium and large ($60-$300), and hors d’ouevre (loaded oysters, mini crab cakes), sides (tots, Brussels with bacon, mushroom risotto), shellfish, and individually plated meals (minimum order for six).
Prices vary depending on what’s ordered and for how many. Their full menu can be found here.
Nori Asian Fusion and Sushi
1412 Barclay Pointe Blvd. Unit 1006 • Norisushinc.com
Serving Japanese, Chinese and Thai cuisine, Nori will open on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, operating normal hours, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Located at The Pointe at Barclay, Nori will serve from its full menu of sushi, sashimi, and rolls, as well as a poke, noodle dishes and curries.
Oceanic
703 S. Lumina Ave. • oceanicrestaurant.com
Open Christmas Eve, 11 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., Oceanic is accepting reservations: 910-256-5551.
Diners can choose from the regular menu or seasonal menu, which includes a colossal shrimp cocktail ($17,) pan-seared grouper ($38) and filet mignon ($41).
Oceanic is closed Christmas Day.
Panacea Brewing Co.
4107 Oleander Dr., Ste. H • (910) 769-5591 • panaceabrewingcompany.com
Panacea’s Christmas vegan menu feeds six to eight people and comes with a pan of lasagne, salad — house and spinach and fresh berry — and a loaf of garlic brioche ($42). A gluten-free option is available, made with sweet potato pasta and served with GF rolls.
There are three flavors of lasagna: traditionally made with Impossible crumbles and almond ricotta cheese, mozzarella and marinara; mushroom and white sauce, made with almond ricotta, mozzarella and cauliflower cheese; and vegetable made with Alfredo sauce.
Panacea is also serving a la carte sides that feed six, including citrus-glazed sweet potatoes, braised super greens, roasted garlic red-bliss potatoes, and mac-and-cheese ($7-$20).
Peanut butter cashew cheesecake, Dutch apple pie and brownie trays are also available ($18-$50).
All orders must be placed by Dec. 20, 11:30 p.m. Pickup will be Dec. 24, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pine Valley Market
3520 S. College Rd. • (910) 350-3663 • pinevalleymarket.com
Pine Valley Market is serving turkey breast by the pound ($14), as well as traditional dressing, collards, mac and cheese, roasted root vegetables, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry relish, made-from-scratch pies and breads and biscuits.
Prices vary here, depending on how many you’re serving.
All orders must be placed by Dec. 17 and will need to be picked up on Dec. 23.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
301 N. Water St. • ruthschris-wilmington.com
Located in Hotel Ballast, Ruth’s Chris will be open Christmas Eve, 11 :30 a.m. – 9 p.m. and closed Christmas Day. The regular menu will be served.
The steak house is also offering a holiday feast to go, featuring roasted beef tenderloin, choice of salad, garlic mash and creamed spinach, plus four chocolate sin cakes. It feeds four and costs $195.
Holiday sides can also be purchased for $27.95, featuring creamed spinach, sweet potato casserole, au gratin potatoes, green beans with garlic, sausage and herbed stuffing, Caesar salad and steak house salad.
The restaurant asks for a 48-hour notice before ordering.
Tarantelli’s
102 S. 2nd St. • tarantellis.com
Tarantelli’s will open Christmas Eve, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m., with the last reservation at 7:30 p.m. It will serve from its menu of Italian delicacies, including antipastis, homemade pastas, pizzas, and chef’s signature dishes.
The restaurant will close by 10 p.m. on Dec. 24 and will remain closed through the 27th.
Three10
1022 N 4th St. • three10wilmington.com
Brooklyn Arts District’s modern seafood restaurant will be serving a special Christmas Eve dinner, with choice of duck or whole fish. It’s served family-style with creamed collards, yams and bread — dine-in only.
There will be a limited quantity, so reserve a seat by calling 910-399-5428; deposit required. The special meal serves a family of four for $80. There also will be a limited regular menu available.
Have tips or comments? Email info@portcitydaily.com
