Some Jacksonville-area restaurants plan to be open Dec. 25, offering dine-in Christmas Day festive feasts, a regular menu or both.
Many require or at least highly recommend reservations, so don’t wait until the last minute as seatings are going fast. Although openings might happen, there is no guarantee a seat will be available when you want it.
These restaurants were confirmed to be open on Dec. 25, according to their owners, restaurant websites, OpenTable, Visit St. Augustine, restaurant social media pages or emailed announcements.
Again, seating availability has been filling up quickly, so act promptly to secure a place at the table.
Remember, most restaurants will be closed on Christmas Day. A list of the Dec. 25 closures also follows.
The opening and closure listings will be updated as additional restaurants are confirmed.
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Ajua Mexican Kitchen & Bar
311 3rd St. N., Suite 107, Jacksonville Beach, (904) 746-7011, ajuajax.com
Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations available but not required
Details: Offering a Christmas brunch, and promising on its website “a Christmas menu full of warmth, joy, and the bold flavors of Mexico.”
Avilés Restaurant & Lounge
32 Avenida Menendez, at the Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront, St. Augustine, (904) 829-2277, avilesrestaurant.com
Hours: Reservations required. Seating times are noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Details: Christmas Day buffet.
Blue Bamboo Canton Bistro
10110 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, (904) 646-1478, bluebamboo.com
Hours: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Details: Regular menu offered. Dine-in only, no takeout.
Bodrum Mediterranean Kitchen
5907 Roosevelt Blvd., Unit 200, Jacksonville, (904) 379-9107, bodrumjax.com
Dine-in details: Offering a special Mediterranean-inspired meal for two people for dine-in or takeout. Starter: lentil or chicken soup, fresh appetizers and salads, main course options are chicken shish kabob, beef shish kabob, lamb gyro, chicken gyro, and more. Dessert available is homemade baklava. Wine is included for dine-in.
Cost: $65.99 for dine-in for two people; $79.99 for takeout for two people.
Hours: Please contact Bodrum to confirm Christmas Day hours
Chart House
1501 River Place Blvd., Jacksonville, (904) 398-3353, chart-house.com
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations required
Details: Offering a 3-course dinner with a choice of starter, entree and dessert. Entree offerings include Slow-Roasted Prime Rib, Filet Mignon, Twin Lobster Tails, New York Strip Steak and more.
Cost: $75 per person.
Coast at The Ritz-Carlton
4750 Amelia Island Parkway, Amelia Island, (904) 277-1069, coasttheritzcarlton.com
Hours: Seating times: 12:30 p.m., 12:45 p.m., 1 p.m., 1:15 p.m., and 1:30 p.m.
Details: Offering a traditional Christmas Day buffet with a southern flair.
Cost: $79 to $175 per person.
Columbia Restaurant
98 St. George St., St. Augustine, (904) 824-3341, columbiarestaurant.com
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations highly recommended.
Details: Offering special Christmas and traditional menus.
Fogo de Chão
4784 Town Center Parkway, Jacksonville, (904) 512-7300, fogodechao.com
Hours: Reservations available.
Details: Specific Christmas Day menu not immediately available, but is expected to include the full Churrasco Experience.
IHOP
Multiple locations, ihop.com
Details: Open on Christmas Day, but guests should check with their local IHOP as hours and offerings will vary by location.
Joe’s Crab Trap
6 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach, (904) 249-6160, joescrabshack.com
Hours: 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations available.
Details: Offering a special holiday dinner of roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce and a slice of pumpkin pie.
Cost: Adult, $22.99; Child: $13.99.
Juliette’s Bistro
245 Water St. inside Marriott Jacksonville Downtown, Jacksonville, (904) 791-4995, juliettesbistrojacksonville
Hours: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations available.
Details: Offers a four-course holiday dinner.
Cost: $65 per person.
Morton’s The Steakhouse
225 E. Coastline Drive, Jacksonville, (904) 354-4350, mortons.com
Hours: Noon to 9 p.m., Reservations available
Details: Offering Chateaubriand Holiday Dinner for Two and its classic dinner menu.
Odd Birds Cocktail Lounge and Kitchen
200 Anastasia Blvd, St. Augustine, (904) 342-8378, oddbirdscocktailbar.com
Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Reservations only.
Details: Offering a special Christmas Day limited menu.
Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse
4483 Southside Blvd., Jacksonville, (904) 551-5920, terragaucha.net
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations available.
Details: Specific Christmas Day menu not immediately available, but is expected to offer a full Churrasco experience.
Texas de Brazil
4634 Town Center Parkway, Jacksonville, (904) 474-3500, texasdebrazil.com
Hours: Most locations open at 11 a.m.. Reservations available.
Details: Specific Christmas Day menu not immediately available, but is expected to include holiday-focused specialties as well as the regular all-you-can-eat Churrasco.
The Blue Fish Restaurant & Oyster Bar
3551 St. Johns Ave., Jacksonville, (904) 387-0700, bluefishjax.com
Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Reservations available.
Details: Specific holiday menu not immediately available.
Vernon’s First Coast Kitchen & Bar
1000 Tournament Players Club Blvd., inside Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa, Ponte Vedra Beach, (904) 280-3405, vernonsfirstcoastkitchen.com
Hours: Reservations required.
Details: Specific menu listings not immediately available.
Waffle House
Multiple locations, wafflehouse.com
Hours: All day.
Details: Full menu.
Jacksonville restaurants closed on Christmas Day
The following Jacksonville-area restaurants plan to be closed on Christmas Day so their employees can celebrate the holiday with family and friends.
Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: From IHOP to the Ritz, where to eat in Jacksonville on Christmas Day
Reporting by Teresa Stepzinski, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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