Atlanta Restaurants Make Holiday Season Merry and Bright
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and Atlanta restaurants invite diners to eat, drink and be merry. Many eateries are open this Christmas, along with specials and last-minute gift ideas to help guests celebrate with friends and family.
For lots of holiday cheer, pull the sleigh into The Blind Elf, where The Blind Pig Parlour Bar has temporarily transformed into a holiday-themed gathering spot. Adorned with twinkling lights and holiday décor, the festive bar serves a selection of sweet and savory bites and Instagram-worthy drinks such as What’s in the Nogg with brandy, dark rum, nutmeg and spiced pistachios and Mid-Winter Blast mixing bourbon, blackberry, spearmint, crushed ice and blizzard garnish. Guests can reserve a table or purchase unique experiences online.
Boone’s, overlooking Bobby Jones Golf Course, is preparing a Christmas Eve dinner for two that guests can enjoy from the comforts of home. Priced at $50, the dinner features oven-roasted turkey, smoked spiral ham, shells and cheese, green bean casserole, cornbread dressing, cornbread, cranberry preserves from Emily G’s, turkey gravy and a choice of pecan pie, pumpkin pie or apple pie (or all three, if you can’t decide). The meal comes with heating instructions. Call 770-835-4267 to place by Sunday, Dec. 20.
Docent Coffee has the perfect stocking stuffers for your favorite coffee lover. From amazing craft coffee to equipment and merchandise, a present from Docent will help you wake up with incredible Christmas cheer.
Warm up during last-minute shopping at The Avenue East Cobb on Christmas Eve with creamy New England clam chowder or lobster bisque at Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar.
Forza Storico in Atlanta’s Westside Provisions District serves up authentic Roman fare and a 100 percent Italian beverage program. On Christmas Eve, the eatery is offering half-priced bottles of wine so guests can get into the holiday spirit.
Time is running out to place an order for Gunshow’s Christmas Meal for Four. Priced at $250, the feast includes shrimp cocktail, pecan-smoked maple-glazed duck breast, duck boudin, Great Northern beans, pommes macaire, local carrots with tahini and beet harissa, winter greens with poached apple and pomegranate, eggnog crème brûlée, swiss cake roll with chocolate ganache, banana bread fruit cake and old-fashioned Christmas wassail. Cocktails, wine and beer can be added to the order. Gunshow’s kitchen dudes even created a playlist, available on Spotify, to complement the meal. Place orders online by Tuesday, Dec. 15 for pickup on Thursday, Dec. 24 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Still looking for last minute gift ideas? Chef Kevin Gillespie is offering six virtual classes between now and the end of February. Each two-hour class costs $49 or purchase a package of all six for $275. View more details and purchase classes online.
Heirloom Café in Athens is hosting a holiday cookie sale with profits donated to Les Dames d’Escoffier Atlanta to help fund culinary scholarships for women. Cookie boxes cost $35 and include an assortment of nine types of cookies. Place orders online for pickup on Dec. 18. The eatery also is offering low-key Christmas meal kits with a selection of a la carte items such as mushroom and goat cheese galette, braised boneless short ribs and cauliflower gratin. View menu and place orders online.
HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern invites guests to join them Christmas Eve for refined tavern fare with Southern flair. Enjoy your favorite dishes while sipping on something new from HOBNOB’s extensive bourbon list.
Too excited for Santa’s arrival to sleep? Come dance the night away with the best of Buckhead at Johnny's Hideaway, open Christmas Eve 11 a.m.-3 a.m. and Christmas Day 8 p.m.-3 a.m.
Mexican specialties and a large selection of tequilas turn Christmas Eve into a true celebration at Lazy Llama Cantina.
Loyal Q and Brew plans a smOAK’in Christmas. Options include a whole smOAKed turkey ($99.95), french-cut turkey breasts ($79.95), both accompanied by traditional gravy. The Alpharetta restaurant is also offering barrel-cut pork loin ($47.95) and whole briskets ($109.95), and the option of adding garlic mashed potatoes, sweet potato mash and cornbread muffin stuffing to complete the meal. Call 470-366-3221 or email catering@loyaltymarket.com to place orders by 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 20. Each order comes with simple reheating instructions and can be picked up at Loyal Q and Brew on Thursday, Dec. 24 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. or an earlier date, upon request.
For those looking for a holiday spread to feed a crowd with enough for leftovers, Marlow’s Tavern answers with a holiday dinner for $150 and brunch for $120. For dinner, choose from roast turkey with house-made gravy, roasted pork loin with apple cider-sage glaze, seared New York strip loin with red wine demi (+$45) or whole roasted filet of salmon with mustard caper cream sauce (+$20). Sides include roasted red pepper soup, baked brie and crackers, whipped potatoes, green beans almondine, jalapeño grits and honey bourbon bread pudding. Brunch features broccoli and swiss or bacon and cheddar frittata, raspberry French toast casserole, biscuits with sausage gravy, pork sausage, roasted potatoes, jalapeño corn grits and NY style cheesecake. All items also are available a la carte along with a selection of wines and cocktail kits. View menu and place orders online by Sunday, Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. for dinner and brunch.
Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails promises a relaxing holiday away from the kitchen with its Christmas To-Go offerings. Choose from smoked and spiced prime rib with pink peppercorn horseradish sauce ($199), spiral ham with bourbon orange glaze ($99) and applewood-smoked turkey with Madeira gravy ($99). Each meal feeds six to eight people and comes with a choice of one side including mashed potatoes, green beans, Kentuckyaki Brussels sprouts and more. View full menu and place orders online by Dec. 18 for pickup on Dec. 23 between 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Spend the holidays at Ocean & Acre. The Alpharetta restaurant will be open on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. serving its menu of land and sea favorites along with chef features.
Those preferring to dine at home can preorder a Christmas meal from Revival in Decatur. The meal feeds four to six people and includes choice of herb-crusted prime rib with horseradish or Cheerwine-glazed smoked ham and is served with spicy smoked cheddar cheese straws with apple butter, winter citrus salad with blood orange vinaigrette, creamed kale with Benton’s bacon, root vegetable gratin with local apple and blue cheese and flourless Mexican chocolate torte with candied orange and sea salt for dessert. Cost is $225 and orders can be placed online by Thursday, Dec. 17 for pickup on Thursday, Dec. 24 between 9-11 a.m. To add extra spirit to the holidays, Revival also offers a selection of holiday cocktails to complement the meal.
Seed Kitchen & Bar welcomes diners to take a break from wrapping presents and enjoy modern, seasonal comfort food during normal business hours on Christmas Eve.
The Southern Gentleman in Buckhead is offering a special Christmas Eve menu. For brunch, enjoy flat-iron steak and scrambled eggs served with green tomato chowchow and grilled onions. The dinner menu boasts roasted lobster bisque with lobster fritter, tarragon and cream of onion; caramelized brioche with black garlic, mushroom fricassee and beef carpaccio; roasted pork loin with cornbread and fig stuffing, braised greens, field peas and guajillo chili; and beef Wellington for two with mushroom duxelles, whipped potatoes, roasted garlic, charred broccoli rabe, chili oil and lemon. Add some spirit to the occasion with drink specials such as spiked cranberry old fashioned, spiced spiked hot chocolate with a crushed peppermint rim and hard mulled cider.
Stem Wine Bar takes the hard work out of the holidays by creating amazing food and wine pairings, with a tapas menu from Doug Turbush and a unique wine menu by Jason Raymond that focuses on Italy, Spain, France and the U.S.
Start a new holiday tradition with an Italian feast at Storico Fresco on Christmas Eve. Half-priced bottles of wine pair perfectly with fresh, seasonal pasta dishes and classic Italian fare for the whole family to enjoy. For easy entertaining at home, place orders online for Storico’s cheese platter with assorted soft and hard cheeses that serves six to eight people, pork or chicken timballo, amazing burnt ricotta pie and more. Orders must be placed 48 hours in advance for pick up at the restaurant.