This time of year requires the decking of the halls, donning the gay apparel, and setting the cookies out for Santa. Why not leave the big celebration dinner to someone else? No prep work and no clean-up is involved with these restaurants pulling out all the stops for an extra special Christmas. You will ‘sleigh’ the season with our help.
Buckhead gem Aria opens its doors early on Christmas Eve. Whether it’s butter braised Maine lobster with truffled potatoes or pappardelle with slow braised duck, Gerry Klaskala’s menu offers casual elegance on the menu and in the dining room. Before you put out those desserts for Santa and his crew, sample from Aria’s large selection of sweets and confections. Sipping here is a gift in itself with its much lauded wine list. Aria, 490 East Paces Ferry Road NE, Atlanta; 404-233-7673, aria-atl.com.
It’s got modern farmhouse chic with the next-to-the-sea vibe, and Ocean & Acre is opening on both Christmas and Christmas eve. Newly opened this fall in Alpharetta’s Halcyon mixed-use development, O&A features a raw bar with a rotating selection of East and West coast oysters. From a seafood tower to a bone-in ribeye, there’s a little something for everyone, including a local grass-fed burger. Ocean & Acre, 6290 Halcyon Way, Alpharetta; 678-823-8887, oceanandacre.com.
Photo Credit: Ocean & Acre
Perhaps the family wants to relax on Christmas eve. Secreto Southern Kitchen and Bar is keeping things business as usual at their Brookhaven location. Dine on crab bisque with lump crabmeat, a splash of sherry, and a grilled ciabatta crostini or Southern fried chicken with buttermilk mash and smoked jalapeno gravy. Secreto Southern Kitchen and Bar, 3575 Durden Drive, Brookhaven; 470-395-8989, secretokitchen.com.
Southern Fried Chicken with Buttermilk Mash and Smoked Jalapeno Gravy at Secreto
Photo Credit: Secreto Southern Kitchen and Bar
East Cobb’s modern comfort food awaits on Christmas eve at Seed Kitchen and Bar, where farm fresh ingredients are the focus of chef Doug Turbush. Begin with iron skillet cornbread and taste your way through butternut squash soup, sweet potato ravioli, hickory smoked pork chops, or pan roasted blue cod. Dig in to a wide variety of veggie sides meant to be shared. There’s even a chocolate chunk skillet cookie. Take a wedge home for Santa and your work is done. Seed Kitchen and Bar, 1311 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta; 678-214-6888, eatatseed.com.
Maybe you have dinner sorted but breakfast and lunch is asking a bit much with all the unwrapping and cleanup. Buckhead’s The Southern Gentleman has just the solution. Open from 11 am to 4 pm for brunch means your family can order anything from skillet cinnamon rolls to gumbo to fried chicken with pancakes. A seasonal brunch punch with Elijah Craig bourbon can help with the festivities as well. The Southern Gentleman, 3035 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta; 404-939-9845, thesoutherngentlemanatl.com.
Merii Kurisumasu! That’s “Merry Christmas” in Japanese and also what you could be saying after dinner at Nakato. The Cheshire bridge restaurant opens at 3pm on Christmas day with so many varied experiences under one roof. Choose from sushi, tempura, hotpot, bento boxes, their classic hibachi, and even omakase. Whether sitting on cushy floor pillows or watching an onion volcano on the hibachi grill, it is a gift you won’t need to wrap. Nakato, 1776 Cheshire Bridge Road, Atlanta; 404-873-6582, nakatorestaurant.com.
After going through the stockings and unwrapping glittering packages, head for a similarly sparkling venue for lunch or early dinner. Tiny Lou’s, located in the historic Clermont Hotel, is open Christmas day from noon to 5 pm for a pre fixe menu of Christmas classics with a French twist. Desserts from Claudia Martinez will dazzle. Tiny Lou’s, 789 Ponce de Leon Avenue NE, Atlanta; 470-485-0085, tinylous.com.
Beltline adjacent TWO Urban Licks is ready for all your Christmastime revelry. Chef Michael Bertozzi’s menu will be served Christmas day from 2-9 pm. Nosh on those famous salmon chips and enjoy roasted oysters with a view. For dessert, dip into dark chocolate panna cotta or super Christmas-y coconut cake. To keep the Christmas spirit going, they are hosting a Rockin’ Holiday Pajama Brunch on Thursday, December 26 and Friday, December 27 beginning at 11 am. TWO Urban Licks, 820 Ralph McGill Boulevard NE, Atlanta; 404-522-4622, twourbanlicks.com.
TWO Urban Licks Salmon Chips
Photo Credit: Heidi Geldhauser
