Christmas without cooking? These Fresno-area restaurants serve up holiday meals, takeout
Who wants to spend Christmas in the kitchen?
Between menu planning, grocery shopping and cooking, preparing a big holiday meal can seem downright unappetizing.
Don’t fret: You can still enjoy a delicious Christmas dinner without laboring over a hot stove.
Fresno-area restaurants and shops offer multiple options for singles, couples and families looking for dine- in, takeout and catered meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Here’s where to go.
Where can I eat out on Christmas Day in Fresno area?
Going out to eat? These Fresno-area restaurants are open for dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day — Tuesday, Dec 24, and Wednesday, Dec 25:
Black Bear Diner, 602 West Shaw Ave. in Fresno, will start serving dinner at 11 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday for $29 to $35 per person, or $13 for children 12 and younger. Diners can choose from roasted turkey, old-fashioned smoked ham or prime rib, served with soup or salad, a cornbread muffin and a slice of pumpkin pie. You can dine in or pre-order family-style meals for two to four people for $68, available for carryout or delivery.
In addition to the holiday menu, the restaurant will be serving its regular menu and seasonal treats such as Santa Claus pancakes topped with fresh strawberries, chocolate chips and whipped cream, priced at $5 a piece.
Call 559-271-4704 for more information.
Campagnia Bistro, 1185 East Champlain Drive in Fresno, will serve a holiday buffet from noon to 6 p.m. on Tuesday for $49 for adults and $19 for children 12 and under. Entrees include ham, prime rib with horseradish cream and baked salmon with pear salsa. Sides offered at the restaurant include garlic mashed potatoes, rolls, macaroni and cheese and a grilled vegetable platter, while dessert options include berry trifle, lemon shortcake, petit fours, pumpkin pie and chocolate-covered strawberries.
Call 559-433-3300 to make reservations.
Elderberry House at Château du Sureau, 8688 Victoria Lane in Oakhurst, has a six-course dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Dayfor $175 per person with a $95 wine pairing, or $250 for a reserve pairing. The menu includes a beet salad with citrus, fennel and pistachios; seared scallops with celery root, chestnut and apple, and braised short rib with black truffle potato purée. For dessert, try the mulled spiced bread pudding with hazelnut semifreddo and toffee rum sauce.
Seating times are 4, 4:30, 7 and 7:30 p.m. Call 559-683-6800 for reservations.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, 7844 North Blackstone Ave. in Fresno, will be serving its usual dinner menu on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Appetizers include crabmeat-stuffed mushrooms, barbecued shrimp, and veal osso buco ravioli, and cost $19 to $28. In addition to steak cuts such as a 16-ounce ribeye for $68 and a 40-ounce porterhouse for $119, the menu features side dishes including vegetables and lobster macaroni and cheese for $12 to $27 apiece. For dessert, choose from warm apple crumb tart or chocolate mousse cheesecake priced at $12.
To make dinner reservations or order meals, call 559-490-0358.
Imperial Garden Restaurant, 6640 N Blackstone Ave, will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. regular hours from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Chinese restaurant will be serving customer traditional favorites including dim sum, orange chicken, chow mein, fried rice and beef and broccoli. Prices range from $10 to $20 per dish.
To make a reservation or order meals, call 559-435-4406
Red Lobster, 1460 East Shaw Ave. in Fresno, will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The seafood restaurant restaurant will serve its regular dinner menu, featuring entrees such as Atlantic salmon, crab and sirloin steaks for $20 to $50. Some sides include seasoned broccoli and mashed potatoes Appetizers including hand-breaded calamari cost $16 and lobster flatbread cost about $17 eachand desserts including chocolate cake, key lime pie and strawberry cheesecake cost from $10 to $12.
To make dinner reservations, call 559-221-9495
Where can I get takeout Christmas dinners?
A number of local restaurants and grocery stores offer holiday meals to go. They include:
Denny’s has multiple locations in Fresno. The diner chain is offering a to-go holiday meal that serves up to four people, with prices starting at $55. It features carved turkey breast, savory stuffing and red-skinned mashed potatoes with a choice of a second side, plus gravy and cranberry sauce. Extra sides and dessert, including pecan and pumpkin pie, can be purchased a la carte.
Ordering is available from through Monday, Dec. 23, with pickup available at least 24 hours after the order is placed.
In addition, guests can stop by Denny’s restaurants on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to dine.
Marie Callender’s Restaurant & Bakery
Marie Callender’s, 1781 East Shaw Ave. in Fresno, offers a holiday feast for $165 that feeds four to six people. The meal includes 3.5 to four pounds of boneless turkey breast plus side dishes including apple-sage stuffing, fire-roasted yams, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, vegetables and fresh cornbread. You also get a whole pumpkin pie.
Pre-ordered holiday feasts and pies are available to pick up on Sunday Dec 22 and Monday, Dec. 23, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The restaurant will be open for dining on Christmas Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Save Mart grocery stores offer a Butterball turkey dinner meal for $70 and a Kretschmar ham meal for $80. Both are fully cooked and serve six to eight people. The turkey meal includes savory bread stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce, while the ham meal includes mashed sweet potatoes, green bean casserole and spiced apples. Order at least 24 hours before pickup; the meal is sold frozen and takes two days to thaw.
Vons supermarkets offer a prime rib dinner or spiral ham dinner with four sides starting at $80. The prime rib meal serves five to six people, and the ham dinner serves eight to 10 people.
Whole Foods has multiple options for Christmas meals to go. Check your nearest Whole Foods and order online.
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