On the Menu: Which restaurants will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?

While many people prefer to enjoy a Christmas meal at home, others are interested in eating out. And people may also be hoping to dine at an area restaurant on New Year’s Eve. While not complete, here’s a list of some of the area restaurants that will be open on the upcoming holidays.

If you’re located close to The Herald-Times on South Walnut Street, you can stop by King Gyros, at 2000 S. Walnut St., on Christmas Eve for a burger, gyros or barbecue ribs. The fast-food restaurant will be closed on Christmas Day.

Not far north, Wagon Wheel Custom Meats, 1915 S. Walnut St., will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Christmas Eve. The shop has added savory and sweet pastries to its deli and more changes to the menu are in the works. Wagon Wheel, which will soon be BB’s Market, will be closed Christmas Day. But Wagon Wheel will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. New Year’s Eve.

On the north side of Bloomington, Upland Brewing Co. will be open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day. Upland will be open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. for New Year’s Eve.

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Over at 922 S. Morton St., Cardinal Spirits will be open from noon to 5 p.m. Christmas Eve for carryout cocktails, spirts and gifts. There will be no dine-in option that day. Cardinal Spirits will be closed Christmas Day but will be open for a cocktail pairing dinner on New Year’s Eve with limited availability.

Downtown just off the courthouse square, Uptown Cafe, 102 E. Kirkwood Ave., will be open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Christmas Eve for brunch and closed Christmas Day. On New Year’s Eve, the restaurant will be open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. for brunch and 5-10 p.m. for dinner. Uptown will be closed New Year’s Day and will remain closed through Jan. 6 for maintenance. Uptown Cafe will reopen with normal business hours on Jan. 7.

Feast Market and Cellar won’t be open Christmas Eve or Day but will be open for a New Year’s Eve for lunch and a special four-course dinner that costs $80 per person. The dinner will be served 5-9 p.m. Feast, at 407 W. Patterson Drive, will be open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 1 for a pajama brunch.

FARMbloomington will be open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Christmas Eve for brunch. The restaurant at 108 E. Kirkwood Ave. will be closed Christmas Day and remain closed for a break until it reopens at 5 p.m. Jan. 5 for dinner.

Hilltop Restaurant just north of Spencer will be closed for Christmas Eve and Day but will be open Dec. 29-Jan. 2 for its regular hours before closing Jan. 3 for a winter break. The restaurant at 2434 N. U.S. 231 will reopen on Jan. 28.

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For people who have a tradition of eating Chinese food on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, here’s a list of some of the places serving Chinese cuisine that will be open.

The places that will be open normal hours on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day include: Lucky Express, 307 E. Third St.; Red, 1402 N. Walnut St.; Golden China, 2478 S. Walnut St.; Sunny Palace, 1143 S. College Mall Road; China Wok, 4013 S. Old Ind. 37; and Dragon Chinese Restaurant, 3261 W. Third St.
Gourmet Garden, at 300 E. Third St., will be open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Christmas Eve and will be closed Christmas Day.
Best Taste, at 109 W. Fourth St., will be open 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Christmas Eve and be closed Christmas Day.
Judy’s Kitchen, at 2894 E. Third St. (in College Mall), will be open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Christmas Eve and closed Christmas Day.

If you have a favorite restaurant not listed above, make a call to check its holiday schedule before making your plans. And I hope you have a Merry Christmas and are preparing for a Happy New Year.

Contact Carol Kugler at ckugler@heraldt.com, 812-331-4359 or @ckugler on Twitter.