Some people cook elaborate dinners for Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. Others prefer the simplicity of getting together with the ones they love to either go out for a meal or bring in something simple to just reheat. Here are some options for you if you don’t plan on doing all of the cooking yourself!
Dine Out Options:
Head to Howey in the Hills for Mission Inn’s Grand Brunch Buffet on Christmas Day being offered at both La Hacienda and Nicker’s Restaurants from 11:00 am - 5:45 pm. Adults will enjoy endless mimosas and house champagne with their meal for $54.99. Children 5-12 are $22.99, and children 4 and under are free. Prices do not include tax or service charge. Dine on gourmet salads, soups, antipasto, charcuterie, seafood bar, breakfast options, the chef’s carving station, entrees, sides, and desserts. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 352-324-3930. This is our go-to holiday spot.
Dine in Mount Dora on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve there is a sit-down dinner for $64.95 plus tax and gratuity. It includes a starter, salad, entree course, and dessert. On Christmas Day they are offering a buffet for $64.95 for adults or $36.95 for children aged 6-12, plus tax and gratuity. Dinner buffet items include soups, appetizers, salads, from the sea selections, carving board options, sides, breads, and desserts. Call 1-800-556-5016 or 352-383-4101 to make reservations.
Located nearby in The Villages, they are offering a Christmas Buffet for $39 + tax & gratuity per person. Reservations are required and can be made at 1-352-633-3007. The buffet includes salads, soup, antipasto, seafoods, breakfast options, carving station with beef & ham, entrees, sides, and desserts.
Also located in The Villages, Christmas Dinner is being served and reservations can be made at 1-352-430-3200. Entrees choices (prime rib, surf & turf, twin tails, mahi, Turkey, or pork shank) range from $25.99 - $39.99 and include salad and sides. Add on dessert for $8.99. Appetizers are also available.
Several chain restaurants advertise that many of their locations are open on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, but check with individual locations first. Included are IHop, Waffle House, Perkins, and Denny’s. I’ve also been told that various TooJay’s in The Villages are open.
Dine At Home Options:
All Cracker Barrels will be closing at 2 pm on Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas Day, but they have a Heat and Serve Holiday Family Meal to Go (3 hours or less prep time at home). Serve up to 10 people for $109.99 plus tax. Your meal includes a spiral sliced ham, cornbread dressing, gravy, cranberry relish, your choice of 3 sides, sweet yeast rolls, a gallon of iced tea (sweetened or unsweetened), and apple pecan streusel pie and pecan pie. At least 24 hours notice needed for orders; pickup from 12/21 - 12/24 before 1 pm. Order from Leesburg at 352-315-8447, Lady Lake at 352-259-6603, or Clermont at 352-243-9608 or place your order online.
Publix is again offering several holiday meals that you can easily prepare / reheat. There’s a Boars Head Sweet Slice Ham Dinner that serves 7-10 for $54.99 including a 4.5-5.5 pound boneless ham, 2.25 pound sweet potato casserole, 2 pound green bean casserole, and 28 ounce marshmallow delight. They have a Fully Cooked Turkey Breast Dinner that serves 7-10 for $59.99 including a 4-7 pound turkey breast, 2.5 pounds of dressing, 2.5 pounds mashed potatoes, 32 ounces gravy, 28 ounce marshmallow delight, and 16 ounce Publix cranberry orange relish. If you prefer a whole turkey, there’s a Regular Fully Cooked Turkey Dinner that serves 7-10 for $49.99 with the same sides as the turkey breast dinner and a 10-12 pound turkey. If you’re having a larger crowd, there’s a Publix Deli Large Turkey Dinner that serves 14-18 for $89.99 with double the sides and a 16-18 pound turkey. Just don’t forget dessert! 48 hours advance notice is required for all meals, and Publix is closed on Christmas Day so you’ll need to schedule your pickup for 12/24 or earlier.
If you’re serving 3-5, there’s an essential holiday meal for $59.99 including a 2.5 pound turkey breast, whipped potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry relish, and green beans. A traditional holiday meal that serves 8-10 is $79.99 including a 10-12 pound fully cooked turkey, whipped potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry relish, and dinner rolls. Reheating is required and may take 1-3 hours. A spiral ham meal that serves 10-12 is $89.99 including a 9-10 pound bone in spiral sliced honey ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans, roasted butternut squash with pecans and cranberries, cranberry relish, and dinner rolls. A deluxe holiday meal that serves 12-14 is $149.99 including all of the previous selections, a 3 pound boneless ham, a corn souffle, and green beans. You can order these options and additional items by the pound as well all from their website. You can reach them at 352-391-9620. They are closed on Christmas Day.
Have a Merry Christmas!
Looking for something fun to do with your family? Here are some options for things to do in Lake County, Florida:
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