Bethesda restaurants open for Christmas 2016

It's not too late to make dinner reservations for Christmas Day. But if you'd like to celebrate the holiday by dining out, the time to make reservations is now - some restaurants have few or no seats remaining. Here is my annual roundup of restaurants open for dinner on Christmas Day. Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and Happy Holidays to each of my readers!

City Perch

The main course for Christmas
Day at City Perch: Herb-crusted
prime rib (Photo Dylan+Jeni)

City Perch at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda will be open on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve this year. Get 3 1/2 hours free parking with validation from the restaurant, which is part of the iPic Theater. Very few seats left for Christmas dinner, according to OpenTable. Hurry!

City Perch Christmas menu
(click to enlarge)

11830 Grand Park Avenue

301-231-2310

Positano

From a classic Italian restaurant in downtown Bethesda, you might expect traditional feast of the seven fishes to be held on Christmas Eve, just as they do in Positano Italy. And you will find it Christmas Eve, from noon until 10:00 PM.

And you'll also find it Christmas Day, from noon to 9:00 PM, as well. The menu both days includes Clams Casino, Fried Cod, Linguini Clams, Octopus and Calamari Salad, Fried Smelts, Stuffed Shrimp, Calamari a la Luciana.

Pricing will be a la carte. You can order individual items, or all seven. Prepare for the aromas of Christmas sweets to fill the room. For those who would like to order something else, their regular menu is also available all day.

4948-4940 Fairmont Avenue

(301)-654-1717

Heckman's

The popular delicatessen in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle neighborhood will be open 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM with its full menu on Christmas Day.

4914 Cordell Avenue  

(240) 800-4879

Yuzu

Here's a welcome change for Christmas. This downtown Bethesda gem is offering a special Christmas sushi plate. But they're also just about booked-up, according to OpenTable.

7345 Wisconsin Avenue

(301) 656-5234

Founding Farmers

This popular American restaurant at Park Potomac will be serving up Christmas favorites from noon until 8 PM on Christmas Day.

12505 Park Potomac Avenue

(301) 340-8783

Morton's

A veritable downtown Bethesda Christmas tradition, atop the Bethesda Metro station.

7400 Wisconsin Avenue

(301) 657-2650

Ruth's Chris Steak House

Another Christmas tradition in downtown Bethesda. 

7315 Wisconsin Avenue

(301) 652-7877

Bethesda restaurants open Christmas Day 2015 for dinner

Christmas Day will be here before you know it. If you'd like to celebrate the holiday by dining out, the time to make reservations is now. Here is my annual roundup of restaurants open for dinner on Christmas Day. Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and Happy Holidays to each of my readers!

City Perch

The main course for Christmas
Day at City Perch: Herb-crusted
prime rib (Photo Dylan+Jeni)

City Perch at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda will be open on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve this year. As with their Thanksgiving menu, the Christmas dinner selections again play up the contributions of award-winning pastry chef Sherry Yard. You also get 2 hours of free parking at Pike & Rose.

City Perch Christmas Day
menu - click to enlarge

11830 Grand Park Avenue

301-231-2310

Positano

From a classic Italian restaurant in downtown Bethesda, you might expect traditional feast of the seven fishes to be held on Christmas Eve, just as they do in Positano Italy. And you will find it Christmas Eve, from noon until 10:00 PM.

And you'll also find it Christmas Day, from noon to 9:00 PM, as well. The menu both days includes Clams Casino, Fried Cod, Linguini Clams, Octopus and Calamari Salad, Fried Smelts, Stuffed Shrimp, Calamari a la Luciana.

Pricing will be a la carte. You can order individual items, or all seven. Prepare for the aromas of Christmas sweets to fill the room. For those who would like to order something else, their regular menu is also available all day.

4948-4940 Fairmont Avenue

(301)-654-1717

Heckman's

The popular delicatessen in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle neighborhood will be open with its full menu on Christmas Day.

4914 Cordell Avenue  

(240) 800-4879

Yuzu

Here's a welcome change for Christmas. This downtown Bethesda gem is offering a special Christmas sushi plate.

7345 Wisconsin Avenue

(301) 656-5234

Founding Farmers

This popular American restaurant at Park Potomac will be serving up Christmas favorites from noon until 8 PM on Christmas Day.

12505 Park Potomac Avenue

(301) 340-8783

Morton's

A veritable downtown Bethesda Christmas tradition, atop the Bethesda Metro station.

7400 Wisconsin Avenue

(301) 657-2650

Praline

Now here is a best-kept secret. Tucked away in the Shops at Sumner Place (better known as Little Falls Mall to longtime residents).

The Shops at Sumner Place

4611 Sangamore Road

(301) 229-8180

Ruth's Chris Steak House

Another Christmas tradition in downtown Bethesda. 

7315 Wisconsin Avenue

(301) 652-7877

BETHESDA RESTAURANTS OPEN FOR CHRISTMAS 2014 - CHRISTMAS DAY DINNER

If a Christmas Day dinner at home isn't in the cards for you today, try one of these Bethesda restaurants that may have reservations available for you:

Positano Ristorante

Choose from Positano's Feast of the Seven Fishes menu, or their regular Italian menu. Traditional Italian Christmas sweets will also be available today. Open noon to 9:00 PM tonight.

4948 Fairmont Avenue

(301) 654-1717

Founding Farmers

Choose from their regular menu of American favorites. Open from noon to 8:00 PM. Take Montrose Road exit West from I-270.

12505 Park Potomac Avenue

(301) 340-8783

Yuzu Bethesda

Japanese cuisine, sushi and holiday cocktails. Open noon to 2:30; 5:00-10:00 PM.

7345 Wisconsin Avenue

(301) 656-5234

Brasserie Monte Carlo

French cuisine; no details about special Christmas entrees.

7929 Norfolk Avenue

(301) 656-9225

BETHESDA RESTAURANTS OPEN CHRISTMAS 2013 - CHRISTMAS DAY DINNER

What restaurants are open for Christmas dinner in Bethesda? The closure this coming weekend of Du-par's Hamburger Hamlet eliminates one Christmas Day dining option in Bethesda. Not to worry, I'm here with a guide to Bethesda restaurants open on Christmas this year. You have a surprisingly wide range of cuisines to choose from, with the only traditional turkey available from a Mexican restaurant, ironically:

Brasserie Monte Carlo

Open 11:30 AM - 8:30 PM

3-course $33 menu

Choose from Sea Bass, Duck, Korubata Pork, Beef Medallions, or Vegetarian for main course.

Positano Ristorante

Open 12:00 - 9:00 PM
Italian.

Rosa Mexicano (Chevy Chase/NW DC)

Includes Roast Turkey and Sticky Pumpkin Cake.
Mexican.

Ruth's Chris Steak House

Open 2:00 PM - 8:30 PM

A filet or ribeye will come with 2 cold water North American lobster tails. 

$47.95/57.95 per person

Sushi-ko (Friendship Heights/Chevy Chase)

Japanese/sushi.

Yuzu Bethesda

Japanese/sushi.

DU-PAR'S HAMBURGER HAMLET CHRISTMAS DINNER (VIDEO/PHOTOS)

My guide to restaurants open Christmas Day came in handy, as I ended up dining at one! Join me in this video, for Christmas dinner with all the trimmings at Du-par's Hamburger Hamlet in Bethesda.

Everything was good on the Turkey Platter, a deal at $19.95.  I did pay extra for a Du-par's Famous Brownie Sundae, because other people at the table were getting the house-made fruit pies.  And that meant getting to test more of the menu. (And, of course, as regular readers know, I'm pretty serious about Brownie Sundaes!).

The mashed potatoes were real mashed potatoes, like your Mom would make.  My mom still holds the title for World's Best Stuffing, though.  For turkey, you got white and dark meat, and the sweet potatoes with marshmallows were another standout.

Corn Bread was substituted for the advertised dinner rolls, but that was a positive for this fan of Southern cuisine.

They also had Barq's Root Beer.

I don't know if any staff changes occurred when Du-par's joined Hamburger Hamlet, but there was a real team effort as far as service last night. The bartender even came over into the restaurant section to ask if we needed anything.

Here are a few photos, but watch the video for the full story!