On Dasher, on Prancer, on Donner, on Blitzen, these Milwaukee restaurants will keep you out of the kitchen. Santa’s busy at work, the Whos are tucked in bed, and you have a holiday meal to handle, without the mess. So quick as a mouse, there’s no time to scurry. Pick a spot that fits your crew and hurry. Here’s where to go this Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Christmas Eve
Eldr + Rime
Dec. 24 | 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Christmas Eve specials, craft cocktails and seasonal desserts make this Wauwatosa spot an easy choice for a paced, sit-down dinner. Start with a holiday cocktail, then make room for dessert so the night ends on a sweet note. This one fits best when you want your meal to be the main event, not a quick pit stop.
Cafe Hollander
Dec. 24 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Christmas Eve brunch runs through mid-afternoon, which makes Cafe Hollander a strong daytime plan before evening festivities begin. Grab your table, dig in, then head out with plenty of day left.
Centraal Grand Cafe and Tappery
Dec. 24 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Centraal’s Christmas Eve brunch keeps things relaxed and social with a clear 3 p.m. finish. This works well for an easy meet-up meal, especially when you want a full plate and no cleanup waiting at home. Eat, catch up, then roll into the rest of the day on your own schedule.
Cafe Benelux
Dec. 24 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Brunch carries the day in at Cafe Benelux in the Third Ward, with Christmas Eve service running through 3 p.m. A good pick when you want a lively room and a daytime celebration, be sure to show up hungry, then keep the evening plans wide open.
Milwaukee ChopHouse
Dec. 24 | 5-10 p.m.
The Christmas Eve prix-fixe menu is built around three clean courses at the Milwaukee ChopHouse inside the Pfister Hotel. Choose soup or salad, then pick sliced tenderloin or roasted chicken, and close it down with crème brûlée or chocolate cake. This is a classic steakhouse holiday dinner with zero guesswork.
Ward’s House of Prime
Dec. 24 | 4 p.m.-close
Christmas Eve dining begins at 4 p.m., so you can make prime rib the headline early in the evening. This is the sit-down option for a traditional holiday plate and an unhurried dinner timeline. Settle in, then let the night build around the meal.
Christmas Day
The Pfister Hotel
Dec. 25 | 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Christmas Day brunch fills the Pfister Hotel's grand ballroom with an assortment of fresh seafood, Wisconsin cheeses, carved meats and omelets made-to-order. Brunch also includes holiday salads, starters, entrees and desserts, plus a mimosa or Bloody Marys. Build your first plate around the carving station, then save your second round for dessert.
Tre Rivali
Dec. 25 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
The Christmas brunch buffet reads like a station-to-station holiday tour. There's artisanal cheese, a salumi board, a build-your-own toast bar, a waffle bar and even a chef-attended egg station. Prime rib with horseradish cream and Sicilian-style roasted pork shoulder anchor the savory side, then desserts like chocolate truffle torte and white chocolate-cranberry bread pudding bring the finale.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Mason Street Grill
Dec. 24 | 4-9 p.m.
Dec. 25 | 1-8 p.m.
At Mason Street Grill, you'll find a prix-fixe menu available both nights. Choose soup or salad, then prime rib with herb-whipped potatoes and pancetta Brussels sprouts, and finish with dessert, all coming together to create a sit-down Christmas dinner with downtown polish.
The Packing House
Dec. 24 | 4-8 p.m.
Dec. 25 | 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
A full holiday dinner menu runs both days at The Packing House, with kid-friendly options included. Christmas Eve gives you an earlier dinner window, while Christmas Day stretches into the evening for a longer celebration. This is a strong pick for families who want a comfortable table and a classic holiday meal.
The Studio Kitchen & Cocktails
Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 | 4-9 p.m.
A Christmas prix-fixe menu anchors dinner both nights at The Studio Kitchen & Cocktails inside Saint Kate. This is a course-driven meal when you want a paced dinner start-to-finish. Settle in, let the courses arrive and let the kitchen run the show.
Potawatomi Casino Hotel
Canal Street Cafe
Dec. 24 | 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Dec. 25 | 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Canal Street Cafe has an all-you-can-eat holiday buffet, including prime rib with horseradish cream, a herring station, a build-your-own omelet station, scalloped potatoes, cinnamon rolls with cream cheese and more. Christmas Day adds prime rib, deviled eggs, breakfast pigs in a blanket, stuffed French toast, mini eggnog doughnuts, chocolate yule logs, hot chocolate and eggnog.
Dream Dance Steakhouse
Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 | 5-10 p.m.
The Prime Rib plus Wine Special runs both nights at Dream Dance Steakhouse. Start with French onion soup or Caesar salad, then prime rib with your choice of potato and a seasonal vegetable. Dessert is a Christmas trifle made with eggnog creme, gingerbread and a mini wafer.
Marketplace
Dec. 25 | 11 a.m.-close
Marketplace opens at 11 a.m. on Christmas Day, and you'll score a free cookie with any purchase. Stop here for a grab-and-go bite between meals or let it fuel you through another round of slots. Grab your bite, snag the cookie, then get back to the table to play the winning hand.
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