Illinois Restaurants Open On Christmas 2018

ILLINOIS — The holidays are a time to relax and unwind with the family as you gather to celebrate and make new memories. If whipping up holiday meals — and all the cooking, cleaning and prep that comes with hosting your relatives — isn't on your wish list this year, you're in luck.

More and more restaurants are keeping their doors open on Christmas to rake in huge profits. In fact, in recent years, Christmas and New Year’s Day restaurant profits have increased by 40 to 50 percent compared to a typical day, according to Eater.com.

“OpenTable, the restaurant reservation service, found that in 2014 and 2015, restaurants served almost twice as many meals on Christmas Eve and more than three times as many meals on New Year’s Eve, compared to the average day,” the site reported.

Offers.com has rounded up a list of restaurants that will be open on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or both.

Give yourself a break and take the family out to one of these Illinois restaurants that will be open on Christmas:

• Baker's Square: Locations will be open, but close early at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve and 8 p.m. Christmas Day.
• Boston Market: Some locations will be open Christmas Day (participating Illinois locations include Bolingbrook, Chicago - Ashland Avenue, Crestwood, Glenview, Homewood, Melrose Park, Oak Lawn, Schaumburg and Wheaton) serving a special holiday menu.
• Buca di Beppo: Locations open at 11 a.m. Christmas Eve as well as Christmas Day and are accepting lunch and dinner reservations.
• Denny's: Open 24 hours a day, even on Christmas.
• Dunkin' Donuts: Some locations will be open Christmas Day, but many will be closing early around 1 p.m. Some may also close early on Christmas Eve so check the hours with your local Dunkin before heading out.
• Fogo de Chao: Illinois locations are open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Christmas Eve and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Christmas Day.
• Hard Rock Cafe - open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, with happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m.
• IHOP: Most 24-hour locations are open on Christmas Day but hours vary by location.
• McCormick & Schmick's: Chicago, Oak Brook and Rosemont locations will be open and are accepting Christmas reservations.
• McDonald's: Some locations will be open, but hours vary by location. McDonald's inside Walmart stores will be closed, as Walmart stores are closed on Christmas Day.
• Morton's the Steakhouse: Reservations are required for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
• Panda Express: Some, but not all, locations will be open on Christmas Day. Call ahead before you go.
• Ruth's Chris Steakhouse: Open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and serving its full menu. Reservations are required.
• Starbucks: Many will be open for limited hours, but not all. Starbucks locations inside Target stores will be closed, as Target is closed on Christmas Day.

Dan Hampton, Patch National Staff, contributed to this report.

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