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Glowing Gardens walk-through light display at Jacksonville Arboretum<\/p>\n
Take a tour of Glowing Gardens, the Jacksonville Arboretum’s walk-through holiday light display featuring lighted displays, exhibits and more.<\/p>\n
Some Jacksonville-area restaurants plan to be open Dec. 25, offering dine-in Christmas Day festive feasts, a regular menu or both.<\/p>\n
Many require or at least highly recommend reservations, so don’t wait until the last minute as seatings are going fast. Although openings might happen, there is no guarantee a seat will be available when you want it.<\/p>\n
These restaurants were confirmed to be open on Dec. 25, according to their owners, restaurant websites, OpenTable<\/a>, Visit St. Augustine<\/a>, restaurant social media pages or emailed announcements.<\/p>\n Again, seating availability has been filling up quickly, so act promptly to secure a place at the table.<\/p>\n Remember, most restaurants will be closed on Christmas Day. A list of the Dec. 25 closures also follows.<\/p>\n The opening and closure listings will be updated as additional restaurants are confirmed.<\/p>\n Sign up for Dining Notes, the free weekly restaurant newsletter from the Times-Union’s Gary Mills, delivered to your email inbox each Wednesday.\u00a0Sign up now<\/a>.<\/p>\n Shining bright: <\/strong>Best holiday light displays in Jacksonville, mapped<\/a><\/p>\n Ho, Ho, Ho: <\/strong>25 things to do in Jacksonville this holiday season<\/a><\/p>\n Ajua Mexican Kitchen & Bar<\/p>\n 311 3rd St. N., Suite 107, Jacksonville Beach, (904) 746-7011, ajuajax.com<\/a><\/p>\n Hours<\/strong>: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations available but not required<\/p>\n Details<\/strong>: Offering a Christmas brunch, and promising on its website “a Christmas menu full of warmth, joy, and the bold flavors of Mexico.”<\/p>\n Avil\u00e9s Restaurant & Lounge<\/p>\n 32 Avenida Menendez, at the Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront, St. Augustine, (904) 829-2277, avilesrestaurant.com<\/a><\/p>\n Hours<\/strong>: Reservations required. Seating times are noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.<\/p>\n Details<\/strong>: Christmas Day buffet.<\/p>\n Blue Bamboo Canton Bistro<\/p>\n 10110 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, (904) 646-1478, bluebamboo.com<\/a><\/p>\n Hours:<\/strong> 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.<\/p>\n Details<\/strong>: Regular menu offered. Dine-in only, no takeout.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Bodrum Mediterranean Kitchen<\/p>\n 5907 Roosevelt Blvd., Unit 200, Jacksonville, (904) 379-9107, bodrumjax.com<\/a><\/p>\n Dine-in<\/strong> details<\/strong>: Offering a special Mediterranean-inspired meal for two people for dine-in or takeout. Starter: lentil or chicken soup, fresh appetizers and salads, main course options are chicken shish kabob, beef shish kabob, lamb gyro, chicken gyro, and more. Dessert available is homemade baklava. Wine is included for dine-in.<\/p>\n Cost<\/strong>: $65.99 for dine-in for two people; $79.99 for takeout for two people.<\/p>\n Hours<\/strong>: Please contact Bodrum to confirm Christmas Day hours<\/p>\n Chart House<\/p>\n 1501 River Place Blvd., Jacksonville, (904) 398-3353,\u00a0chart-house.com<\/a><\/p>\n Hours<\/strong>: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations required<\/p>\n Details<\/strong>: Offering a 3-course dinner with a choice of starter, entree and dessert. Entree offerings include Slow-Roasted Prime Rib, Filet Mignon, Twin Lobster Tails, New York Strip Steak and more.<\/p>\n Cost<\/strong>: $75 per person.<\/p>\n Coast at The Ritz-Carlton<\/p>\n 4750 Amelia Island Parkway, Amelia Island, (904) 277-1069, coasttheritzcarlton.com<\/a><\/p>\n Hours<\/strong>: Seating times: 12:30 p.m., 12:45 p.m., 1 p.m., 1:15 p.m., and 1:30 p.m.<\/p>\n Details<\/strong>: Offering a traditional Christmas Day buffet with a southern flair.<\/p>\n Cost:<\/strong> $79 to $175 per person.<\/p>\n Columbia Restaurant<\/p>\n 98 St. George St., St. Augustine, (904) 824-3341, columbiarestaurant.com<\/a><\/p>\n Hours<\/strong>: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations highly recommended.<\/p>\n Details<\/strong>: Offering special Christmas and traditional menus.<\/p>\n Fogo de Ch\u00e3o<\/p>\n 4784 Town Center Parkway, Jacksonville, (904) 512-7300, fogodechao.com<\/a><\/p>\n Hours:<\/strong>\u00a0 Reservations available.\u00a0<\/p>\n Details:<\/strong>\u00a0Specific Christmas Day menu not immediately available, but is expected to include the full Churrasco Experience.<\/p>\n IHOP<\/p>\n Multiple locations,\u00a0ihop.com<\/a><\/p>\n Details<\/strong>: Open on Christmas Day, but guests should check with their local IHOP as hours and offerings\u00a0will vary by location.<\/p>\n Joe’s Crab Trap<\/p>\n 6 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach,\u00a0(904) 249-6160,\u00a0joescrabshack.com<\/a><\/p>\n Hours<\/strong>: 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations available.<\/p>\n Details<\/strong>: Offering a special holiday dinner of roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce and a slice of pumpkin pie.<\/p>\n Cost<\/strong>: Adult, $22.99; Child: $13.99.<\/p>\n Juliette’s Bistro<\/p>\n 245 Water St. inside \u00a0Marriott Jacksonville Downtown, Jacksonville, (904) 791-4995, juliettesbistrojacksonville<\/p>\n Hours<\/strong>: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations available.<\/p>\n Details<\/strong>: Offers a four-course holiday dinner.<\/p>\n Cost:<\/strong> $65 per person.<\/p>\n Morton’s The Steakhouse<\/p>\n 225 E. Coastline Drive,\u00a0Jacksonville, (904) 354-4350,\u00a0mortons.com<\/a><\/p>\n Hours<\/strong>: Noon to 9 p.m., Reservations available<\/p>\n Details<\/strong>: Offering Chateaubriand Holiday Dinner for Two and its classic dinner menu.<\/p>\n Odd Birds Cocktail Lounge and Kitchen<\/p>\n 200 Anastasia Blvd, St. Augustine, (904) 342-8378, oddbirdscocktailbar.com<\/a><\/p>\n Hours<\/strong>: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Reservations only.<\/p>\n Details<\/strong>: Offering a special Christmas Day limited menu.<\/p>\n Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse<\/p>\n 4483 Southside Blvd.,\u00a0Jacksonville, (904) 551-5920,\u00a0terragaucha.net<\/a><\/p>\n Hours<\/strong>: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations available.<\/p>\n Details<\/strong>: Specific Christmas Day menu not immediately available, but is expected to offer a full Churrasco experience.<\/p>\n Texas de Brazil<\/p>\n 4634 Town Center Parkway, Jacksonville,\u00a0(904) 474-3500,\u00a0texasdebrazil.com<\/a><\/p>\n Hours<\/strong>: Most locations open at 11 a.m.. Reservations available.<\/p>\n Details<\/strong>: Specific Christmas Day menu not immediately available, but is expected to include holiday-focused specialties as well as the regular all-you-can-eat Churrasco.<\/p>\n The Blue Fish Restaurant & Oyster Bar<\/p>\n 3551 St. Johns Ave., Jacksonville, (904) 387-0700,\u00a0bluefishjax.com<\/a><\/p>\n Hours<\/strong>: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Reservations available.<\/p>\n Details<\/strong>: Specific holiday menu not immediately available.<\/p>\n Vernon’s First Coast Kitchen & Bar<\/p>\n 1000 Tournament Players Club Blvd., inside Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa, Ponte Vedra Beach, (904) 280-3405, vernonsfirstcoastkitchen.com<\/a><\/p>\n Hours<\/strong>: Reservations required.<\/p>\n Details<\/strong>: Specific menu listings not immediately available.<\/p>\n Waffle House<\/p>\n Multiple locations,\u00a0wafflehouse.com<\/a><\/p>\n Hours<\/strong>: All day.<\/p>\n Details<\/strong>: Full menu.<\/p>\n Jacksonville restaurants closed on Christmas Day<\/p>\n The following Jacksonville-area restaurants plan to be closed on Christmas Day so their employees can celebrate the holiday with family and friends.<\/p>\n Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com.<\/p>\n\n