There’s no place like home for the holidays: the camaraderie and merriment, drinking and eating, twinkly lights and garland galore. It’s a season of sheer bliss. The flip side of course comes when the dishes pile up, and the leftover ham and turkey can’t find another recipe to sneak its way into, or the gifts of fudge and cookies can’t find another party to crash. Well, why not let our local culinary community help relieve some of the stress?

encore has culled a list of restaurants serving holiday eats, leading up to and on Christmas—both the 24th and 25th. Between specialty menus and reliable local favorites, ready-made meals, whether at home or in a restaurant, make for better ready-made conversations with more love and cheer to spread!

Pine Valley Market
3520 S. College Rd. • 910-350-3663
Though Pine Valley Market isn’t open Christmas Day, they have holiday mains and sides to pick up beforehand so Christmas Day goes by with a breeze. PVM has special holiday hours: Saturday, December 22, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sunday, December 23, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; and Monday, December 24, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. They are offering Certified Angus Beef Prime, raised on small family farms across the USA. Offerings include brisket, tomahawk steaks, chateaubriand, and beef Wellington. They’ll also have roast pork, porchetta, duck, whole-dressed goose, lamb cuts, along with a variety of sides. Order online until December 21 (or until supplies last) at pinevalleymarket.com (or call ahead). Pine Valley Market will be closed December 25-26. PMV will pick up with regular operating hours again until December 29—check Facebook for early closing time. They’ll close at noon on New Year’s Eve and remain closed from January 1-6.

Christmas Eve Dinner
Michael’s Seafood
1206 N. Lake Park Blvd.
Carolina Beach • 910-350-3663
‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, tummies were growling but no one wanted to cook…

Michael’s has the solution for Christmas cooking blues with “Prime Rib Monday”—and with a surf-and-turf twist for $25. Folks will enjoy slow-cooked prime rib with choice of scallops, shrimp, crab cake, crab legs, or one fresh-catch option on Christmas Eve. No reservations are required and outdoor (heated) seating will be available.

Nikki’s Hibachi Steakhouse
& Sushi Bar
1055 Military Cutoff Rd.
910-509-8998
Miso soup. Gyoza. Tempura. Break the tradition of ham, turkey and stuffing, and head to Nikki’s on Military Cutoff for Christmas Day. Whether in the mood for fresh sashimi and imaginative sushi rolls or hibachi entrees, a variety of options will be served for dinner, 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. Check out their menu at nikkissushibar.com.

YoSake Downtown Sushi Lounge
33 S. Front St.
910-763-3172
Hankering for sushi encore readers continuously dub Best Of in Wilmington? YoSake will grant your wish on Christmas Eve from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. While they’ll be closed on Christmas and New Year’s days, folks can welcome the new year with YoSake on New Year’s Eve from 5 p.m. – 1 a.m. Check out their menu at yosake.com.

Casey’s Buffet
5559 Oleander Dr.
910-798-2913
Nothing says ‘happy holidays’ like pulled pork and collards! Folks can visit Casey’s Buffet on Christmas Eve (call for hours) and New Year’s Day from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Visit caseysbuffet.com for dine-in, take-out and catering menus.

Sweet n Savory
1611 Pavilion Place • 910-256-0115
Whether dining in or picking up, Sweet n Savory near Wrightsville Beach will have their family-style meals from noon to 6 p.m. Reservations are required. Christmas Day catering packages start at $18.99 per person ($19.99 if in need of plates, cups and cutlery) they come with two choices of hearty appetizers, one choice of dip, one choice of a main dish and one dessert. All options can be found at sweetnsavory.cafe.

Plus, the restaurant will open its doors on Christmas Day to offer its dine-in menu ($35 per adult) and to-go packages (ranging $100-$250) to feed anywhere from four to 25 people. Sweet n Savory also will be open for Christmas Eve breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Indochine
7 Wayne Dr. • 910-251-9229
Not a day goes by that Indochine’s parking lot isn’t packed bumper-to-bumper, and Christmas Day isn’t any different. Though the Vietnamese and Thai staple is closed for lunch on Christmas Eve and Day, they’re open for dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and  5 p.m. to 10 p.m., respectively. But get there early! Indochine is first-come, first-serve and they don’t accept reservations.

Open Christmas Day:

Fox & Hound
Mayfaire Town Center
920 Town Center Dr.
910-509-0805
Open 4 p.m. – midnight

Oceans at Holiday Inn Resort
1706 N. Lumina Ave.
Wrightsville Beach
910-256-2231
Breakfast menu, 6:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.; breakfast buffet, 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.

The Harp
1423 S. Third St.
910-763-1607
Traditional buffet, noon – 8 p.m.

Top Wok Chinese Restaurant
1401 N. Lake Park Blvd.
Carolina Beach
910-458-5958
Open noon – 9 p.m.

The Bistro at the Courtyard Marriott
100 Charlotte Ave.
Carolina Beach
910-458-2030
Serving breakfast, 6:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.