Delaware restaurants open on Christmas Day

EDITOR'S NOTE: This list was updated on Dec. 5.

Fancy or casual? The choice of a meal is up to you on Christmas Day.

While a majority of restaurants are closed on Dec. 25, we're running our annual list of eateries that stay open for the holiday. 

Some open on Christmas require reservations and those should be made as soon as possible, so you won't be left without a table. 

While this is by no means a complete list, here are some Delaware-area Christmas Day dining possibilities:

The Crystal Restaurant, 37300 Rehoboth Ave. Extension No. 1, Rehoboth Beach, (302) 227-1088, is open during its regular hours, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. No reservations needed, though the restaurant might close early if business is slow.

Rosenfeld’s Jewish Delicatessen, 18949 Coastal Highway Rehoboth Beach, will be open Christmas Day for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. They joke "don’t do Chinese on Christmas, do Jewish deli!" Call 302-645-1700 or visit www.rosenfeldsjewishdeli.com.

Waffle House locations at 598 West Main St., Middletown; 37 S. Cory Lane, Smyrna; 4003 S. Dupont Highway, Dover, and at 261 Belle Hill Road, Elkton, Maryland, are all open on Christmas Day.

Many IHOP locations will be open on Dec. 25, but they might have limited hours. Call the individual Delaware restaurants for more information. 

Denny’s at 80 Macintosh Plaza in Newark is open 24 hours daily, no matter what holiday. New this season is a Cinnamon Roll Pancake Breakfast.

Boston Market locations at 3900 Concord Pike in Talleyville, 302-478-1777, and at 3603 Philadelphia Pike in Claymont, 302-798-5300, will be open on Christmas Day.

Old Country Buffet at 1325 New Churchmans Road near Newark is open on Dec. 25 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 302-738-2292.

Select locations of Applebee's Grill & Bar will be open. Call the select Delaware restaurants for more information.

Some Starbucks will be open on Christmas Day this year, though hours will vary by location. Check your local coffeehouse's schedule before you leave the house.

River Rock Kitchen at the Westin Hotel, 818 Shipyard Drive, Wilmington Riverfront, will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call 302-397-5518 or visit www.riverrockkitchen.com.

The Hotel du Pont’s Green Room, 11th and Market streets in downtown Wilmington, has three brunch seatings on Christmas Day at 10:30 a.m., 1 and 3:30 p.m.

A selection of buffet items featuring a salad station, oyster and shrimp station, sushi station, international cheese and charcuterie, smoked salmon display and a choice of seven entrées. Cost is $75 per person; $35 for children younger than 12; and free for children younger than 5 Visit www.hoteldupont.com. For reservations, call 302-594-3125.

Reservations are a must at Victoria’s Restaurant in the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel at 2 Olive Ave and the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach. The daylong Christmas buffet is $59.95 for adults, $29.95 for children 5-12 and $19.95 for children younger than 5. Call 302-227-0615 or visit www.boardwalkplaza.com/dining.

The Hilton Wilmington-Christiana, 100 Continental Dr, near Stanton, has a very popular Christmas Day breakfast buffet with an omelet station from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $29.95 for adults; $14.95 for children ages 4 to 11; and free for children 3 and younger. Reservations are required. The staff suggests booking tables early. Call 302-631-1542.

Krazy Kat’s at the Inn at Montchanin Village, Del. 100 and Kirk Road in Montchanin, is open Christmas Day. Reservations go very fast. Call 302-888-4200 or visit Open Table.

Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, is open on Christmas Day, but, when we checked, no seats were available at its 1906 Fine Dining restaurant on Open Table. You could luck into a cancellation. Visit www.longwoodgardens.org or call 610-388-1000.

Some Panda Express locations may open on Christmas. Call the individual restaurant for more information.

The Summer House at 228 Rehoboth Ave. in Rehoboth Beach is serving Christmas Day Dinner from 4 to 8 p.m. Call (302) 227-3895 to reserve a table today.

Here are more places to consider:

Bear Diner, 603 Pulaski Highway (U.S. 40), 302-322-6242, www.beardinerde.com. Open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Cafe on 26, 84 Atlantic Ave., Ocean View, will be open Christmas; reservations highly suggested; 302-539- 2233; www.thecafeon26.com.

Chef Tan, 108 E. Main St., Newark, 302-366-0900. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Confucius, 57 Wilmington Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 302-227-3848, www.confuciusrb.com.

The Dove Diner, 1101 N. Du Pont Highway, Wilmington Manor, 302-322-1180. Open 24 hours.

Harpoon Hanna’s, Del. 54 and The Bay, Fenwick Island, 302-539-3095; www.harpoonhannasrestaurant.com. Open from 1 to 9 p.m. with a limited menu; Christmas Day feast includes baked ham, shaved prime rib and more. Cost for plated dinner is $24.99 for adults and $8.99 for children. Reservations are suggested.

Jasmine Asian Cuisine, 3618 Concord Pike, Talleyville, 302-479-5618.

Joe’s Crab Shack, 600 S. Madison St., Wilmington Riverfront, 302-777-1803; open from 4 to 10 p.m.; www.joescrabshack.com.

Le Shio Asian Cuisine, 2303A Concord Pike, Fairfax Shopping Center, Fairfax, 302-888-0145.

Longwood Family Restaurant, 938 East Baltimore Pike, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, 610-388-1144, www.longwoodfamilyrestaurant.com.

Marsh Road Diner, 407 Marsh Road, near Penny Hill, 302-762-6030. Open 24 hours.

Pinang Asian Cuisine, Malaysian Restaurant & Sushi Bar, 218 Louviers Drive, Shoppes of Louviers, near Newark, 302-368-2298.

Ramen Kumamoto, 165 E. Main St., Newark, 302-733-0888. Regular hours.

Rice Restaurant, 2015 Limestone Road, Wilmington, 302-999-7423; open from noon to 10 p.m.

Route 40 Diner, 1705 Pulaski Highway, White Clay Shopping Center, Bear, 302-836-4936. Open 6 a.m. to about 10 p.m.

Rasa Sayang Malaysian Cuisine, 1601 Concord Pike, Independence Mall Shopping Center, Fairfax, 302-543-5286.

Rudy’s Family Diner, 17064 S. Du Pont Highway, Harrington, 302-786-2766.

Smiley's Diner, two locations are open on Christmas: 1300 Veale Road, Brandywine Hundred, 302-543-4377; and 1025 Christiana Road, Newark; 302-533-6355.

The Crownery Restaurant, 228 Lantana Drive, Lantana Square Shopping Center, Hockessin, 302-239-3825, www.thecrownery.com. 

Yi Palace, 4601-4605 Concord Pike, Talleyville, 302-477-6900. 

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Contact Patricia Talorico at (302) 324-2861 or ptalorico@delawareonline.com and on Twitter @pattytalorico