Leave Christmas cooking to the pros this year. These Tacoma restaurants will be open

Dishes pile up after hours of feasting (and imbibing), but Christmas festivities need not center around a home-cooked meal and a finite supply of wine.

Though more restaurants than not in Tacoma and elsewhere in Pierce County will give staff the day off, many are open.

Cruel it is not, said Russ Heaton, owner of Doyle’s Public House on St. Helens Avenue in downtown Tacoma. Despite the occasional admonishment for “making people work” on such holidays, people need a “third place,” he said.

Since opening Doyle’s in 2006, he dreamed of nurturing that spot for anyone who doesn’t celebrate Christmas, doesn’t want to, or maybe can’t — no questions asked.

“I’m always amazed at the concept — especially in our melting pot of a country — that people think everybody is exactly who they are,” he said. “We don’t dictate to people when or how they enjoy our hospitality. It’s up to them how they want to.”

He recalls his very first Christmas at the bar, in the early ‘90 as a 21-year-old: his parents decided to visit his older brother, who was attending college in California, but left him to fend for himself at home. He and a few friends discovered that the Parkway Tavern (under its former owners) used to slap a piece of plywood over the pool table with three or four turkeys, accompanied by a potluck supplied by regulars.

Heaton, laughing at the memory and his established career as a restaurant owner, is quick to point out that the Pierce County Health Department does not condone such unsanctioned eating.

“I had such a positive experience from that,” said Heaton. “From every bar I’ve worked in, I’ve said, ‘We’re going to be the place for people who don’t have a place.’”

At Doyle’s, the crowd ebbs and flows throughout Christmas Day.

“Oddly enough, we get a slice of everyone,” he said, especially folks “dropping in for a quick nip before they go to their next family obligation.”

For a few families, the restaurant has become a “go-to” spot for holiday meals.

Most importantly, he added, after 14 years of nearly nonstop business, “people come to count on you to be open.”

In fact, the restaurant and bar will close for all of 150 minutes on the morning of Dec. 26: It opens at 4:30 a.m. so soccer fans can watch some English matches.

Looking to live that no-cook, dish-free Christmas life? Here’s a few spots in Pierce County ready to welcome you, plus a dozen or so more open just on Christmas Eve.

OPEN CHRISTMAS DAY (AND EVE)

LOBSTER SHOP

Where: 4015 Ruston Way, Tacoma, 253-759-2165, lobstershop.com

Details: The Commencement Bay restaurant will run normal hours on Christmas Eve, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. for dinner, then 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Christmas Day. Both days, diners can indulge in a holiday dinner menu created by Chef Justin Mevs. Start with a shared charcuterie board ($26) or baked brie ($14); à la carte entrees include cedar-plank salmon ($34) and a rack of lamb with Pernod-laced spinach ($44). A tasting menu ($68) lets guests choose from an array of apps, mains — including lobster tails and prime rib with crab legs — and a dessert, like a peppermint mocha crème brûlée.

TABLE 47

Where: 5268 Point Fosdick Dr. #47, Gig Harbor, 235-857-4777, t47.com

Details: At 7,000 square feet, Gig Harbor’s Table 47 offers plenty of space for holiday diners. A full house on Thanksgiving a few weeks ago hints toward another busy couple of days at Christmastime.

The restaurant will serve its standard all-day menu on Christmas Eve from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Christmas Day from 3-10 p.m. Think al pastor fries ($11), a classic wedge salad ($7 or $12), flatbreads with an array of seasonal toppings ($14), and several burgers ($14 to $16). Main dishes include a chimichurri steak ($32), coho salmon ($26) and a Mexican-inspired pork shank ($21). A holiday ham will also be available, served with mashed potatoes, bacon-bourbon brussel sprouts, and yorkshire pudding. Reservations are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome.

BITE @ HOTEL MURANO

Where: 1320 Broadway, Tacoma, 253-591-4154, hotelmuranotacoma.com

Details: Inside the Hotel Murano downtown, Bite will operate normal business hours on both Dec. 24 and 25, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant will offer its standard menus. Lunch focuses on salads, like the Northwest cobb ($23), and sandwiches, including a croque madame on rosemary bread ($13). For dinner, there’s grilled rib-eye ($38) and scallop and prawn fettucine ($24). Vegetarians can indulge in the likes of truffle mac and cheese ($18) or risotto ($20). Accompany the main event with a slew of amped-up potatoes: herbed fingerlings, truffle fries, smashed reds or Yukon golds ($5).

STANLEY AND SEAFORT’S

Where: 115 E. 34th St, Tacoma, 253-473-7300, stanleyandseaforts.com

Details: With views of both Commencement Bay and downtown Tacoma, this steak and seafood spot stands up to the occasion. Reservations are highly recommended on Christmas Eve, noon to 9 p.m., and Christmas Day, noon to 8 p.m.

Holiday specials include an oven-roasted coho salmon accompanied by a leek and parsnip potage ($30), a Columbia River steelhead with caramelized onions and a cranberry-citrus butter ($27) and a bone-in pork chop bathed in Cajun spices and served with green beans and a seasonal chicken-apple sausage stuffing ($26). Much of the restaurant’s regular menu of seafood appetizers — from its clam chowder ($10) and lobster bisque ($12), to fried calamari ($15) and oysters ($18) — will be available. For dessert, there’s a chocolate cheesecake with raspberry coulis ($10).

McMENAMIN’S ELKS TEMPLE

Where: 565 Broadway, Tacoma, 253-470-8476, mcmenamins.com/elks-temple

Details: McMenamin’s never sleeps: every restaurant and bar inside the mega-plex will be open both days. The Brewery Tasting Room, The Pub and the Spanish Bar will be open during lunch hours, while the Vault and Doc’s Bar will open at 3 p.m. All of the above will serve their go-to menus throughout and close at 11 p.m. The Hangout will shut down at midnight.

DOYLE’S PUBLIC HOUSE

Where: 208 St Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253-272-7468, doylespublichouse.com

Details: Proudly open 365 days a year, Doyle’s will again offer a full-fledged Christmas meal ($18), replete with ham, “potato surprise,” green bean casserole, candied yams and a roll. Dessert: a slice of pie, of course. The holiday menu, plus a crab ball appetizer, will be available both days, with a rosemary quiche on special during breakfast from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The bar’s reputable whiskey selection is always on the shelf.

TOP OF TACOMA

Where: 3529 McKinley Ave., Tacoma, 253-272-1502, facebook.com/TopofTacoma

Details: Looking for a quick but delicious bite on Christmas Eve, paired with a cold beer or a classic cocktail? Top of Tacoma, the bar with notable sandwiches ($9 to $10.50) and tacos ($8 to $10.25 for two), will run with normal hours on Christmas Eve, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. If you ruin your Christmas dinner or need a late-night snack, the bar will open at 5 p.m on the big day.

IRON CHEF JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE

Where: 4301 S. Meridian, Puyallup, 253-848-3759, ironchefsteakhouse.com

Details: This teppanyaki eatery, which offers an interactive dining experience replete with tossed rice, will welcome guests during normal business hours on Christmas Eve (2:30-10 p.m.). On Christmas Day, it will open a bit early — at noon — to accommodate those early holiday diners. Reservations are readily available for both days through OpenTable or by calling the restaurant.

BLACK BEAR DINER

Where: 10404 156th St., Puyallup, 253-268-0192 and 10115 S. Tacoma way, Lakewood, 253-267-0238, blackbeardiner.com

Details: Black Bear has expanded in recent years, now with more than 130 locations in 13 states, with four in Washington. The Lakewood restaurant will open at 6 a.m. for the holidays, closing at 9 p.m. on Dec. 24 and 8 p.m. on Dec. 25. The Puyallup location will operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days. Diners can enjoy the robust menu packed with a little bit of everything, plus slow-roasted and smoked meats carved to order after 4 p.m.

CHRISTMAS EVE ONLY

PACIFIC GRILL

Where: 1502 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-627-3535, pacificgrilltacoma.com

Details: Nestled in the historic Waddell Building downtown, Pacific Grill has been dutifully fulfilling special-occasion dining since 2005. Reservations for Christmas Eve dinner are nearly booked, with only early slots (before 4:15 p.m.) still open; there is plenty of availability at lunch.

In addition to the regular menu, chef and co-owner Gordon Naccarato will offer two holiday specials: “Who Hash” features prime rib with beets, romanesco, purple potatoes, pearl onions and rainbow chard; a Smoked Salmon Blini comes wrapped in a warm buckwheat dough, topped with crème fraiche, a hard-cooked egg, red onions, dill and a dollop of US-sourced “sevruga” caviar.

THE CLIFF HOUSE

Where: 6300 Marine View Dr., Browns Point, Tacoma, 253-927-0400, cliffhousetacoma.com

Details: Overlooking Commencement Bay since 1925, Cliff House offers dinner with a view on Dec. 24. In addition to a few holiday specials, the restaurant will serve its classic dinner menu, ranging from a half dozen steak options — including the indulgent lobster tail and center cut ($69) — and plenty of seafood creations, like the Northwest Cioppino with four types of shellfish ($34). The last seating is at 7:45 p.m., and reservations are recommended.

MARZANO

Where: 516 Garfield St. S., Parkland, 253-537-4191, dinemarzano.com

Details: Tired of traditional holiday tastes? The Northern Italian stalwart — open for more than 30 years in the Tacoma suburb — will serve its regular lunch menu of panini ($15), pizza ($16 to $17), and homemade pasta ($16 to $21) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Dinner service, from 4 p.m. to the last seating at 8:15 p.m., offers entrees like Pici all’Agnello (lamb ragù, $27) and Chittare al mare bursting with black tiger prawns, calamari, mussels and scallops in a saffron-tomato broth ($33). Bookings are filling up: the restaurant expects a full house.

EN RAMA

Where: 1102 A St., Tacoma, 253-223-7184, courthousesquaretacoma.com/en-rama

Details: Known for its sherry-focused cocktail program and homemade pastas, the petite lounge tucked away in the Old Post Office will open at 11 a.m. and close a bit early at 6 p.m. Its menu of small plates and shareable mains makes for an ideal midday grazing session. There’s charcuterie ($24) and salty canned sardines ($8), squash risotto ($12), mushroom ragout ($14 or $24) and garlicky mussels ($12). Wash it down with an autumnal — and low-alcohol — Palo Cortado Spritz ($10).

EUROPA

Where: 2515 N. Proctor St., Tacoma, 253-761-5660, europabistro.net

Details: A cozy spot in the Proctor neighborhood, Europa will run with normal business hours on Christmas Eve. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the menu of antipasti ($9 to $11), soup and salad ($5 to $18) and panini ($10 to $12) meets the mark for a light lunch. Coastal specialties speckle the dinner menu, served from 4-9 p.m., like the Fusilli Russo with sauteed crab ($13.95), Pesce Puttanesca ($14.95), and Prosciutto con Gamberi (prawns over marinated eggplant, $10.95).

CI SHENANIGANS

Where: 3017 Ruston Way, Tacoma, 253.752.8899, cishenanigans.com

Details: Along the waterfront, CI Shenanigans will offer all-day dinner on Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. According to its standard menu, that means dozens of seafood and steak options, topping out at $39.95 for the Cowboy Rib-Eye. All of its steaks are served with “umami butter” alongside a seasonal vegetable and whipped potatoes.

RICARDO’S KITCHEN + BAR

Where: 676 Woodland Square, Lacey/Olympia, 360-413-9995, chefricardo.com/

Details: Need more wagyu in your life? Find it at Ricardo’s in Olympia, where the menu leads off with a tartare made with the good stuff ($21). Skip the meat with a wild mushroom bolognese ($28) or go all-out on a 50-day aged tomahawk rib-eye ($109 for 30 ounces). Nearly a dozen desserts come from the kitchen or nearby Black Door Bakery ($8 to $15). Dinner will be served 3-7 p.m., and the restaurant said it’s filling up fast.

MORE CHRISTMAS EVE SPOTS

In addition to the above, TNT Diner confirmed that the following restaurants will be open on Dec. 24. For more options, check out former food editor Sue Kidd’s 2018 picks for Chinese food.

GINO’S AT THE POINT, 6912 Soundview Dr., Ruston, 3-9 p.m., 253-242-7951, ginosrestaurants.com

CROCKETT’S PUBLIC HOUSE, 118 E Stewart Ave., Puyallup, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., 253-466-3075, crockettspublichouse.com

BAR BISTRO, 1718 99th St., Parkland, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., barbistrotacoma.com

INDO ASIAN STREET EATERY, 110 N. Tacoma Ave., Tacoma, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., 253-503-3527, indostreeteatery.com

ENGINE HOUSE NO. 9, 611 N. Pine St., Tacoma, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., 253-272-3435, ehouse9.com

DIRTY OSCAR’S ANNEX, 2309 6th Ave., Tacoma, 11 a.m. to 12 a.m., 253-572-0588, dirtyoscarsannex.com/

ASADO, 2810 6th Ave., Tacoma, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., 253-272-7770, asadotacoma.com

WILDFIN, 5115 Grand Loop, Ruston, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., 253-267-1772, wildfinamericangrill.com

O’NEILLS PUBLIC HOUSE, 3222 56th St., Gig Harbor, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., 253-858-5555, oneillsbarandgrill.com

This story was originally published December 18, 2019 at 11:13 AM.