Open Christmas Eve
Many Tucson Originals, Fox Restaurant Concepts and Metro Restaurants are open Christmas Eve with regular menus and some with special holiday menus. Learn specifics at the Tucson Originals Web site, Fix Web site and Metro Web site. Both Elle and Terra Cotta say their bars will be open, and bar food will be served until 9 p.m.; Janos has carolers with dinner. Since I'm Jewish, I will probably be at the movies.
Holiday Takeout
Consider takeout: Roma Imports is open both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 627 S. Vine Ave.; 792-3173. For more traditional fare, Mimi's Café's to-go feast serves six to eight people for $79.99. Near Park Place Mall, call 747-7273, and near Tucson Mall, call 690-9544.
Closed Christmas Day
It seems just about every place is closed on Christmas Day, except for the hotel dining rooms, Grill on the Green in Green Valley, and McMahon's Prime Steakhouse. Every year, I get more and more requests from readers asking where they can get casual dinners on Dec. 25. This is not Los Angeles or New York City, where every Chinese restaurant stays open (hint), which they should. Check out a hilarious video called Eating Chinese Food on Christmas Day.
Open Christmas Day
There are a few places open, and trust me, they will be jammed: TGI Friday's at 4901 E. Broadway Blvd. is always hopping from 2 to 9 p.m.; 745-3743. Malaysian Neo of Melaka and Seri Melaka are both open from 4 to 10 p.m. at 1765 E. River Road, 299-7815, and 6133 E. Broadway Blvd., 747-7811, respectively. China Phoenix has its regular hours from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. at 7090 N. Oracle Road; 531-0658. Sabra Kosher Mediterranean Restaurant at 4210 E. Speedway Blvd. will be open from 4 to 9 p.m.; 795-6060. Mr. An's Sakura and Great Wall of China restaurants are open from 5 to 10 p.m. at 6534 E. Tanque Verde Road, 298-7777, and 2445 S. Craycroft Road, 514-8888.
