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Patricia Stewart has never dined out on Christmas Eve, but this has been a year of firsts for her family.
Most notably, it is the first year she and her adult children will be celebrating Christmas without their dad and her husband of 47 years.
He died earlier this year.
"Since my granddaughter is singing at the early Christmas Eve service at our church, I thought dinner would be a nice new 'tradition' to establish," says Stewart, of Granger.
But where?
Realizing that many restaurants will close their doors early Monday and remain closed through Christmas, Stewart also knows some are open for families like theirs.
And she's right. Some locally owned and chain restaurants open for limited hours with special buffets.
"Last year we had about 300 reservations and another 350 walk-in customers on Christmas," says Emily Nickerson, manager of the Day Road Honker's restaurant. "I think a lot of people who don't have family close don't want to cook for two or three people. By the time you make the fixings, your day is over."
This list is by no means meant to be comprehensive or all-inclusive, but it offers some ideas for area consumers like the Stewarts who want to dine out on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Christmas Eve
Aladdin's Eatery, 317 W. University Drive, Mishawaka, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
American Pancake House, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., 508 Dixie Way, South Bend, 5758 Grape Road and 1008 W. McKinley Ave., Mishawaka.
Between the Buns, all area locations, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Blue Lantern, 928 E. McKinley Ave., Mishawaka, 2:30 to 8 p.m. Reservations recommended.
Bob Evans, 204 S. Dixie Way, Roseland, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 5823 Grape Road, Mishawaka, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Buffalo Wild Wings, 4343 Grape Road, Mishawaka, 326 W. Ireland, South Bend, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
China House, 2222 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Das Dutchman Essenhouse, 240 U.S. 20, Middlebury, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. restaurant; 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. bakery; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. gift shops.
Doc Pierce's, 120 N. Main St., Mishawaka, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations recommended.
East Bank Emporium, 121 S. Niles Ave., South Bend, 4 to 8 p.m. Reservations recommended.
Golden Dragon, 54533 Terrace Lane, 1733 South Bend Ave., both in South Bend, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Grand Empire International Buffet, 313 E. McKinley Ave., Mishawaka, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Hacienda Mexican Restaurants, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., all locations.
Hibachi Grill Supreme Buffet, 5944 Grape Road, Mishawaka, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Ho Ping House, 303 S. Dixie Way, South Bend, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
IHOP, 4115 N. Main St., Mishawaka, open 24 hours.
J.W. Chens, 1835 South Bend Ave., South Bend, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Mandarin House, 2104 Edison Road, South Bend, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Mark, 1234 Eddy St., Eddy Street Commons, South Bend, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
McCarthy's on the Riverwalk, 333 Nibco Parkway, Elkhart, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations recommended.
Panera Bread, 4310 N. Main St., Mishawaka, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 1290 E. Ireland Road, South Bend. 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Papa Vino's, 5110 Edison Lakes Parkway, Mishawaka, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Reservations recommended.
Pizza Transit, 100 S. 11th St., Niles, 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Seoul Garden, 1025 W. McKinley, Mishawaka, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Skillet, 2212 McKinley Ave., South Bend, take-out Polish only until 3:30 p.m. Order ahead or call that day.
Soho Japanese Bistro, 7220 Heritage Square Drive, Mishawaka, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations required for the Hibachi side, dining room is walk-in.
Tippecanoe Place, 620 W. Washington St., South Bend, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m.
Wings, Etc., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., all locations.
Zing Japanese Fusion, 206 N. Main St., Mishawaka, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Christmas Day
China House, South Bend, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Golden Dragon, South Bend, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Grand Empire International Buffet, 313 E. McKinley Ave., Mishawaka, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Hibachi Grill Supreme Buffet, Mishawaka, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Ho Ping Garden, 1662 S. 11th St., Niles, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Ho Ping House, 303 S. Dixie Way, South Bend, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Honker's, Mishawaka, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. No menu service; brunch only featuring a made-to-order omelet station to a 30-foot-long dessert bar. Reservations recommended. South Bend location is closed.
IHOP, Mishawaka, open 24 hours.
J.W. Chens, South Bend, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Mandarin House, South Bend, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
McDonald's, 3402 Portage Ave., South Bend, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Seoul Garden, Mishawaka, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Skillet, South Bend, traditional Christmas buffet, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Full meal dinners for take out also available. Reservations recommended.
Zing Japanese Fusion, 206 N. Main St., Mishawaka, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Heidi Prescott's column runs in the South Bend Tribune on Fridays and Sundays. When she's not shopping, contact her at hprescott@sbtinfo.com or 574-235-6070. You can also talk retail at Facebook.com/thebasket and at Twitter.com/marketbasket.