Restaurants Open to Satisfy Holiday Hunger

By Nichole Aksamit, Omaha World-Herald, Neb.

Dec. 21–Many Omaha-area restaurants and their employees take a break on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

But more than a few will remain open this year to serve Santa, Frosty, the Grinch, the UPS guy, the three wise men and anyone else working, traveling or otherwise unable or unwilling to cook at home.

Should you find yourself in that camp: Here are several dozen sit-down restaurants that plan to keep the kitchen fires burning for you this holiday.

Note: Not all accept or require reservations.

Open Christmas Day

Dennys, 3509 S. 84th St., serves American diner-style food. Open 24 hours. Info: 393-7343. Falling Water Grille at Embassy Suites, 555 S. 10th St., serves a buffet-style Christmas brunch featuring prime rib with seatings at 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Santa visits from noon to 2 p.m. Cost is $24.95 for adults, $9.95 for children ages 6 to 12, and free for children ages 5 and younger. Reservations recommended. Info: 346-9000. Fresh Market Square Buffet at Harrahs Casino, 1 Harrahs Boulevard, Council Bluffs, serves a $14.99 holiday buffet 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations not required. Info: 329-6000. Heritage Buffet at Ameristar Casino, 2200 River Road, Council Bluffs, serves a special $19.99 holiday buffet from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations not required. Info: 328-8888. Jack Binions Steak House, the fine-dining restaurant at Horseshoe Casino, 2701 23rd Ave, Council Bluffs. Open 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations recommended. Info: 396-3806. La Cabana d’Franko, 4835 S. 24th St., serves Mexican food. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Info: 614-9977. La Mesa Mexican restaurants in Bellevue and Council Bluffs are open noon to 8 p.m. Info: 733-8754 for the Bellevue location, 1405 Ft. Crook Road S.; 256-2762 for the Council Bluffs location, 3030 S. Expressway. Mai Thai, 14618 West Center Road, serves Thai food. Open 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Info: 333-0506. Prestige World Class, 810 S. 169th St., serves a dinner buffet and a special Christmas a la carte menu 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Buffet cost is $16.95 per person, $8.50 for children ages 10 and younger. Info: 614-7660. Sapp Bros. Cafe at 2608 S. 24th St. in Council Bluffs, is open 24 hours. The restaurant at 9905 Sapp Bros. Drive in Omaha opens at 5 a.m. and stays open 24 hours. The restaurants are featuring ham or turkey dinners for $7.99 or a combination ham-and-turkey dinner for $9.99. Info: 322-9052 or 895-2122. Thunder Alley, a bowling/entertainment complex at 20902 Cumberland Drive, serves casual American fare. Open 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Info: 905-2695. Timber Dining Room, Lied Lodge & Conference Center, 2700 Sylvan Road, Nebraska City, Neb., serves regional and Continental cuisine and is open 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (with a special Christmas brunch buffet) and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Info: 402-873-8740. Village Square Buffet at Horseshoe Casino, 2701 23rd Ave., Council Bluffs, serves a $19.99 holiday buffet 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations not required. Info: 396-3806. Waterfront Grill, the fine-dining restaurant at Ameristar Casino, 2200 River Road, Council Bluffs, is open 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations recommended. Info: 328-8888. 360 Steakhouse, the restaurant atop Harrah’s Casino, 1 Harrah’s Boulevard, Council Bluffs. Open 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations recommended. Info: 329-6000.

Open Christmas Eve

Baileys, 1259 S. 120th St., serves breakfast and lunch. Open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Info: 932-5577 Charlestons, 13851 First National Bank Parkway, serves steaks and other American dishes. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Info: 431-0023. The Chocolate Moose Cafe, 534 Main St., Plattsmouth, serves eggnog French toast with nutmeg cream 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Reservations required. Info: 296-3373. Darios Brasserie, 4920 Underwood Ave., serves French and Belgian bistro-style fare. Open 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Info: 933-0799. Dennys, 3509 S. 84th St., serves American diner-style food. Open 24 hours. Info: 393-7343. The French Cafe, 1017 Howard St., serves its brunch menu 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reservations recommended. Info: 341-3547. Fresh Market Square Buffet at Harrahs Casino, 1 Harrahs Boulevard, Council Bluffs, serves an $11.99 holiday buffet 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations not required. Info: 329-6000. Gusto Cuban Cafe, 7910 Harrison St., Ralston, serves Cuban specialties. Open 11 a.m. to about 7:30 p.m. Info: 614-7800. Heritage Buffet at Ameristar Casino, 2200 River Road, Council Bluffs. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations not required. Info: 328-8888. Jack Binion’s Steak House, the fine-dining restaurant at Horseshoe Casino, 2701 23rd Ave, Council Bluffs. Open 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations recommended. Info: 396-3806. Jams, 7814 West Dodge Road, serves lunch (featuring posole, a traditional Mexican Christmas soup made with chicken, hominy and ancho chiles) 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reservations accepted for groups of six or more. Info: 399-8300. La Cabana d’Franko, 4835 S. 24th St., serves Mexican foods. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Info: 614-9977. La Mesa Mexican restaurants in Bellevue, Council Bluffs, Papillion and Omaha are open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Info: 733-8754 for the Bellevue location, 1405 Ft. Crook Road S.; 256-2762 for the Council Bluffs location, 3030 S. Expressway; 593-0983 for the Papillion location, 833 Tara Plaza; and 496-1101 for the Omaha location, 11002 Emmet St. Le Peep’s three Omaha locations serve breakfast, brunch and lunch and are open 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Info: 408-1728 for the location at 559 N. 155th Plaza; 934-9914 for the 17660 Wright St. location; and 991-8222 for the 2012 N. 117th Ave. location. Lucky’s Ten-O-One, 1001 Pacific St., serves steak, seafood, pasta and American dishes. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Info: 991-1001. Mai Thai, 14618 West Center Road, serves Thai food. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Info: 333-0506. Marks Bistro, 4916 Underwood Ave., serves American comfort food. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Info: 502-2203. Mia’s Bongo Room, 6113 Maple St., serves Mexican-influenced vegetarian, vegan and meat dishes. Open 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Info: 553-1266. Mimi’s Cafe, 301 N. 175th Plaza, serves American comfort food. Open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Reservations recommended. Info: 289-9610. Prestige World Class, 810 S. 169th St., serves a dinner buffet and a Christmas Eve a la carte menu 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Buffet cost is $16.95 per person, $8.50 for children ages 10 and younger. Info: 614-7660. Sakura Bana Japanese Restaurant, 7425 Dodge St., serves sushi and other Japanese fare. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Information: 391-5047. Sapp Bros. Cafe, 2608 S. 24th St. in Council Bluffs. Open 24 hours. The restaurant at 9905 Sapp Bros. Drive in Omaha is open only until 5 p.m. The restaurants are featuring ham or turkey dinners for $7.99 and ham-and-turkey combos for $9.99. Info: 322-9052 or 895-2122. Shucks Fish House, Oyster Bar, 1218 S. 119th St., serves seafood. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Info: 827-4376. Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 222 S. 15th St., serves steak and seafood. Open 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Info: 342-0077. Thai Pepper, at 631 N. 114th St., serves Thai food. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Info: 445-9490. Thunder Alley, a bowling/entertainment complex at 20902 Cumberland Drive in Omaha, serves casual American fare. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Info: 905-2695. Timber Dining Room, Lied Lodge & Conference Center, 2700 Sylvan Road, Nebraska City, Neb., serves regional and Continental cuisine. Open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Info: 402-873-8740. V. Mertz, the fine-dining restaurant at 1022 Howard St., serves a special a la carte Christmas Eve lunch menu 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Reservations required. Info: 345-8980. Village Inn locations across the metro are open until midnight Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day. Village Square Buffet at Horseshoe Casino, 2701 23rd Ave., Council Bluffs, serves a $19.99 holiday buffet 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations not required. Info: 396-3806. Waterfront Grill, the fine-dining restaurant at Ameristar Casino, 2200 River Road, Council Bluffs, is open 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations recommended. Info: 328-8888. Wave Bistro, 4002 N. 144th St., serves Asian fusion cuisine. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Info: 496-8812. WheatFields Eatery & Bakery locations — at One Pacific Place and Shadow Lake Towne Center — serve hearty American food with German touches. Open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Info: 955-1485 and 592-9713. 360 Steakhouse, the restaurant atop Harrah’s Casino, 1 Harrah’s Boulevard, Council Bluffs, is open 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations recommended. Info: 329-6000.

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