There truly is nothing quite like the holidays in the States—from the extravagant Christmas window displays to the tall and beautiful Christmas trees. It is a time when friends and family come together and merrily celebrate the festivities.
And what better way to truly embrace the spirit of the holidays than to enjoy seasonal treats with your loved ones? Restaurants during this time go out and beyond to attract customers and give them a wonderful dining experience. They want to serve customers a wholesome experience that is not only about dining but also about the ambiance and the festive atmosphere.
With Christmas around the corner, we have shortlisted nine restaurants that embody the holiday season’s festive spirit, cheer, and merriment. These restaurants also have a warm and celebratory atmosphere.
From bright lights, decorative ornaments, tinsels, trees, gifts, and more, this list of Christmas-decorated restaurants welcomes diners to a winter wonderland. They want the customers to get in the spirit of holidays while enjoying a delicious meal. Checkout the below options of restaurants to make your Christmas bright and merry. Enjoy with your loved ones while indulging in good food and a good mood.
Located in New York City, this restaurant is a holiday spectacle. It's nestled in the heart of Gramercy Park. Every year, visitors are captivated by the restaurant's Christmas decorations. The interior is transformed into a festive wonderland. Thousands of twinkling lights, ornaments, and greenery cover every inch of the restaurant. It creates a magical experience. The decor is like a European Christmas market. It complements the delicious German cuisine. Diners can relish their meals surrounded by the warm glow of Christmas lights.
Situated in Raleigh, North Carolina, this beautiful and welcoming restaurant starts decking up for the holidays at the beginning of October. It uses ornaments to cover the entire ceiling, lending the place a bright and merry atmosphere. Like its décor, its menu is equally celebratory as it serves some of the best delicacies during this period. Travelers from all around the country make reservations in advance to enjoy and soak in this restaurant’s stunning holiday transformation.
A warm and welcoming restaurant in Seattle, Washington, Tulio is decorated with white candles that flicker through the dining rooms. Traditional Italian dishes are served during this time, with plenty of options for vegetarian and vegan eaters, making it a good choice for all food lovers. It also decorates its stairs with garlands, lights, and bows, making the ambiance even more magical.
Located in the city of lights, New York’s Central Park, this restaurant is a site for sore eyes during the holiday season. Just outside the place is a giant Christmas tree with ornaments and decorations, while inside the restaurant are a couple of decorated trees covered with lights and small décor pieces in the shape of gingerbreads. They have some mouthwatering dishes that are said to leave everyone’s palette satisfied.
This restaurant is in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and is known better for its farm-to-table fare and live entertainment. It amps up its decoration game during the holiday season and is inspired by the classic “A Christmas Story.” So, if you are looking for photo props, you might also find the leg lamp and flag pole from the movie here during this time.
Grill 23 & Bar is an award-winning steakhouse in Boston. The two floors of dining rooms are decorated with ribbons, wreaths, Christmas trees, and bright lights. Also, the staircase is covered with white lights and red bows that give it the perfect Christmas vibes. The menu during this time has some drool-worthy dishes followed by some of the best-tasting champagne and sparkling wine.
Going all out for the holiday season is one of the traditions of this restaurant located in Santa Barbara, California. Its unique decorations include a golden Santa near the doorway, vintage pieces of antique nutcrackers, a Christmas tree, etc. The bar area in the restaurant is decorated with red bows, golden balls, sparkles, and white lights. It has also won a coveted holiday décor contest for its beautiful and cozy décor.
This restaurant and bar in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, leaves no square inch of space for decorations. Everywhere your eyes can reach, you will see boughs of green drape from the ceilings and walls. Lights, ornaments, garlands, etc., fill up the booth and banquette. The Christmas theme of red, green, and white color adorns the restaurant, with a special holiday menu for drinks and milkshakes served in holiday-shaped ornaments with seasonal specials.
Located in Miami, Florida, which witnesses a warmer Christmas than most other places in the US, this restaurant is a place for Floridians looking for a winter wonderland escape. The tapas-style menu is excellent for the holiday feast, and the décor at this wood and brick expanse is a mix of garlands, Christmas ornaments, and lights that resonate with the North Pole in the South.
When it comes to holiday spirit and joy, these restaurants raise the bar! They give a memorable Christmas experience, an enchanted festive vibe, and a great atmosphere to be with your loved ones!
Food, drink, and a festive vibe are all we want for Christmas. As a restaurant owner, you must realize that the holiday season is an excellent opportunity to make sure your customers have a good experience. To provide a unique and magical setting for celebrating the most beautiful time of the year, you could use a flexible and easy-to-use solution that helps you handle the busy holiday crowd while making your diners happy.
A modern restaurant POS system, like OneHubPOS, can help you manage all your sales and restaurant operations in one place. It is an affordable, user-friendly, and feature-rich software that can help you manage the festive rush better and make this Christmas season a success for your restaurant.
Federal law allows including only employees who customarily and regularly receive tips. This typically excludes back-of-house staff like cooks and dishwashers. However, some states might have different regulations.
Tips are typically collected throughout the day and pooled at the end of the shift. The pool is then distributed among eligible employees based on the chosen method.
In some states with allowed tip credits, employers can take a portion of the minimum wage based on tips received by employees. This essentially allows employers to pay tipped employees a lower base wage.
Non-compliance can lead to fines and penalties from the Department of Labor, wage-and-hour lawsuits from employees, and employee morale issues.
Tip sharing is voluntary. An employee might choose to share some of their own tips with colleagues. Tip pooling is a mandatory system where all tips are collected and then distributed among eligible employees based on a predetermined method.
No, managers and supervisors cannot participate in the tip pool.
There are no standard percentages by law. However, 15-20% is a common tipping range for good service in the USA. Tip pooling eliminates the need for individual tip calculations.
Tip pooling can be beneficial for restaurants of all sizes. It can foster teamwork, ensure everyone benefits from good service, and simplify tip distribution.
Yes, tip pooling is legal under federal law (FLSA) with some key restrictions. However, some states might have additional regulations. Always check your state's Department of Labor website to ensure compliance.
Pricing is a balancing act! You need to cover your costs (including the food cost per portion) while offering a price point that feels valuable to your customers. Consider factors like competition, target audience, and the overall dining experience you create.
Food cost calculators are great for initial estimates, but consider restaurant management software for ongoing success. This software tracks inventory, automates cost calculations, and generates reports to identify cost-saving opportunities.
Absolutely! Many online food cost calculators can handle various cuisines. Look for tools that consider ingredient types, portion sizes, and even regional pricing variations.
Consider your food cost percentage your restaurant's financial fitness tracker. It's the total cost of recipe ingredients divided by your total menu sales. Ideally, calculate this regularly, like weekly or bi-weekly, to monitor profitability and adjust pricing or portions as needed.
The standard costing model is like a recipe for consistent pricing. It uses historical data and market trends to predict ingredient costs, allowing you to budget, purchase, and maintain profit margins even when prices fluctuate.
Food cost per portion is the actual cost of creating a single serving of a dish. It considers all ingredients, including spices, garnishes, and even waste! This number helps you understand your profitability and set menu prices effectively.