Looking forward to a cheap Cracker Barrel Christmas dinner? If you’re searching for the restaurant’s holiday hours, you may be disappointed. The popular country-themed restaurant won’t be serving up ham, turkey, side dishes or pumpkin pie on Christmas, but customers will be able to get take-out if you order ahead and pick your holiday dinner up on Christmas Eve.
If you’re stuck on having a Cracker Barrel Christmas, you will have to celebrate a day early. All locations will be open until 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve (December 24). The chain restaurant will not re-open until 6 a.m. on December 26.
Don’t despair if you were planning on eating out on Christmas. There are a number of restaurants open on Thursday including Boston Market, Country Buffet, Buca di Beppo, and McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks.
It’s not the size of the home, it’s the love that’s inside. #Christmas #LetItSnow pic.twitter.com/buxLzhhDeh
— Cracker Barrel (@CrackerBarrel) December 7, 2014
What about Cracker Barrel’s popular “Meals to Go” take-out meals? Get a family meal all ready to heat and eat by calling ahead to place an order for any of the restaurants “Country Sized” meals, including a complete ham dinner for six. Pick the pre-cooked meal up by 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve and keep it refrigerated until Christmas Day.
If you don’t live near a Cracker Barrel restaurant, you can order many meal packages online and they will be shipped to your home. Keep in mind, Christmas shipping deadlines may prevent that Spiral Sliced Country Ham Sampler ($81.25) or Country Breakfast Sampler ($81.50) from arriving in time for the holidays, so pay close attention to the cutoff dates listed on the Cracker Barrel order form.
Does your Christmas Eve dinner menu include ham? http://t.co/UvPJYapj9d pic.twitter.com/B9JqjqDkCn — Cracker Barrel (@CrackerBarrel) December 13, 2014
Cracker Barrel isn’t the only restaurant locking its doors on Christmas. Restaurant News reports that many fast-food chains, including Wendy’s and Taco Bell, and popular sit-down restaurants like Olive Garden and Chili’s will be giving their employees the day off on December 25.
However, fast-food fans can expect to see more than a few McDonald’s open on Thursday. Market Watch reports that many locations started opening on Christmas back in 2012, with many company-operated store averaging as much as $5,500 in sales on the holiday. Proof that sometimes a Big Mac and fries is all Santa really needs after a long night of delivering gifts.
Are you disappointed the Cracker Barrel will be closed on Christmas? Will you cook or find a restaurant that is open on December 25?