If cooking on December 25 sounds stressful, consider a Maryland favorite that handles every comforting detail. These restaurants have built loyal followings for Christmas Day menus that feel festive, dependable, and delicious. You get the sparkle of the season without the cleanup, plus menus that welcome picky kids and discerning grandparents alike. Read on to find trusted spots from the bay to the mountains, with a few creative twists to keep traditions fresh.
Chart House Prime — Annapolis
Perched on Spa Creek with twinkling reflections on the water, Chart House Prime makes Christmas feel like a postcard. You smell butter and rosemary as servers glide past with crab-studded appetizers and prime cuts, while windows frame bobbing masts. It is upscale but welcoming, the kind of place where your kids stare at yachts and you sneak another spoon of velvety chowder.
The holiday menu leans classic, with prime rib carved to your preferred blush and a decadent lobster tail option that tastes like celebration. Maryland crab cakes arrive crisp at the edges, lemony and proud of their lump meat. Sides stay familiar, from creamy mashed potatoes to garlicky green beans, so everyone at the table finds comfort.
Save space for the hot chocolate lava cake or a peppermint cheesecake slice that hits merry without being cloying. Service stays attentive even on the busiest day, refilling cocoa and wine with a smile. You step back into the harbor air, cheeks warm, carrying that just-right holiday glow.
Blackwall Hitch — Annapolis
Blackwall Hitch brings a nautically chic vibe to Christmas Day, with wreaths on shiplap and soft guitar covers of carols. You settle into tufted booths, sharing a skillet of bubbling crab dip while kids pick at warm pretzels. The space feels lively, like a harbor party that remembered to invite grandma.
Expect a flexible holiday lineup: Chesapeake rockfish with lemon-caper sauce, herb-rubbed prime rib, and a vegetarian roasted squash entrée that does not feel like an afterthought. Sides skew Maryland-comfort, from Old Bay dusted fries to maple carrots. The bar crafts cinnamon old fashioneds that whisper winter without overpowering dinner.
Dessert might be sticky toffee pudding or a gingerbread-spiced crème brûlée that cracks perfectly. Staff pace courses kindly, knowing you are juggling presents, naps, and family stories. When you leave, the night air off Ego Alley feels crisp and celebratory, like you borrowed Annapolis charm for your own tradition.
STARS Restaurant — St. Michaels
At STARS, the Inn at Perry Cabin wraps Christmas in coastal elegance, the kind that makes you sit straighter without feeling stiff. A fireplace glows while servers present oyster starters chilled on seaweed and steaming cups of crab soup. You listen to quiet conversation hum like a carol.
The prix fixe often features maple glazed duck with crisped skin, or filet with a glossy red wine reduction that tastes like holidays remembered. Veg-forward plates shine too, with roasted root vegetables and citrus dressed winter greens. Bread service is a ritual, warm rolls tearing into clouds as butter melts instantly.
Desserts bring drama: petit bûches, sticky pears, perhaps a dark chocolate tart kissed with sea salt. Service feels old-school gracious, the kind that notices when your tea cools. Walking back through St. Michaels, you catch briny air and boat masts clicking, and you realize this quiet, polished meal tucked a gentle bow on the day.
32 Palm — Ocean City
32 Palm lets you keep beach energy alive on Christmas Day, with palms wearing ornaments and windows catching Atlantic twilight. You arrive in sweaters and sand friendly shoes, greeted by aromas of searing steak and broiled crab cakes. The tone is relaxed, perfect for multi generational groups.
The menu usually balances hearty holiday favorites with coastal twists. Think prime rib with horseradish cream beside macadamia crusted fish and a citrus bright salad. Kids get straightforward options, while grownups steal bites of coconut sweet potatoes and garlicky haricots verts.
Dessert leans fun: key lime pie with a peppermint ribbon, or warm bread pudding studded with rum raisins. Service keeps things moving without rush, mindful that families sometimes dine between beach walks and board games. When you step back outside, the ocean air feels like a reset button, and the day suddenly seems longer, softer, and deliciously salty.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House — Annapolis
Ruth’s Chris in Annapolis does Christmas with that unmistakable sizzle arriving on 500 degree plates. You hear it before you taste it, a promise of butter and char that perks up the table. Families return for predictability done exceptionally well.
Filets, ribeyes, and New York strips anchor the day, joined by a holiday prime rib that slices like warm butter. Sides are the comfort chorus: creamed spinach, garlic mashed potatoes, and sweet potato casserole crowned with pecan crunch. A simple wedge salad, cold and crisp, keeps everything balanced.
For dessert, the bread pudding with whiskey sauce steals the finale, though a chocolate sin cake whispers your name too. Service is polished and patient, topping glasses without intruding on gift talk. You leave feeling restored by ritual, the reliable joy of a steakhouse that understands families want both celebration and certainty.
Eddie’s of Roland Park — Baltimore
Eddie’s is not a sit down spot, but it might be the most trusted Christmas Day solution in Baltimore. You pre order a full feast, swing by for pickup, and turn your home into the coziest restaurant. The ham dinner smells like smoky tradition the second it hits your car.
Expect butternut squash bisque, mac and cheese with golden edges, and crisp tender green beans ready to reheat. Add crab cakes for a Maryland flourish and a bakery pie that tastes handmade, because it is. Instructions are clear, timing is thoughtful, and portions generously feed surprise guests.
This is the play when pajamas and board games are non negotiable. You plate, light a candle, and everyone thinks you pulled off holiday magic without stress. Eddie’s gives you chef level flavors with zero dining out logistics, and that can be the merriest gift of all.
The Prime Rib — Baltimore
The Prime Rib feels like a holiday movie set, all low lamps, tuxedoed servers, and a gentle jazz soundtrack. Christmas Day here means ceremony, from the carving cart to silver gravy boats. You settle into a leather banquette and the world outside softens.
Order the namesake cut, rosy and richly marbled, alongside Yorkshire pudding that puffs like a cloud. Creamed spinach and au gratin potatoes defend their classic status with each bite. If someone wants seafood, a chilled shrimp cocktail and crab cocktail keep Maryland pride on the table.
Dessert is often a towering slice of chocolate cake or a seasonal cheesecake with a hint of nutmeg. Service timing is impeccable, letting conversation flow naturally. Leaving with leftover rolls and a container of jus, you feel like you borrowed some old school Baltimore glamour for your family tradition.
The Oceanaire Seafood Room — Baltimore (Harbor East)
Oceanaire turns Christmas into a seafood celebration, the raw bar shimmering on ice like ornaments. You start with oysters or a crab cake that is mostly sweet lump, barely bound. The dining room hums, polished but not precious, with city views sparkling through tall windows.
Entrées might include seared scallops with browned butter, baked cod with herb crumbs, or a butter poached lobster tail that feels like a present. Sides keep pace: truffled mashed potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon, and bright citrus slaw. A chilled sauvignon blanc or a citrusy mocktail fits the mood.
Dessert often nods to nostalgia, perhaps a key lime pie or a peppermint panna cotta. Staff guide seafood shy diners gently, making sure everyone finds a favorite. You leave tasting salt and citrus on your lips, carrying a little Harbor East sparkle into the night.
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks — Baltimore
McCormick & Schmick’s at the harbor leans into festive waterfront energy, ideal for big family tables. You can keep it classic with cedar plank salmon or go celebratory with steak and lobster. The staff navigates groups with ease, refilling kids’ lemonades and parents’ pinot without missing a beat.
The holiday offerings usually include creamy clam chowder, Maryland crab soup, and a reliable prime rib with au jus. Sides arrive family style if you ask, so everyone steals a forkful of garlic mash and sautéed green beans. Gluten free and pescatarian needs are handled smoothly.
For dessert, a seasonal cheesecake and a warm apple crisp battle for attention. After dinner, a quick harbor stroll seals the memory with twinkling lights and chilly air. It feels like Baltimore threw you a party and made cleanup someone else’s problem.
Magdalena, A Maryland Bistro — Baltimore (Mount Vernon)
Magdalena delivers a chef driven Christmas that still feels comforting. The room glows with candlelight as plates arrive like small works of art, rooted in Chesapeake flavors. You sip something botanical and notice the bread service is worth slow attention.
Expect duck with crackling skin, or a tender beef option with marrow rich sauce, alongside a delicate crab starter. Vegetables get equal billing, from roasted sunchokes to cider glazed carrots. Sauces sing quietly, the kind you want to swipe with your last bite of bread.
Desserts are thoughtful without being fussy: perhaps a spiced pot de crème or an apple galette with cheddar ice cream. Service feels intuitive, stepping in right when you are ready. You leave Mount Vernon feeling like you experienced tradition recast through a modern, Maryland lens.
The Wine Kitchen on the Creek — Frederick
In Frederick, The Wine Kitchen crafts a Christmas Day that suits adventurous eaters and traditionalists at one table. The creekside setting twinkles while a curated by the glass list lets you pair each course playfully. You might start with smoked trout dip or a bright beet salad that tastes like winter sunshine.
Mains could include red wine braised short rib shredding at a nudge, or pan seared trout with herby butter. Vegetarians are happy with mushroom packed risotto that feels indulgent, not second place. Sides lean seasonal, from roasted squash to Brussels with balsamic.
Desserts land confidently: flourless chocolate cake or a spiced panna cotta with cranberry. Staff talk wine in friendly terms, happy to pour half glasses for sampling. You step out to Carroll Creek, cheeks flushed, feeling like you celebrated with flavor and intention.
Dutch’s Daughter — Frederick
Dutch’s Daughter is Frederick’s answer to the question where do families go when they want tradition. The manor style rooms glow with fireplaces and garland, and tables fill with generations greeting servers by name. It feels like the holidays in capital letters, in the best way.
The menu highlights award winning crab cakes with minimal filler, plus a stately prime rib with rich jus. Sides are unapologetically classic: baked potato, buttered corn, and a creamy cole slaw that crunches. There is usually a kid friendly path and a gluten free plan that keeps stress low.
Dessert leans homey, from carrot cake to warm brownie sundaes that end debates at the table. Service stays calm even when the dining rooms hum. You leave with leftovers and the sense that next year’s reservation should be made sooner than later.