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Christmas Dinner to Go: Oak Park and the Western Suburbs (Updated 2024)

Written by Admin | Dec 11, 2024 10:16:21 PM

You’ve decked the halls; now skip all the mealtime stress by letting the professionals handle all the festive dishes for your family’s celebration. Whether hosting a crowd, planning an intimate holiday for two, or leaving it all behind and dining out over the holidays, Oak Park and nearby suburbs offer a variety of options that let you focus on the joy — not the roast.

 

Check out our list of the best to-go Christmas meals and dining-in specials near Oak Park and celebrate the season with ease. 

 

But don’t wait too long to decide! If you’re ordering in, many preorders are due soon. 

 

Oak Park

 

Blackout Baking Co. |  210 South Marion Street, Oak Park 

 

Make your holiday season sweeter with Blackout Baking Co.'s festive Holiday Collection! From their indulgent triple chocolate hot cocoa mix to handcrafted marshmallows, every bite and sip feels like a cozy Christmas morning. Build memories with a mini gingerbread house kit or dive into their holiday cookie box, featuring peppermint cookies and holiday sprinkle sugar cookies that are as festive as they are delicious. Explore their curated holiday gift boxes for the ultimate gift, like the chocolate lover's gift box or coffee lover's gift box. Use the code FREESHIP100 for free shipping on orders over $100! 

 

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Broken Tart | 1108 Chicago Avenue, Oak Park

 

This holiday season, Broken Tart is pulling out all the stops with a menu as festive as it is delicious. Indulge in their rich vanilla bean cheesecake or decadent chocolate cake, perfect for any Christmas dessert table. Craving something nostalgic? Their gingerbread creme-filled cookies are pure holiday magic. And for the savory lovers, their festive cheese board is the ultimate crowd-pleaser. Whether you're hosting or gifting, Broken Tart’s holiday goodies will sweeten the season! 

 

The last day to order is December 18! 

 

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Q-BBQ | 124 North Marion Street, Oak Park 

 

Let Q-BBQ bring the heat to your table this holiday season with their mouthwatering to-go menu. From whole or half-smoked prime rib paired with Alabama white sauce and au jus to indulgent smoked mashed potatoes with brisket gravy, Q-BBQ has the perfect lineup to satisfy every craving. Choose from complete meal packages or à la carte options to customize your feast.

Place your order by December 18 for pick-up on December 24 or 31.

 

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Taco Mucho | 220 Harrison Street, Oak Park

 

Looking to spice up your Christmas Eve? Taco Mucho has you covered with homemade tamales, perfect for a festive holiday feast! Choose from red pork tamales or green chicken tamales, all lovingly handmade and bursting with flavor. At just $25 per dozen, they’re a delicious and affordable way to add warmth and tradition to your holiday table.

 

Pickup is on Christmas Eve, but hurry — these tamales are a hot item and sell out quickly! Visit tacomucho.net to place your order and secure your order for this special holiday treat. 

 

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Spilt Milk Pastry |  811 South Boulevard, Oak Park 

 

Spilt Milk is your go-to spot this holiday season for pies, pastries, and all the festive baked goods your guests could ask for. Every bite feels like a gift from the chocolate peppermint pie (aka "Candy Cane Pie") topped with candy cane bits to the rich pumpkin cheesecake in a gingersnap crust. Their caramel apple cider pie, heirloom apple pie, and cranberry Dutch custard pie are perfect for sharing — or keeping all to yourself.

Don’t stop at pies — Spilt Milk offers holiday cookie boxes, gingerbread loaves, bake-at-home buttermilk biscuits, quiches, and even fresh vanilla whipped cream to top every tasty slice. And for a cozy Christmas morning, grab a pound of their Spilt Milk Blend coffee.

Pick up your holiday goodies December 22-23 or during its Christmas Eve hours (8:00 am to 11:00 am). Make this Christmas the sweetest one yet!

 

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Brookfield 

 

Beach Avenue BBQ | 3453 Grand Boulevard, Brookfield

 

Nothing brings families together like barbeque. Let Beach Avenue BBQ do all the cooking so you can really enjoy that time together. Start with your meat; choose a smoked prime rib (64 oz), bone-in leg of lamb (5 lb), bone-in ham (4-5 lb), or smoked brisket (10 lb), then add sides including mac & cheese, garlic red-skinned mashed potatoes, Brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce, and Boudin stuffing made with pork and rice. Add a smoky pecan pie or bourbon bread pudding for dessert, and you’ll have the perfect Southern-style Christmas dinner. Place your order before 10:00 am on Friday, December 20, and pick up your meal on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24, at 4:00 pm, and on Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25, at 12:00 noon. 

 

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Mary’s Morning Mixup | 9110 Broadway Avenue, Brookfield

 

Heading to friends or family for the holidays? Bring a dessert, and you’ll definitely be on the guest list again next year! Pick up one of Mary’s Morning Mixup’s seasonal pies, cookie trays, or mini pastry trays. Stop by for an order form or call the restaurant at 708-387-0552 to order ahead. 

 

Forest Park

 

Charlie’s Restaurant | 7427 Roosevelt Road, Forest Park

 

Proudly serving breakfast and lunch 365 days a year, Charlie’s welcomes you, on your own or with your posse, on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day with eggs any style, skillets, benedicts, hot sandwiches, burgers, melts and clubs, along with housemade soups and cocktails that will warm you from the inside out.

 

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Shanahan's Louisiana Creole Kitchen | 7353 Madison Street, Forest Park

 

Take a break on Christmas Eve — Shanahan’s is offering their popular weekend Creole brunch menu, including  Voodoo Crab and Grits, Pan Perdu, and Crab Mornay Omelette, along with Crepes Pontchartrain served with shrimp sauteed in white wine, Creole alfredo sauce, and green onions, on Tuesday, December 24.

 

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Starship Restaurant and Catering |  7618 Madison Street, Forest Park

 

Best known for mouthwatering subs, hot sandwiches, and more than 150 comforting homemade soups, Starship Restaurant can provide a buffet spread for your holiday open house or stock your freezer with everything you need for a house full of guests.

 

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La Grange

 

Blackberry Market | 36 South La Grange Road, La Grange 

 

Relax and let Blackberry Market in La Grange prepare a dazzling holiday spread for your gathering this year. Order Beef Bourguignon or an assortment of sides like the Blackberry Market Salad, roasted brussels, and bacon-wrapped dates filled with goat cheese. Add a cinnamon roll round ready to heat and serve on Christmas morning, a bacon cheddar quiche, and even a custom cocktail mix to make your holiday memorable. Order by Saturday, December 21 at 8:00 pm for pick up or delivery on Monday, December 23.

 

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GP Italiano | 1 LaGrange Road, La Grange

 

Effortlessly host Festa dei Sette Pesci, the Feast of the Seven Fishes, on Christmas Eve, with an array excellent seafood, including wood-roasted octopus, clams, shrimp, and lobster with garlic butter and lemon, plus fruitti di mare in a rich tomato broth and scallops and crab risotto, along with a Caesar salad and a decadent peppermint ganache tart your family will devour. Add beef tenderloin for the meat eaters in your crowd. 


Order a GP Italiano Christmas Eve family meal by Saturday, December 21; call 708-582-6536.

 

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Steak + Vine | 37 La Grange Road, La Grange

 

Reserve your table now for a special Christmas Eve dinner at Steak + Vine. Start with baked French onion soup topped with provolone and smoked gouda or garlicky Shrimp George and a Caesar Salad followed by braised short ribs, a 14 oz New York Strip, or steak frites paired with a selection from their extensive wine list or over 200 whiskeys. 

 

Book your table from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at  Steak + Vine or call 708-579-0520 to make a reservation.

 

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The Bellbird Bakeshop | 15 West Harris Avenue, La Grange

 

Erik and Maree Hecimovich, the husband-and-wife owners behind The Bellbird Bakeshop, share a passion for baked goods and want to make your holidays extra special. Pick up a mocha praline or a bright yuzu raspberry buche de noel (yule log), a loaf of artisanal blue masa or country sourdough, or a half-dozen spiced brioche cinnamon rolls — perfect to re-heat and frost on Christmas morning. 

 

Order now for pick-up on Tuesday, December 24, between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm.

 

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La Grange Park

 

Happier Now Café & Market | 1016 E 31st Street, La Grange Park 

 

Leave the appetizers and sides to Happier Now Café & Market. Choose mushrooms stuffed with brie and seasoned bread crumbs, fancy crudités with green goddess dip, or a marinated vegetables and cheese plate to set the tone for your celebration. Hanukkah favorites are also available, including potato pancakes, matzo ball soup, caramelized onion and potato knish, and chicken liver mousse. The market also offers a carefully curated selection of coffees, teas, wines, craft beers, and logoed merchandise that your hostess will appreciate. 

Call the store at 708-937-9027 or visit Toast to order. 

 

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Riverside

 

La Barra | 2 E Burlington St, Riverside, IL 60546

 

Make Christmas Eve unforgettable with catering from La Barra! Whether you’re looking for a full dinner package featuring honey-glazed ham, prime rib, or roasted turkey, or prefer to customize your meal with à la carte mains and sides, they've got you covered. Want to skip the hassle of hosting? Join them for dinner instead—they're open on Christmas Eve from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., with last seating at 7:30 pm.

 

Take the stress out of holiday cooking and let La Barra handle the feast so you can focus on making memories. To place your order, contact the restaurant via email at ceasar@labarrariverside.com or call (708) 887-7700.

 

Don’t wait—orders must be placed by December 20th!

 

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The Chew Chew | 33 East Burlington Street, Riverside


Savor a stress-free holiday with The Chew Chew, where you can pick up fully cooked and ready-to-serve bacon-wrapped dates, Maryland-style crab cakes, baked goat cheese with tomato confit, filet mignon, grilled salmon, macadamia nut chicken, and more, plus all the sides including mashed potatoes, roasted asparagus, green beans with caramelized onions, and Chew Chew Bread with herb butter. Pick up a carrot cake, chocolate layer cake, or apple bread pudding with bourbon creme and candied pecans for dessert. Pre-order by Thursday, December 19, for pick-up on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at Sawmilly or from 4:00 to 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm to 8:30 pm at Chew Chew.

 

The Chew Chew’s full menu is available for dine-in or carry-out on New Year’s Eve. Reservations and pick-up times are available from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

 

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Schiller Park

 

The Great Escape | 9540 West Irving Park Road, Schiller Park

 

A local favorite since it was reimagined in 1981, The Great Escape, initially built in 1889, has a rich history as a general store, milk depot, post office, gas station, barber shop, pool hall, and speakeasy. In the 1920s, Al Capone, who sold the place its booze, often did business at the bar while associates kept an eye on the door. Step into history in a dining place that has seen it all and pick up party trays for Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve — choose from a variety of pasta, BBQ ribs by the slab, sausage & peppers, lemon chicken, polish sausage & sauerkraut, baked ham with pineapple sauce, and more. 

 

Call The Great Escape at 847-671-7171 to place an order for your holiday celebration.

 

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Focus on Family and Friends this Holiday Season

 

You can savor every festive bite and enjoy the celebration (without lifting a finger!) by pre-ordering holiday classics or dining in at these local favorites this year.