Click here for holiday dining in Iowa 2023.
Whether you’re in search of Christmas catering for a festive feast or a brunch brimming with classic comfort foods, Christmas dining in Iowa can make the holidays less hectic and more merry.
Maxwell’s On The River
Muscatine
Bask in sweeping Mississippi River views while enjoying your Iowa Christmas dining experience at Maxwell’s On The River. This must-try new classic American restaurant will be keeping its doors open to let in all of the holiday spirit. The regular menu will be available on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. In addition, if you want to dedicate more time to spending with friends and loved ones at home without the stress in the kitchen, you can rely on Maxwell’s Christmas to-go package. This perfect package centers around your choice of herb-roasted prime rib, applewood-smoked ham or herb-crusted turkey breast, plus a delicious assortment of salads, sides and vegetables to bring it all together. But don’t forget to add on a sweet assortment of desserts to enjoy all evening. For more information, visit themerrill.com.
SnowGlobe DSM
Des Moines
Sometimes, seeing is believing. In case you haven’t already visited, SnowGlobe DSM is a one-of-a-kind Christmas pop-up bar and brunch experience created by Exile Brewery in cozy Downtown Des Moines. Since its inception, SnowGlobe DSM has been a holly jolly hit. With more than a mile of Christmas lights and an abundance of holiday decor, there’s no better place to make merry memories and take the best festive photos. Thanks to the expansive beer hall, massive menu and, of course, the snowglobes, SnowGlobeDSM makes Christmas dining in Iowa sweet and simple. There’s nothing like a brunch brimming with peach cobbler French toast, avocado toast and cinnamon sugar doughnuts. Better yet, dining in the evening promises plenty of sweet chili shrimp tacos, parmesan truffle fries and savory sandwiches galore. And since it’s Exile Brewery, you also can’t go wrong with a beer, especially since there’s a special Christmas beer on tap. For more information, visit snowglobedsm.com.
Smokey D’s BBQ
Des Moines
To make your heart as full as your plate, be sure to look into Smokey D’s BBQ for all of your festive feasting needs. With special holiday meats, meal deals and catering bundles, you’ll have no need to worry about driving on snowy roads this Christmas. The holiday meats keep things classic with smoked turkey and maple bourbon-glazed ham. In addition, the meal deals and holiday bundles add even more flavor with mashed potatoes with gravy and buttery dinner rolls, as well as your favorite side choices. Some seriously delicious sides like BBQ beans, green bean casserole and potato salad will have the entire family feeling grateful. But if you already have a big meal in store, Smokey D’s BBQ will also be serving meats by the pound, perfect for incorporating into your holiday dishes, dips and platters when feeding a crowd. For more information, visit smokeydsbbq.com.
Gateway Market
Des Moines
There’s no place like home for the holidays, and thanks to catering from the beloved Gateway Market, you don’t have to leave the comfort of your living room this holiday season. If you’ve been wishing for the perfect breakfast to wake up to on Christmas morning, Gateway Market has you covered with the help of ready-to-warm quiches and baked stratas, as well as mini muffin and pastry platters. Or, if you’re planning on hosting a holiday get-together in the evening, there are also an abundance of appetizers, platters and premade meals on the holiday catering menu. From brown sugar mustard-glazed ham that can be baked to perfection in your own oven to buttermilk mashed potatoes with turkey gravy, the options are endless. And while you’re at it, you may as well get all your goodies at once. Guests can also order take-and-bake pizzas for late-night Christmas Eve snackers and stunning floral centerpieces for the holiday host. For more information, visit gatewaymarket.com.
Kue’d Smokehouse
Waukee
This holiday season, treat yourself to a mouthwatering meal brought straight from the smokers at Kue’d Smokehouse to your own kitchen. Kue’d Smokehouse has absolutely everything you need for a memorable Christmas meal with all of your loved ones. In honor of the holidays, the catering menu will feature smoked holiday prime rib and the famous maple belly pork bits, which might even be better than cookies and milk. As for the savory side dishes, guests can also indulge in sweet potato hash, chive-sour cream mashed potatoes and even sweet rolls with honey-BBQ butter to eat while watching classic Christmas movies by the fireplace. And if it couldn’t get any better, your Iowa Christmas dining experience is complete with a warm pie covered in homemade whipped cream. For more information, visit kuedsmokehouse.com.
Hotel Julien
Dubuque
Tis’ the season for giving, so why not give Hotel Julien the chance to make your holiday dreams come true? If you’re looking for the epitome of Iowa Christmas dining, look no further than this holiday hotspot. A delicious dinner with family on Christmas Eve at Hotel Julien’s stunning restaurant is the best way to embrace the spirit of the season. The meal will wow guests with choices like rack of lamb with saffron risotto and asparagus, smoked duck breast with cherry glaze, creamy mashed potatoes and broccolini or the perfect paella brimming with Spanish chorizo, mussels, scallops, crawfish, roasted red potatoes and sweet peas. And for a festive finale, guests can try out the chocolate mousse with peppermint-dusted chantilly cream or the cinnamon-raisin bread pudding with hot buttered rum caramel. Also, be sure to come back the following morning for a Christmas Day brunch full of shareable starters, breakfast favorites, and delicious seasonal entrées. For more information, visit hoteljuliendubuque.com.
Cyd’s Catering
Johnston
Sometimes the holidays can be so hectic that you just need to kick back, relax and be hosted for once. Let Cyd’s Catering do the cooking, so all you have to do is pick up your party-approved catered meal for a holiday feast like no other. Perfect for gatherings of any size, this year Cyd’s is making things interesting with a Christmas chateaubriand, which is basically the most mouthwatering tenderloin that Iowa has to offer. A tastefully seasoned tray loaded with filet mignon loins cut from the tenderloin will come gorgeously garnished and ready to reheat with pretzel rolls, buttery mashed potatoes and roasted sweet potatoes. On the other hand, you can also make your Iowa Christmas dinner the sweetest one of all with a stunningly sugary seasonal dessert tray. This tempting tray will be the perfect Christmas centerpiece for your table since the cookies resemble colorful Christmas lights. Some of the sweets include almond bark, chocolate-dipped pretzels and, of course, Christmas cookies. For more information, visit cateringbycyd.online.
OPA! Italian & Greek
West Des Moines
Pasta is the perfect present to receive during the holidays. Luckily, OPA! Italian & Greek will be giving the gift of a classic Mediterranean-inspired buffet this Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The buffet begins with plenty of pizza, garlic knots and vegetables. For mains, guests can look forward to creamy shrimp, baked lasagna, steak with mushrooms, chicken piccata and so much more. And of course, there will also be a plethora of delicious desserts to end your Iowa Christmas dining experience on a sweet note. For more information, visit opawdm.com.
Art The Chef
Des Moines
When it comes to Christmas catering, you can’t go wrong with Art The Chef, a local chef-run catering company that specializes in spicing up the dinner table. Even though the classic Christmas dinners are always a hit, sometimes it’s time for something different. This year, bring something new to the table and order off of Art The Chef’s holiday specialty menu. The exciting entrees include smoked turkey legs, smothered oxtails and even a seafood pan overflowing with shrimp, crawfish, corn and potatoes. Also, the main dish can’t be complete without sides of creamy fettuccine alfredo, Cajun corn with potatoes, Southern dirty rice or loaded macaroni and cheese. As for dessert, you’ll be everyone’s favorite host if you serve up a sweet potato or caramel apple pie to top off the festive feast. For more information, visit chefartis.com.