Here's a list of eateries that can help with your holiday meal preparations

Finding a restaurant serving a holiday meal on Christmas Day in Springfield could prove as big a challenge as Mary and Joseph experienced searching for an inn.

But that doesn’t mean the holiday has to be spent laboring in the kitchen. Here are a handful of local establishments offering special holiday meals on and leading up to Dec. 25, as well as a plethora of options for heat-and-serve dinners and other holiday delights to complete a yuletide spread.

There is a free meal

SGT. PEPPER’S CAFE is open Christmas Day for its regular free holiday meal.

Ziyad and Souad Samara – owners of Sgt. Pepper’s Cafe – are again inviting the public to spend the holiday meal with them at the 3141 Baker Drive cafe.

The meal from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. includes turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, a vegetable, bread, and dessert.

The Samaras have served the free holiday meal since 2001.

Interfaith breakfast

The 18th Annual INTERFAITH HOLIDAY BREAKFAST will be served at Temple B’rith Sholom Christmas Day from 8:30 a.m. to noon with all proceeds going to the St. Martin de Porres center.

Breakfast selections are scrambled eggs, pancakes, turkey sausage, assorted pastries, fruit, orange juice and coffee. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children age 5 to 13. Kids four and younger eat for free.

The Temple B’rith Sholom and Temple Israel are jointly hosting the event that will take place at Temple B’rith Sholom located at 1008 S. Fourth St.

Special entrees served

The CHATHAM CAFE is open Christmas Day serving up three special entrees.

Christmas dinner specials include prime rib ($27.99), baked ham with sweet potatoes ($14.99) and a half slab of barbecue ribs with shrimp ($17.99). The featured dinners come with a choice of potato, soup or salad, vegetable and dessert.

The cafe will be open Christmas Day from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Selections from the regular menu also will be available.

The Chatham Cafe is at 414 N. Main St. in Chatham.

Family-style dinner

The SPRINGFIELD CARRIAGE CO. is serving a Christmas Eve family-style dinner from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 24.

The meal features ham and turkey, traditional side dishes, and a roll. Dessert selections include holiday pies, a chocolate three-layer cake, cheesecake, and Christmas cookies.

Cost is $19.99 for adults, $14.99 for children ages 11 and younger.

Reservations are required. Call (217) 572-1457 to reserve a seat. The Springfield Carriage Co. is at 724 E. Edwards St.

Menu features taste of Italy

An Italian holiday-tasting dinner is on the menu at LUMINARY KITCHEN & PROVISIONS Dec. 23.

The menu features an antipasto platter, creamy Tuscan sausage gnocchi soup, cacio e pepe focaccia, fried calamari, beef braciole, pumpkin and ricotta-filled giant shells and, for dessert, a flourless chocolate cake with tiramisu gelato. Gluten-free options are available upon request.

Cost is $48 a person.

The 3121 Hedley Road eatery is taking reservations for the dinner by phone at (217) 679-1819 or email theluminarychefs@gmail.com.

Family meals available

CRACKER BARREL will be closed Christmas Day but that doesn’t mean the chain’s signature flavors will be absent from festivities.

All of the Tennessee-based chain’s locations will be closed Christmas Day, including the local stores at 5975 S. Sixth St. in Springfield and in Lincoln. The chain closes its branches early at 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

Cracker Barrel has a variety of heat-and-serve meals featuring sugar-cured ham or prime rib, holiday pies,` and pans of the chain’s signature side dishes to complement a holiday feast.

The heat-and-serve ham packages come in two sizes. The family dinner serves 4 to 6, while the feast package serves 8 to 10.

The family meal comes with a sugar-cured ham, cornbread dressing and gravy, cranberry relish, macaroni and cheese, choice of a side dish, and yeast rolls for $114.99.

The feast package adds a second side dish and two whole pies (apple streusel and pecan) for $164.99.

The prime rib heat-and-serve family dinner is available for $134.99. The meal includes prime rib with au jus and horseradish, mashed potatoes and gravy, choice of two side dishes, and rolls.

Just need the meat? Order a heat-and-serve spiral sliced, sugar-cured ham for $69.99, a smokehouse ham for $79.99, or the prime rib for $104.99.

Holiday pie selections are apple streusel, cinnamon roll, pecan, chocolate pecan and pumpkin. Cost is $12.99. Side selections range from fried apples to a loaded hashbrown casserole, macaroni and cheese to a French toast bake ranging in price from $15.99 to $30.99. Preorder on the Cracker Barrel website, www.crackerbarrel.com, for pickups Dec. 21 through 28.

Pack a meal to-go

The GOLDEN CORRAL BUFFET & GRILL in Springfield is closed Christmas Day but the business is packaging holiday meals to-go this year.

The to-go packages are available with a choice of roasted turkey or glazed ham for $109.99 or roast beef for $119.99. All meals come with mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, choice of one side dish, yeast rolls with honey butter, and a whole pie. Packages feed 6 to 8 people.

Other favorites from Golden Corral’s regular buffet can be added to the order a la carte with prices ranging from $2.19 for a piece of fried chicken to $6.99 for a pound of sweet potato casserole.

Dessert selections include apple, pecan, or pumpkin pies for $8.99 and carrot or chocolate cake for $11.99.

To-go orders are available ready-to-eat or heat-and-serve. Orders can be placed online at www.goldencorral.com. Pick up at 1028 Lejune Drive by Dec. 24 before 4 p.m.

Brisket is on the heat-and-serve menu

Here’s a holiday meal straight from MIMI’S KITCHEN.

The Divernon-based restaurant is preparing a heat-and-serve holiday meal complete with brisket and/or applewood-smoked spiral ham, southern-style green beans, roasted potatoes and carrots, salad, and roll.

The meal feeds 10 to 12 and comes with the option of one meat for $149 or both meat selections for $195.

Other offerings include a charcuterie board with assorted meats and cheese for $85 or an assorted holiday cookie tray featuring six dozen cookies for $40.

Call (217) 705-4573 to place orders, which are due Dec. 17. Pick up available from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 24.

Buy the favorites by the bulk

CAFE MOXO, 411 E. Adams St., has bulk soups, pot pies and baked goods.

Selections include unbaked chicken pot pies ($9.25 for an individual, $38 for a family pan), soup by the quart with three biscuits for $13, choice of bacon cheddar biscuits or rosemary cheddar biscuits for $1.50 each, deviled eggs for $1.25 each and cookies for $2.10 each.

Soup choices are tomato-basil bisque, chicken soup with hand-rolled noodles, and Fall Over Soup − a blend of sausage, sweet potato and pear. Cookie selections include chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal-cranberry, double chocolate sea salt, and brean − a blend with chocolate chips, coconut, oatmeal, raisins, and walnuts. Orders are due by 3 p.m. Dec. 23. Call (217) 788-8084 or online at www.cafemoxo.com. Pick up available anytime during normal operating hours on Dec. 23 between 6:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Holiday charcuterie boards to-go

CURATE is crafting sweet and savory charcuterie boards to-go for holiday fetes this season.

The holiday charcuterie board features an assortment of Italian meats including prosciutto and soppressata and cheeses such as manchego and smoked Gouda. The spread also includes house pickles and mustard blend, fig jam, giardiniera, crostini, mixed nuts, truffle honey and butter, and wheat crackers.

Cost is $50.

The holiday dessert charcuterie board contains chocolate truffles, horchata chocolate bites, pomegranate chocolate, white and dark chocolate-covered pretzels, chocolate almonds, a blackberry compote, caramel, biscotti and pirouette sticks and pizzelle.

Cost is $30.

Both spreads come on a black wooden tray and serve 4 to 6 adults. Place orders by calling the 2930 Plaza Drive restaurant at (217) 679-3554.

Order an assortment

INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS has a large selection of sweet and savory baked goods to help round out your yuletide nosh.

Holiday cakes range from gingerbread-hot cocoa to chocolate peppermint, red velvet to coconut snowball. The eight-inch layer cakes cost between $45 to $57.36. Buche de Noel – holiday roll cakes – are available in vanilla raspberry, black forest, and gingerbread. Cost is $42 for a small, $59.95 for a large.

Flourless chocolate cakes are available in two sizes: small ($28.50) and large ($48.50). And cheesecakes are available in two flavors: espresso ganache or peppermint for $52.50.

Ten varieties of tarts and tortes – ranging from the top seller apple-blueberry-cherry to pear-almond frangipane – cost anywhere from $46.50 to $53.95.

Boxed specials offer an assortment of favorites. The cake, tart, and dessert boxes are available for $42 while the brunch box is $20.

Holiday macaron flavors featured include candy cane, gingerbread, Astec hot chocolate, chestnut praline, coconut snowball, and Christmas cookie. Cost is $15 for a half dozen, $30 for a dozen.

Other options: artisanal breads and croissants, baked goods, holiday cookies, and DIY kits for gingerbread men, iced sugar cookies, and a hot cocoa station.

Chicken salad is sold by the quart or pint and whole quiches are available in sausage and cheddar, spinach-roasted red pepper-goat cheese and quiche Lorraine.

The deadline to place orders is Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. Selections can be picked up on Dec. 23 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the bakery at 925 S. Seventh St. Orders should be placed online only at www.incrediblydelicious.com. A direct link to the order site is under the Christmas Eve tab. Customers can call (217) 528-8548 for assistance.

Chocolate-themed centerpieces

PEASE’S AT BUNN GOURMET has your holiday sweet tooth covered whether looking for stocking stuffers or a chocolate-themed centerpiece for your Christmas spread.

The Gables confectionary is taking orders for whole cakes through Dec. 20.

Selections include a four-layer hot chocolate cake with marshmallow filling for $46.99 or cheesecake in choice of gingerbread or cocoa-peppermint for $52.99. Frosted gingerbread cookies are available for $3.49 each.

A 12-inch chocolate Santa also is available for pre-orders. This hollow Santa serves double duty as a centerpiece and dessert and comes in milk or dark chocolate for $32.99.

Call (217) 793-1840 to place orders for pick up at 2941 Plaza Drive.

Smaller chocolate selections in stock include an 8-piece box of chocolate snowmen filled with housemade caramel sauce ($19.99) and a 3-piece box of chocolate-enrobed Oreos decorated for the holidays ($7.59).

Take and bake cinnamon rolls

THREE TWIGS & CO. isn’t taking advance holiday orders this year, but the bakery cases will be stocked with holiday pies, assorted cookies, and take-and-bake cinnamon rolls Dec. 15-24.

The cafe and bakery at 2661 Chatham Road will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. throughout the week to give customers a chance to stock up on holiday goodies. The business is closed Christmas Eve and Day.

Stocked selections include an assortment of fruit and cream pies ($34-$38), assorted holiday cookies ($12-21 for a half dozen), and frozen cinnamon rolls ($10/dozen).

Cookie and candy trays

The APPLE BARN in Chatham is taking orders for cookie and candy trays for holiday festivities.

Assorted cookie and candy trays come in three sizes: small for $27, medium for $47 and large for $67.

Or opt for a bulk candy order. Selections include peppermint bark ($5.50 for 5 ounces), buckeyes or pecan clusters ($7 for 7 ounces), or peanut brittle ($14.95 for 12 ounces).

All items are in stock at the Chatham store, but 48-hours advance notice is suggested for large orders. Call (217) 483-6236.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Here's where you can buy holiday meals and treats in Springfield