GREENSBORO, N.C. – While more families are staying home this Christmas, restaurants are seeing more take-out orders than dine-in customers. 

What You Need To Know

  • Oakcrest Family Restaurant has served Christmas dinner for 20+ years

  • Owner Sam Helmi will serve at least 300 take-out meals on Christmas, a slight drop compared to previous years

  • Helmi expects more take-out customers than dine-in customers this year

Oakcrest Family Restaurant, located in Greensboro, has been serving holiday meals for more than 20 years. Owner Sam Helmi plans to serve at least 300 take-out orders for families this year.

Thanksgiving was overwhelmingly busy for the restaurant. Helmi implemented a new organizational system to meet the anticipated Christmas demand.

“I start taking orders by number instead of name, just to have an easier system for us and our community,” Helmi says.

The staff at Oakcrest Family Restaurant start preparing their menu three days before Christmas. Helmi recruited family assistance to handle the Christmas rush.

“Because of coronavirus, there’s a limitation of finding people, it’s very hard,” he says.

Oakcrest Family Restaurant offers ham, turkey, prime rib, and lamb shank dinners. All sides and dessert come with each order. Each meal pack serves 10 to 12 people.

According to Helmi, this year’s early take-out requests have dropped compared to previous years, but day-of requests could rebound as well as dine-in customers. Helmi says he knows families may be down-sizing celebrations due to the pandemic.