01:00 AM EST on Thursday, December 22, 2005

Not all restaurants are closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Here are the places that told Journal food editor Gail Ciampa they'd be open at least one of those dates. Before going, it's wise to call ahead and make sure there will be a spot for you.

PROVIDENCE Aquaviva Restaurant & Tapas Bar, 286 Atwells Ave., will be open Christmas Eve from 4:30 to 9 p.m. In addition to the regular menu, specialties inspired by the Italian region of Abruzzo will be offered. Call (401) 273-8664.

Carrie's, 1035 Douglas Ave., will be open Christmas Eve, featuring traditional seafood plus a holiday menu. Hours are 12 to 8 p.m. Reservations are recommended. Call (401) 831-0066.

CAV, 14 Imperial Place, will be open for dinner Christmas Eve from 4 to 11 p.m. Call (401) 751-9164.

Don Jose Tequilas Restaurant, 351 Atwells Ave., and chefs Raquel Diaz and Maria Hernandez, will serve traditional Christmas entrees from Mexico on Christmas Eve. Holiday hours are from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information visit www.donjoseteq.com or call (401) 454-8951.

LaMoia Tapas Bar, 292 Pocasset Ave., will be open all day Christmas Eve offering the regular menu plus fish selections. Dishes include snail salad, fried calamari, baccala, fried smelts, calamari and stuffed quahogs. A Christmas Eve take-home package with fish and pasta for 10 to 12 people costs $150. Call (401) 942-2505.

L'Epicureo, in the Hotel Providence, 311 Westminster St., will be open on Christmas Eve from 5 to 11 p.m. with the bar opening at 4 p.m. The regular dinner menu will be offered as well as a selection of seasonal specialties of steamed salt cod, mussels in a saffron cream, salmon roulade and sauteed medallions of veal with lobster claws. Festive holiday cocktails include the Candy Apple Martini and the Frangelico Eggnog Martini. Call for reservations at (401) 521-3333.

Mediterraneo, 134 Atwells Ave., will serve many seafood dishes on Christmas Eve. Called La Vigilia in Italy, the seafood extravaganza will be available until 10 p.m. along with the regular menu. For reservations, call (401) 331-7760.

Raphael Bar-Risto, 1 Union Station, is taking Christmas Eve reservations until 8 p.m. for La Vigilia (the Feast of the Seven Fishes). Call (401) 421-4646.

NEWPORT AREA A&O Fish, 19 Charles St., Newport, will be open Christmas Eve from 5 to 10 p.m. Call (401) 849-4306.

Asterisk, 599 Thames St., Newport, will serve dinner Christmas Eve from 3 to 11 p.m.; Christmas Day dinner is from 3 to 9 p.m. Call (401) 841-8833.

The Bay Voyage Inn, 150 Conanicus Ave., Jamestown, will serve a holiday buffet Christmas Day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $42.95 for adults and $15.95 for children under 10. Children under 3 eat free. Call (401) 423-2100.

Boulangerie, 382 Spring St., Newport, will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve; 6:30 a.m. to noon Christmas Day. Call (401) 846-3377.

Castle Hill Inn & Resort, 590 Ocean Drive, Newport, hosts a three-course fixed-price Christmas Eve dinner with seatings at 6 and 7 p.m. The cost is $58; tax and gratuity additional. There will also be a Christmas Day buffet served from noon to 3 p.m. The cost is $75, $24 for children under 12. Advance reservations required. Call (401) 849-3800.

Clarke Cooke House, Bannister's Wharf, Newport, will serve dinner Christmas Eve from 5 to 11 p.m. and Christmas Day from 5 to 10 p.m. For reservations and information, call (401) 849-2900.

Sardella's Restaurant, 30 Memorial Blvd., Newport, will serve dinner Christmas Eve from 5 to 10 p.m. and Christmas Day from 3 to 8 p.m. For reservations, call (401) 849-6312.

22 Bowen's Wine Bar & Grille, Newport, will be open Christmas Eve from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., with lunch served until 3:30 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. Call (401) 841-8884 or visit www.22bowens.com.

NORTHWEST Anthony's Italia Cucina, 659 Killingly St., Johnston, will be open on Christmas Eve until 7 p.m. Reservations accepted. Call (401) 454-1996.

Faial Restaurant, 970 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, will be open for Christmas Eve dinner from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Christmas Day 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., both with the full menu available. Call (401) 231-1100. View the menu at www.diningquest.com/faial.

Il Piccolo Ristorante, 1450 Atwood Ave., Johnston, will serve lunch only on Christmas Eve from 11:30 until 2:30. Call (401) 421-9843 for more information.

Oki Japanese Steak House, 1270 Mineral Spring Ave., North Providence, will be open Christmas Eve from 5 to 11 p.m. The sushi bar will be open for the same hours. Call (401) 728-7970.

Pinelli's Cucina and The Grille, 900 Victory Highway, North Smithfield, will serve the traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve until 8 p.m. along with the regular menu. Call (401) 767-2444.

SOUTH COUNTY Shelter Harbor Inn, 10 Wagner Rd., Westerly, will serve Christmas Day dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. The four-course meal, with soup, salad, entree and dessert choices, costs $31.95 for adults and $15.95 for children. For reservations, call (401) 322-8883.

Venice Restaurant, 165 Shore Rd., Westerly, will serve dinner Christmas Eve from 4 to 10 p.m. and Christmas Day from noon to 6 p.m. Call (401) 348-0055 or visit www.venicerestaurant.com.

CONNECTICUT Mohegan Sun will maintain normal dining hours at all of the restaurants for Christmas Day, including: Uncas American Indian Grill, Todd English's, Tuscany, Rain, The Longhouse, Pompeii & Caesar, Fidelia's, Bamboo Forest, The Cove, Sunburst Buffet, and Seasons Buffet. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (888) 226-7711. More information is available by visiting www.mohegansun.com.

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS Twist on Angell, 500 Angell St., Providence, (401) 831-4500; The Grille on Main, 50 Main St., East Greenwich, (401) 885-2200; and Twist Restaurant, 727 Bald Hill Rd., Warwick, (401) 734-4440, will all be open Christmas Eve until 8 p.m. serving their regular menus plus holiday specials.