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Where to Eat on Christmas (and Christmas Eve)

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If you haven't already, now is the time to book those holiday reservations; here's some ideas for where to take the family out for a celebratory meal on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Most are offering special multi-course prix fixes or have added seasonally-themed dishes.

Imagine not having to clean up after a delicious, pants-tightening holiday feast; these 11 local eateries are willing to dirty their kitchens so that you don't have to.

Have a restaurant to add? Leave a link in the comments.

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Cusp Dining & Drinks

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Executive chef Donald Lockhart is putting together a three-course Christmas dinner ($45 for adults and $20 for children). Starters include goat cheese fritters, entrees range from short ribs to turkey with oyster stuffing and among the desserts is a ginger-cranberry pie. Bartender Nate Howell's contribution is a seasonal drink, called The Grinch, which softens tequila with green chartreuse, fresh lime and mint. Christmas Day hours are from noon to 6 p.m.

Marina Kitchen

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The San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina's holiday buffet from Chef Aron Schwartz is opening its doors on Christmas Eve (4 to 9 p.m.) and Christmas Day (2 to 9 p.m.). It's $48 per person; $12.99 for kids and the spread includes shrimp cocktail, Berkshire pork two ways, roasted Jidori chicken and eggnog cheesecake.

The Hilton San Diego Bayfront eatery is serving a three course, $39.95 dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Course options include roasted chestnut soup, pan seared duck breast and white chocolate and cranberry bread pudding.

100 Wines

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The restaurant will be open from 3 to 8 p.m. on Christmas day and is serving a three course meal for $39.95 for adults and $12.95 for children. The holiday menu includes kale and quinoa salad, stuffed pork loin and eggnog creme brulee.

La Valencia Hotel

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On Christmas eve (5 to 10 p.m.) and Christmas day (noon to 8 p.m.), the hotel is offering a four course meal that includes lobster bisque, smoked prime rib or traditional Christmas goose. The supper is $75 for adults and $35 for children 12 and under.

AVANT's Christmas eve prix-fixe menu will be offered between 3 and 8 p.m and is $65 per person and $25 (Kids 4-12); options include beet-cured wild salmon and pan roasted guinea hen. A Christmas day three-course menu is scheduled between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.; starters include a crab beignet and entree choices range from halibut to old school beef Wellington.

Rancho Valencia

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These Christmas dinners come complete with carolers. On Christmas Eve from 5 to 9 p.m., the $95 four-course menu includes winter squash bisque and braised duck tortelloni. On Christmas day from 2 to 7 p.m., the menu features roasted beet and lobster salad, grilled swordfish and a butterscotch and vanilla bean budino.

Bertrand At Mister As

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Chef de Cuisine Stéphane Voitwinkler is cooking up a prix fixe Christmas Eve menu for $75 per person, available from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Highlights include a 48-hour braised prime beer and herb-crusted rack of lamb. On Christmas Day, the three-course prix fixe menu will be served between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and 4:30 and 9 p.m. Priced at $59.50, it includes oven roasted local sea bass, venison loin, scallops and more.

Hotel del Coronado

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Celebrate Christmas Eve with a Victorian buffet dinner in the Crown Room, complete with live musical entertainment. It's $115 for adults, $45.50 for children. On Christmas Day, there's a traditional holiday buffet in the oceanfront ballroom and Crown Room; $98.50 for adults, $40 for children.

Farm House Cafe

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Chef/owner Olivier Bioteau's annual Christmas Eve dinner is a $45.00 pre-fixe with optional $15 wine pairings and open seating from 5 to 9 p.m. This year's menu includes house cured salmon, mushroom-chestnut soup and Mexican chocolate cake. (Their regular menu is also served.)

Amaya at The Grand Del Mar

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Amaya is hosting a Christmas Eve dinner from 4 to 9 p.m., including roasted beef filet and a deconstructed chocolate yule log. $80 per adult, $120 with wine, $30 per child (ages 6 – 12). On Christmas Day, a three-course brunch served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. includes a smoked salmon plate and Dungeness crab benedict. $52 per adult and $25 per child (ages 6 – 12)

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Cusp Dining & Drinks

Executive chef Donald Lockhart is putting together a three-course Christmas dinner ($45 for adults and $20 for children). Starters include goat cheese fritters, entrees range from short ribs to turkey with oyster stuffing and among the desserts is a ginger-cranberry pie. Bartender Nate Howell's contribution is a seasonal drink, called The Grinch, which softens tequila with green chartreuse, fresh lime and mint. Christmas Day hours are from noon to 6 p.m.

Marina Kitchen

The San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina's holiday buffet from Chef Aron Schwartz is opening its doors on Christmas Eve (4 to 9 p.m.) and Christmas Day (2 to 9 p.m.). It's $48 per person; $12.99 for kids and the spread includes shrimp cocktail, Berkshire pork two ways, roasted Jidori chicken and eggnog cheesecake.

Vela

The Hilton San Diego Bayfront eatery is serving a three course, $39.95 dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Course options include roasted chestnut soup, pan seared duck breast and white chocolate and cranberry bread pudding.

100 Wines

The restaurant will be open from 3 to 8 p.m. on Christmas day and is serving a three course meal for $39.95 for adults and $12.95 for children. The holiday menu includes kale and quinoa salad, stuffed pork loin and eggnog creme brulee.

La Valencia Hotel

On Christmas eve (5 to 10 p.m.) and Christmas day (noon to 8 p.m.), the hotel is offering a four course meal that includes lobster bisque, smoked prime rib or traditional Christmas goose. The supper is $75 for adults and $35 for children 12 and under.

Avant

AVANT's Christmas eve prix-fixe menu will be offered between 3 and 8 p.m and is $65 per person and $25 (Kids 4-12); options include beet-cured wild salmon and pan roasted guinea hen. A Christmas day three-course menu is scheduled between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.; starters include a crab beignet and entree choices range from halibut to old school beef Wellington.

Rancho Valencia

These Christmas dinners come complete with carolers. On Christmas Eve from 5 to 9 p.m., the $95 four-course menu includes winter squash bisque and braised duck tortelloni. On Christmas day from 2 to 7 p.m., the menu features roasted beet and lobster salad, grilled swordfish and a butterscotch and vanilla bean budino.

Bertrand At Mister As

Chef de Cuisine Stéphane Voitwinkler is cooking up a prix fixe Christmas Eve menu for $75 per person, available from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Highlights include a 48-hour braised prime beer and herb-crusted rack of lamb. On Christmas Day, the three-course prix fixe menu will be served between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and 4:30 and 9 p.m. Priced at $59.50, it includes oven roasted local sea bass, venison loin, scallops and more.

Hotel del Coronado

Celebrate Christmas Eve with a Victorian buffet dinner in the Crown Room, complete with live musical entertainment. It's $115 for adults, $45.50 for children. On Christmas Day, there's a traditional holiday buffet in the oceanfront ballroom and Crown Room; $98.50 for adults, $40 for children.

Farm House Cafe

Chef/owner Olivier Bioteau's annual Christmas Eve dinner is a $45.00 pre-fixe with optional $15 wine pairings and open seating from 5 to 9 p.m. This year's menu includes house cured salmon, mushroom-chestnut soup and Mexican chocolate cake. (Their regular menu is also served.)

Amaya at The Grand Del Mar

Amaya is hosting a Christmas Eve dinner from 4 to 9 p.m., including roasted beef filet and a deconstructed chocolate yule log. $80 per adult, $120 with wine, $30 per child (ages 6 – 12). On Christmas Day, a three-course brunch served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. includes a smoked salmon plate and Dungeness crab benedict. $52 per adult and $25 per child (ages 6 – 12)

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