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Where to Eat on Christmas (and Christmas Eve)

by Candice Woo
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by Candice Woo
1 comment / new

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.

7955 La Jolla Shores Drive, San Diego, CA 92037
858-551-3620
858-551-3620

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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.

333 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 699-8222
(619) 699-8222

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Vela

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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.

101 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA

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.

1027 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 491-0100
(619) 491-0100

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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.

1132 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 454-0771
(858) 454-0771

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Avant

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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.

17550 Bernardo Oaks Dr, San Diego, CA 92128
(858) 675-8550
(858) 675-8550

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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.

5921 Valencia Cir, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067

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.

2550 5th Ave Fl 12, San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 239-1377
(619) 239-1377

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.

1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
(800) 468-3533
(800) 468-3533

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.)

2121 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116
(619) 269-9662
(619) 269-9662

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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)

5300 Grand del Mar Ct, San Diego, CA 92130
(858) 314-2727
(858) 314-2727

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Cusp Dining & Drinks

7955 La Jolla Shores Drive, San Diego, CA 92037

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.

7955 La Jolla Shores Drive, San Diego, CA 92037
858-551-3620
858-551-3620

Marina Kitchen

333 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101

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.

333 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 699-8222
(619) 699-8222

Vela

101 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA

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.

101 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA

100 Wines

1027 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103

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.

1027 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 491-0100
(619) 491-0100

La Valencia Hotel

1132 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037

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.

1132 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 454-0771
(858) 454-0771

Avant

17550 Bernardo Oaks Dr, San Diego, CA 92128

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.

17550 Bernardo Oaks Dr, San Diego, CA 92128
(858) 675-8550
(858) 675-8550

Rancho Valencia

5921 Valencia Cir, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067

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.

5921 Valencia Cir, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067

Bertrand At Mister As

2550 5th Ave Fl 12, San Diego, CA 92103

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.

2550 5th Ave Fl 12, San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 239-1377
(619) 239-1377

Hotel del Coronado

1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118

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.

1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
(800) 468-3533
(800) 468-3533

Farm House Cafe

2121 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116

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.)

2121 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116
(619) 269-9662
(619) 269-9662

Amaya at The Grand Del Mar

5300 Grand del Mar Ct, San Diego, CA 92130

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)

5300 Grand del Mar Ct, San Diego, CA 92130
(858) 314-2727
(858) 314-2727

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