Many Bay Area restaurants will be open on Christmas Eve as well as Christmas Day and will serve special, festive menus. Think lots of prime rib, caviar, yule logs and the epic Italian seafood celebration, the feast of the seven fishes. Some spots are planning to feature succulent Dungeness crab as it comes into season.
Plan ahead by making reservations now or preoder to-go meals; there are plenty of options for eating in person as well as takeout.
Here are more than 20 options for Christmas meals in the Bay Area, organized by region. (We’ll continue to update this list periodically. If your restaurant is offering a Christmas meal, send an email to food@sfchronicle.com).
SAN FRANCISCO
54 Mint
54 Mint will be open on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On Dec. 24, the restaurant will serve a four-course seafood menu ($95/person) with shrimp risotto and cioppino. The Dec. 25 menu ($95/person) features wild boar lasagna and a bone-in pork chop with braised escarole. A la carte dishes, takeout and delivery will also be available. Make a reservation online.
16 Mint Plaza, San Francisco. 54mint.com
A16
For the Italian feast of the seven fishes, head to upscale spot A16 for several courses of seafood-focused fare on Christmas Eve. Think calamari pizza, squid ink tonnarelli pasta with sea urchin and braised baccalà ($120/person). Make a reservation online.
2355 Chestnut St., San Francisco. a16pizza.com
Bluestem Restaurant & Market
For holiday cookies made by a pastry chef, head to Bluestem. The restaurant will have chocolate chunk, cookies and cream, and ginger molasses cookie dough to bake at home ($16 for a dozen cookies) or order already baked cookies for pickup and delivery ($6.25 per cookie or $12 for a mixed three-pack).
One Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco. bluestembrasserie.com
Che Fico Alimentari
Che Fico Alimentari’s holiday menu includes a winter citrus salad with burrata, pistachio and Castelvetrano olives.
Courtesy Erik Ratensperger/If cooking feels like too much, order an Italian Christmas dinner from popular restaurant Che Fico Alimentari with bolognese lasagna, potato gratin and a winter citrus salad ($275 or $250 for the vegetarian menu, both serve four people). Dessert, beer and wine are avaialble as add-ons. Order online by Dec. 17 for pick up on Dec. 23. Takeout only.
834 Divisadero St., San Francisco. exploretock.com/cheficoalimentari
International Smoke
Parker house rolls, oysters rockefeller and prime rib will be on International Smoke's Christmas Eve menu.
Provided by International SmokeSmoked Wagyu prime rib, oyster rockeller and truffle mac and cheese bites are on the Christmas Eve menu at International Smoke, from famed chefs Michael Mina and Ayesha Curry. Diners can choose their own entrees, and the rest of the dishes are served family-style ($110 per person and $40 for drink pairings, excluding tax and gratuity). A limited a la carte menu for children 12 years and younger will be available. Make a reservation online.
301 Mission St., San Francisco. internationalsmoke.com/locations/san-francisco
Itria
Roasted turbot with gigante beans, smoked octopus and green garlic purée will be served at Itria in San Francisco on Christmas Eve.
Courtesy ItriaItalian newcomer Itria is making a feast of the seven fishes tasting menu ($120) on Christmas Eve. Here, the classic Italian seafood celebration will feature spaghetti with Dungeness crab and bottarga, among other dishes. Warning: There will be no vegetarian or vegan options. Make a reservation online.
3266 24th St, San Francisco. exploretock.com/itria-restaurant-group
La Ciccia
Noe Valley favorite La Ciccia won’t be open on Christmas, but the restaurant is offering a set of special Italian foods ($125) to assemble a meal at home: panettone, pasta, Sardinian olive oil, pane carasau (Sicilian flatbread) and a bottle of Barolo wine. Call La Ciccia to order from Dec. 7-23 for pickup at the restaurant.
291 30th St., San Francisco. laciccia.com/
Lazy Susan
Hot and sour soup from Lazy Susan, whose food will be served at KungPao Kosher Comedy in San Francisco on Christmas.
Courtesy Joseph WeaverFor those who don’t celebrate Christmas, San Francisco’s annual Kung Pao Kosher Comedy event this year will be paired with takeout Chinese food from Hayes Valley to-go spot Lazy Susan. (The longstanding Jewish comedy show usually takes place at a Chinese banquet restaurant but will be virtual again this year.) Two special restaurant menus (regular or veggie, $45) will be available for the Dec. 25 and Dec. 26 shows, including kung pao chicken, hot and sour soup and the option to add a bag of fortune cookies stuffed with Yiddish proverbs. Order online by Dec. 19 for delivery or pickup.
208 Fell St., San Francisco. lazysusanchinese.com/kung-pao
Octavia
Chef-owner Melissa Perello’s popular Octavia will be open on Christmas Eve and serving a family style prix fix menu ($120/person). Dishes will inclue Dungeness crab with milk bread toast, chicory salad and guinea hen served two ways. Make a reservation online.
1701 Octavia St., San Francisco. octavia-sf.com
One Market
One Market Restaurant in San Francisco will be serving spit-roasted prime rib on Christmas Eve.
Courtesy One Market RestaurantSwanky Embarcadero spot One Market will serve a special Christmas Eve menu featuring spit-roasted prime rib, bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin and a yule log for dessert, among other dishes. Make a reservation on OpenTable.
1 Market Street, San Francisco. onemarket.com
Villon
On Christmas Eve, the Proper Hotel’s Villon will serve a four-course menu with holiday dishes like a truffle tart and prime rib with Yorkshire pudding ($115 per person; $45 for kids 12 and under; additional wine pairing $50 per person). On Christmas Day, the restaurant will be open for brunch and dinner.
1100 Market St., San Francisco. properhotel.com/san-francisco/restaurants-bars/villon/
EAST BAY
A16
A16’s Rockridge restaurant will also serve a feast of the seven fishes menu on Christmas Eve ($120/person), but with slightly different dishes than in San Francisco. Make a reservation online.
5356 College Avenue, Oakland. a16pizza.com
Duende
Oakland's Duende will serve brioche toast with beef tartar, caviar and an egg on Christmas Eve.
Provided by DuendeSpanish standby Duende will be open on Christmas Eve with its regular a la carte menu, plus a few specials like brioche toast piled high with beef tartare, paddlefish caviar and creme fraiche. The restaurant will be closed on Christmas Day but offering a takeout Spanish feast for two ($94) with braised veal, a cabbage salad with anchovy-stuffed olives and optional Spanish wine pairings. Call to order for pickup on Christmas Eve.
468 19th St., Oakland. duendeoakland.com
Daughter’ s Diner
Order this takeout breakfast spread from Daughter's Diner for the morning after Christmas.
Courtesy Justyna WilsonBrunch favorite Daughter’s Diner has you covered for the morning after Christmas. The Oakland restaurant’s takeout breakfast set comes with a caramelized onion frittata, French toast, smoked bacon and other dishes ($39 per person, $78 for a gift package that serves two people). Order online to pick up on Christmas Eve.
326 23rd St. Unit D, Oakland. daughtersdiner.com/
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
On Christmas Eve, steakhouse Fleming’s in Walnut Creek will offer a four-course dinner with wine pairings from Napa Valley winery Duckhorn Vineyards. Think filet mignon, mushroom polenta cake and shrimp scampi.
1685 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Walnut Creek. flemingssteakhouse.com/locations/ca/walnut-creek
LB Steak
LB Steak at Bishop Ranch in San Ramon will serve its regular menu all day on Christmas Eve, with specials like porchetta with Wagyu mashed potatoes and a hot toddy pot de crème starting at 4 p.m. All food is available for dine-in, takeout and delivery
6000 Bollinger Canyon Road Suite #1614, San Ramon. lbsteak.com
PENINSULA/SOUTH BAY
Baumé
Go all out at home with a tasting menu to-go from Palo Alto’s high-end Baumé focused on either salmon ($98-$158) or Wagyu beef ($198-$298). Order online for pickup on Dec. 24 or 25.
201 California Ave., Palo Alto. maisonbaume.com
Camper
On Christmas Eve, head to Menlo Park’s Camper for prime rib with creamed greens and a fluffy popover, plus the restaurant’s regular menu. Some holiday dishes will also be available for takeout on Tock.
898 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park. campermp.com
Flea St. Cafe
Truffle gnocchi will be among the Christmas Eve specials at Flea St. Cafe in Menlo Park.
Courtesy Bryan ThuerkPeninsula mainstay Flea St. Cafe will be serving its regular menu plus several special dishes on Christmas Eve, like ricotta chive gnocchi with black truffles and saffron pasta with a whole Dungeness crab. Available for dine-in and takeout. Proof of vaccination is required for both indoor and outdoor dining.
3607 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park. cooleatz.com
LB Steak
LB Steak at Santana Row will serve the same Christmas Eve specials as the San Ramon restaurant, available for dine-in, takeout and delivery.
334 Santana Row Suite 1000, San Jose. lbsteak.com
Left Bank Brasserie
French restaurant Left Bank’s San Jose and Menlo Park restaurants will have a four-course holiday menu ($85/person) on Christmas Eve with dishes like butter-poached lobster tail and a rack of lamb with parsnip purée. The menu is available for dine-in, takeout and delivery.
635 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park; 377 Santana Row Suite 1100, San Jose. leftbank.com
Luna Mexican Kitchen
Preorder tamales from San Jose's Luna Mexican Kitchen for Christmas.
Provided by Luna Mexican KitchenSan Jose’s Luna Mexican Kitchen will be closed for the holidays, but plan ahead to have some of owner Jo Lopez’s Christmas tamales at home. Choose from two kinds: chicken chile verde or a vegan tamale filled with black bean puree, serrano peppers and portobello mushrooms.
1875 South Bascom Ave Suite # 570, Campbell; 1495 The Alameda, San Jose. lunamexicankitchen.com
Meso Modern Mediterranean
Christmas Eve at San Jose’s Meso Modern Mediterranean will look like Moroccan harira soup with lemon cumin yogurt and prime rib with jus. Both dishes are on the restaurant’s four-course prix fixe menu ($80/person) for the evening, but a limited version of the regular a la carte dinner menu will also be available. Both menus are available for dine-in, takeout and delivery.
3060 Olsen Drive Suite 50, San Jose. mesorestaurant.com
Quattro
Quattro, the Italian restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley, is staying open on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On Dec. 24, the restaurant will serve a three-course dinner ($130 per adult; $190 with a welcome cocktail & wine pairing) and on Dec. 25, a special menu throughout the day ($150 per adult; $210 with a welcome cocktail & wine pairing). Don’t miss the Christmas Day dessert buffet with more than a dozen sweets, from candy cane tiramisu to caramel apple bread pudding. To reserve, make a reservation online or call Quattro at 650-470-2889.
2050 University Ave., East Palo Alto. fourseasons.com/siliconvalley/dining/restaurants/quattro
Vina Enoteca
Stylish Italian spot Vina Enoteca will also mark the holiday with a feast of the seven fishes dinner on Christmas Eve. Think salt cod croquettes, mussels with fennel and gremolata and linguini with clams ($90/person). Make a reservation online.
700 Welch Road #100, Palo Alto. vinaenoteca.com
Zola
French favorite Zola’s Christmas Eve meal will include potato leek soup with crab toast, prime rib and eggnog, among other dishes ($95/person, with a la carte options for children). Make a reservation online.
565 Bryant St., Palo Alto. zolapaloalto.com
NORTH BAY
Left Bank Brasserie
Left Bank’s Larkspur location will serve the same Christmas Eve specials as the San Jose and Menlo Park locations, available for dine-in, takeout and delivery.
507 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur. leftbank.com
Spoonbar
Healdsburg restaurant Spoonbar will serve a three-course dinner on Christmas ($85 per adult and $25 per child). Dishes include lobster risotto, duck confit and chocolate buche de noel. Make a reservation online.
219 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. spoonbar.com
Elena Kadvany is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: elena.kadvany@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ekadvany
Christmas 2021 restaurant guide: Where to eat and order takeout in the Bay Area - San Francisco Chronicle
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