If you haven’t made your dining plans for Christmas Eve, Day, or New Year’s, you’d better get crackin'.
Since so many places are closed on Christmas Eve and Day, the options are often limited. As for New Year’s Eve and Day, they’re two of the busiest days in the hospitality industry. Also, take note, that since it is tradition for most Jewish families to go to Chinese restaurants on Christmas Eve, your favorite Asian spots may be mobbed. I’d suggest making reservations at Christina Wan’s or Lotus Chinese Kitchen ASAP.
CHRISTMAS EVE
Timpano Las Olas will offer its version of the traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes, an Italian-American tradition. Available on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Bona Italian is offering all the fish in one course with zuppa di pesce as a special entrée.
Burlock Coast at the Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale is offering a three-course prix fixe meal for $65. One of the menu highlights is pan-roasted fish served with a creamy crab sauce, herb-roasted potatoes, and green beans.
Cote Miami offers a “Feast of Seven Steaks” providing diners with seven selected cuts of Cote’s filet mignon, skirt steak, lamb chop, dry-aged ribeye, American Wagyu, Japanese A5 ribeye from Miyazaki Prefecture, and galbi. Accompaniments include consommé from American Wagyu brisket; roasted sweet potatoes with truffle butter; ban chan, janchi somyun, Korean angel hair pasta, and fluffy savory egg soufflé. Dessert is Cote’s soft serve ice cream topped with soy sauce caramel and a selection of seasonal fruit.
La Mar by Gastón Acurio is hosting a very special Christmas Eve dinner experience offering a traditional Peruvian-inspired holiday for $240 per person. The delicious family-style pork feast and a lavish buffet featuring various grilled favorites, including anticucho de corazón, anticucho de pollo, and anticucho de camarón, seafood rice, and scallops. Additional items include La Mar’s signature whole fish nikkei, ají de gallina empanadas, papas y choclo, quinoa salad, pasta salad, and an array of cocktails.
Racks Fish House + Oyster Bar in Delray Beach is offering guests a seven fishes prix fixe meal for $55 per person. Diners can expect salted cod croquettes, pan-roasted shrimp, and gnocchi with clams prepared with garlic, white wine, butter, chili, and herbs.
CHRISTMAS DAY
Tropics is open with Jennifer McClain’s cast party. Usually, a special half-price menu is offered on Monday.
NEW YEAR’S EVE
Tropics’ celebration includes a buffet dinner, entertainment by Rick Leonard and Brian Mason, and a champagne toast for $29.99 a person.
Ring in 2024 at the hottest New Year’s Eve celebration “North of Havana” at Anthony’s Runway 84 in Fort Lauderdale. South Florida’s legendary Italian supper club is celebrating Goodfellas style, with a spectacular “Copa at the Runway” party, featuring a four-course dinner, champagne toast, party favors, and live music entertainment for $350 per person.
Spencer’s Corner Bar is hosting a New Year’s Eve party hosted by Dee Dee Van Carter with special guests.
Le Colonial, the French-Vietnamese restaurant in Delray Beach, celebrates the flavors and spirit of Saigon in the 1920s, with a three-course prix fixe dinner, an amuse bouche, and a complimentary glass of champagne for $150 per person.
R House in Wynwood, Miami sambas in a “Midnight in Rio” as they bring the vibrant spirit of Rio de Janeiro to the 305. A carefully curated Brazilian dinner menu is accompanied by the fiercest drag performances in town. None other than Queen Athena Dion, alongside other R House favorites, will be displaying stunning performances. Prices per person range from $150 to $3,500 (for up to 15 guests).
NEW YEAR’S DAY
R House recovers from the night before and holds a one-seating brunch at 2:30 for $60 a person. Menu highlights include cayenne fried chicken with spicy cilantro sauce, breakfast croissant with mojo pork, Serrano ham, Swiss cheese, scrambled egg, and cinnamon French toast with guava syrup, cream cheese, tropical fruit, and coconut flakes.
