The holidays are practically upon on us and whether you’re looking to start
a new holiday tradition or just a way to get out of doing the dishes, some of
the Boston-area’s best restaurants are happy to accommodate with special Christmas
Eve and Christmas Day menus and hours.
Aujourd’hui
Aujourd’huiwelcomes guests for an elegant five-course prix fixe dinner from chef de cuisine
Legras on Christmas Eve. Available from 5:30-9:30pm, the dinner costs
$155 per person. On the 25th, Legras is back in the kitchen creating an
exquisite Christmas Day table d’hote to be served from 11:00am-8:00pm.
The menu costs $82 per person. Call Aujourd’hui at 617.351.2037
for reservations and additional information.
Café
Fleuri
On Christmas Day, Café
Fleuri hosts a holiday brunch complete with ten buffet stations filled
with chef John
Lambiase‘s holiday cuisine like Madeira braised chicken, pan seared Atlantic
salmon and potatoes dauphinoise with winter truffle. A jazz trio, Victorian
Carolers and Santa will all be on hand to keep the mood festive. The brunch
costs $60 per person $25 for children 12 and under and is free for children
4 and under. Seatings are available between 10:30am and 4:00pm.
Caffe Umbra
Caffe Umbra and chef Laura
Brennan kick off a new holiday tradition this year – join them for their
first ever Christmas Eve celebration. They’ll be open for dinner from 5:30-11:00
offering their regular menu as well as a menu of traditional Christmas specials
like tortellini in capon broth with escarole and parmigiana; Provencal braised
beef with macaroni au jus; and buche de noel with meringue mushrooms. Call 617.867.0707
for reservations.
Grotto
Grottoand chef Scott
Herritt will celebrate Christmas Eve with the traditional Italian feast
of seven fishes. The dinner, believed to bring good fortune in the year to come,
varies from family to family and even year to year – the only rule is that seven
fish must be presented in one form or another throughout the course of the meal.
The dinner will cost $50 per person and will feature four courses of fish laden
dishes. Dessert will be fish free. Call Grotto at 617.227.3434 for reservations
and more information.
Julien
Julienat the Langham Hotel invites guests to join them on Christmas Eve for a four
course, prix fixe menu available from 5:00-8:30 pm. Chefs Daniel
Kenny and Mark
Sapienza haven’t revealed their plans for the evening’s menu. Dinner costs
$79 per person for adults and $35 for children 12 and under and free for children
4 and under. For Christmas Day, guests at Julien can enjoy a four-course, prix fixe menu from chef Mark Sapienza. Dinner, which will be available from 2:30-8:00pm on the 25th, costs $79 for adults, $35 for children 12 and under and is free for children 4 and under. Call Julien at 617.451.1900 for menu information and reservations.
L’Espalier
Chef
McClelland will be offering a special Christmas Eve menu for holiday
diners at L’Espalier.
Settle in for dishes like Maine lobster in kaffir lime leaves and lemon grass
with shrimp pot stickers, bok choy and hot and sour broth; Hudson Valley foie
gras torchon with Coteaux dy Layon gelee and toasted brioche; and braised
beef short ribs and poached tenderloin with celery root and parsley salad
and bone marrow butter. The prix fixe holiday menu costs $88 per person, $143
with wine pairings. The regular menu will also be available as will a vegetarian
tasting menu. Call L’Espalier at 617.262.3023.
Meritage
Spend Christmas Eve or Christmas Day at Meritage
at the Boston Harbor Hotel and you’ll be treated to a five course prix fixe
menu from chef Daniel
Bruce. The menu, which includes dishes like sauteed Block Island swordfish with carrots, coconut, ginger essence and fried lotus chips; and mint roasted baby lamb tenderloin with soft blue cornmeal polenta filled baby pumpkin, is available from 5:00-10:00pm and costs $90 per adult and
$30 per child. Call 617.439.3995 for menu information and to make reservations.
Spire
Chef
Frasca will be whipping up a four-course menu for Spire‘s
Christmas Eve dinner. The $75 prix fixe menu will be available from 3:00-9:00pm
on the 24th and will feature some of Frasca’s signature dishes like his Chantenay
carrot soup as well as some holiday specials like Virginia ham with figgy pudding,
Riesling duck sausage and honeycomb and wholegrain mustard. For dessert, leave
room for Santa’s Delight – three kinds of cookies, served with three kinds of
milk. On Christmas Day, join Frasca between the hours of 10-00am and
5:00pm for an a la carte menu featuring items like seared foie gras-braised
red cabbage and toast; truffled scrambled eggs and flat iron steak; and baked
French toast, stuffed with apricots, almonds, persimmons and homemade ricotta.
Call Spire at 617.772.0202 for reservations.
