Where to eat on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Looking for restaurants that are open on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Have a cocktail and roasted chestnuts before finishing all your last-minute gift wrapping. Or celebrate Christmas Eve with La Vigilia, also known as the Feast of the Seven Fishes, the Italian-American tradition adopted by several L.A. restaurants. Or order a timpano, the baked pasta dish featured in the movie “Big Night.” Or try a Christmas yule log. Here’s where to find them all.

Open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day:

The Pikey has a Christmas Eve menu with house-cured ham with white beans and salsa verde, smoked pigs in a blanket, roasted chestnuts with bacon, market cranberry sauce and minced pie with house-made ice cream. Christmas cocktails include hot spiced cider with Busnel Calvados, apples, orange, lemon, caramel, star anise and cardamom; the Lion’s Tail with Maker’s Mark, allspice and fresh lime juice; and a Tom and Gerry with Buffalo Trace bourbon, Sailor Jerry spiced rum, whipped free-range organic eggs and winter spice blend, served hot. Open ‘til 2 a.m. On Christmas Day, the Pikey is open starting at 3 p.m., with all of the above menu items, plus goose with stuffed onion, bread sauce and roasted potatoes. Open ‘til 2 a.m. 7617 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 850-5400, www.thepikeyla.com.

Culina Modern Italian at the Four Seasons is offering a five-course Christmas Eve dinner of ostriche al forno; antipasti of soup with black truffle, or persimmon and prosciutto salad; pappardelle with duck confit; your choice of osso buco or rombo; and dessert. First seating is at 6 p.m. Wine pairings available. $75 per person. On Christmas Day, brunch is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for $98 per person ($49 for children 12 and under). Brunch features brown sugar baked ham, lobster benedict and omelets made to order, oysters on the half shell, a farmers market station, dessert station and holiday offerings from the caviar and tartare station served until 3 p.m. There also will be a buffet featuring children’s favorites. 300 S. Doheny Drive, Los Angeles, (310) 860-4000, www.culinarestaurant.com.

Catch at Hotel Casa del Mar is celebrating Chistmas Eve with a three-course menu, featuring mustard-marinated California black cod with roasted cauliflower, asparagus and red wine reduction and sticky date pudding with toffee sauce and Devonshire cream. $75 per person. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Christmas Day, a three-course menu includes seared Wagyu beef carpaccio with artichokes, salsify and black truffle or maple-glazed poussin with wild rice and chestnuts. $80 per person. 5:30 to 9 p.m. 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica, (310) 581-5533, www.hotelcasadelmar.com.WP24 at the Ritz Carlton L.A. Live on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is offering a “Holiday Dim Sum Dinner” tasting menu for $70 per person. 900 W. Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, (213) 743-8824, www.wolfgangpuck.com.

FIG will be open on Christmas Eve with its regular menu and for Christmas Day is planning a family-style menu with dishes such as wheatberry salad with carrots and pomegranate and porchetta with parsnip grits and pickled apple. $69 per person ($35 for child under 12). 101 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 319-3111, www.figsantamonica.com.

Scarpetta‘s a la carte menu is available on Christmas Eve until 9 p.m. Its holiday buffet starts at noon on Christmas Day with dishes such as citrus-cured salmon, herb-stuffed leg of lamb, prime rib and ricotta cavatelli. $95 per person ($35 for children under 12). Unlimited mimosas, Bloody Marys and bellinis are an additional $22.

225 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills; (310) 860-7800.

Trés by José Andrés at the SLS Hotel is open from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, with its regular menu. On Christmas Day, brunch includes a carving station, cheese, charcuterie, pastries, coffee and juices. The regular menu and holiday specials also will be available. Brunch is $52 per person. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 465 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 246-5551, www.slshotels.com.

All Barney’s Beanery locations will be open for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with regular hours and a special dinner that includes turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables, cranberries and holiday cheesecake for $18.95. The regular menu is available too. See www.barneysbeanery.com for locations.

Open Christmas Eve only:

Ray’s & Stark Bar for Christmas Eve offers the traditional Italian holiday meal, Feast of the Seven Fishes. It starts with antipasti of chickpea panele, burrata and olives; then oysters; a seafood salad of smoked mussels and sword tip squid with garlic vinaigrette; salt cod fritters with saffron aioli; prawns with pesto; pasta with clams, parsley, vermouth and colatura; octopus with cavatelli pasta, cauliflower and uni sauce; salt-baked whole bass; charred broccoli di cicco; and for dessert, tiramisu of coffee-soaked lady fingers, mascarpone cheese and marsala wine. 5 to 10 p.m. $55 per person ($19 for children under 12), served family style. Call for reservations. LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 857-6180, www.raysandstarkbar.com.

Cecconi’s chef Andrea Cavaliere will prepare the iconic timpano, or “drum,” of pasta baked in a dome of crust (like the one in the Stanley Tucci film “Big Night”), available for dine-in or takeout. Cavaliere’s handmade timpano features rigatoni with ragu Bolognese and meatballs baked in a handmade dough crust. It serves six to seven people and costs $90. Orders must be placed 48 hours in advance and require a deposit. Cecconi’s a la carte menu also will be available on Christmas Eve. 5 to 9 p.m. 8764 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (310) 432-2000, www.cecconiswesthollywood.com.

Mélisse‘s Christmas Eve tradition is a five-course dinner with options including Maine lobster, truffle risotto and Liberty duck. 1104 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 395-0881, www.melisse.com.
Hatfield’s Karen and Quinn Hatfield invite guests to celebrate with a special Christmas Eve dinner. The Hatfields will serve a four-course prix-fixe menu featuring some of the restaurant’s favorite dishes for $75 per person. 6703 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 935-2977, www.hatfieldsrestaurant.com.

Trattoria Neapolis celebrates Christmas Eve with a “Feast of the Seven Cows” menu featuring beef (instead of the traditional fish) dishes such as oxtail ravioli, beef carpaccio and panna cow-ta. Four courses is $59 per person, and the full seven courses is $88. The menu will also come with suggested wine pairings from sommelier Diego Meraviglia (who recently placed fifth at the World Wide Sommelier Competition). Guests will need to preorder by Dec. 2 by calling the restaurant. Open on Christmas Eve from 6 to 11 p.m. 336 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena, (626) 792-3000, www.trattorianeapolis.com.

Barbrix chef Don Dickman will feature Christmas Eve specials along with the regular menu. Specials include Dungeness crabcake with celery root remoulade and Meyer lemon; steamed manila clams “chowder” style with potatoes, celery, bacon, corn and thyme; and roasted Mediterranean branzino with crispy potatoes, cherry tomatoes, Beldi olives and capers. 2442 Hyperion Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 662-2442, www.barbrix.com.

Valentino’s “Bon Natale” feast features a five-course tasting menu of Sicilian and Sardinian inspired dishes: suzzichino and frittini; crab and orange salad or farro, beets and lobster salad; roasted winter squash puree with shrimp meatballs or porcini mushrooms with polenta with Parmigiano fonduta; squid ink penne with seppia and sweet peas or linguine and clams; grilled John Dory with purple potatoes or eggplant Parmigiana with mozzarella and pomodoro; and zabaione and berries. $85 per person. À la carte menu and optional wine pairing also available. 3115 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 829-4313, www.valentinosm.com.

Cooks County is offering Christmas Eve specials along with its regular menu, including roasted venison loin, celery root, dandelion and cranberry cumberland sauce; duck confit with turnip and potato gratin and kumquat relish; and frozen chocolate Yule log. 6 to 11 p.m. 8009 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 653-8009, www.cookscountyrestaurant.com.

Drago Centro‘s annual Christmas Eve Feast of Seven Fishes menu includes: Fanny bay oyster with “Christmas tree pearls”; tuna crudo with persimmon puree and basil sponge; poached egg, smoked salmon, semolina gnocchi and celery root; shrimp cappuccino with baby market vegetables and chile foam; salt cod ravioli with caper berries and toasted bread crumbs; scallop tagliolini, green onions, sea urchin crème and lemon; swordfish with crispy polenta, Brussels sprouts and squash puree; and Italian cheesecake terrine with passion fruit, currants and pistachio. $80 per person; additional $55 for wine pairings. 525 S. Flower St., Los Angeles, (213) 228-8998, www.dragocentro.com.

Providence‘s Feast of the Seven Fishes features chef Michael Cimarusti’s menu of seven seafood dishes inspired by his grandmother and great grandmother. A limited a la carte menu also will be available. On the menu: stuzzichini di mare; big eye tuna with marinated black truffle; Maine lobster with buckwheat crepes; calamari all’arrabiata; risottino with middleneck clams, abalone and lemon olive oil; monkfish roasted on the bone, served family-style with roasted seasonal vegetables and greens; pear chiboust with ginger bread genoise, cream cheese ice cream and crystalized ginger; and struffoli. $130 per person, $190 per person with wine pairing, $290 with premium wine pairing. Credit card confirmation required. 5955 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 460-4170, www.providencela.com.

For Christmas Eve, Café del Rey’s three-course prix-fixe features options such as house-cured salmon with crème fraiche and orange gastrique, beet and buratta salad, Dungeness crab cake, sweet potato gnocchi, chicken with chestnut puree and corn bread, short rib with crispy harissa potato and broccolini, lobster stew, pappardelle with tomato and roasted cauliflower, brown butter pear tart with rum and pecans, and chocolate pot de crème. $65 per person. 5 to 11:30 p.m. 4451 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, (310) 823-6395, www.cafedelreymarina.com.Mohawk Bend’s Chirstmas Eve for the vegan, Jewish and got-nowhere-to-go. On the menu: vegan Chinese, featuring spicy green beans, kung pao tofu, winter spring rolls, lettuce cups, veggie fried rice and cashew cheese wontons. $6 to $8 per menu item. 3 to 8:30 p.m. 2141 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 483-2337, www.mohawk.la.

Tavern‘s three-course Christmas Eve dinner includes: little gem lettuce with caramelized apples, St. Agur cheese and satsuma vinaigrette; your choice of grilled bass with saffron potatoes and green olive salsa or braised beef shortribs with kabocha squash, Swiss chard and black truffle butter; and bittersweet chocolate cake with crushed “almond roca.” $45 per person. 5 to 9 p.m. 11648 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 806-6464, www.tavernla.com.

LA Market at JW Marriott L.A. LIVE is featuring a Christmas Eve and Christmas Day prix fixe menu including seasonal offerings like sweet potato gnocchi with apple smoked bacon and truffle cream; prime rib of beef with Bloomsdale spinach, popover, porcini butter and tricolor cauliflower; and chocolate yule log with gingerbread sponge, eggnog crème brûlée and chocolate sauce. LA Market’s Christmas Eve and Christmas Day prix fixe menu is priced at $65 per person and does not include beverages, tax, and gratuity

Petrossian‘s Christmas Eve menu is four courses. The first course is cauliflower soup with white truffle, leeks and brioche or duck croquette with sour cherry mustard, walnuts, watercress and baguette. Second course: wild mushrooms tagliatelle with chestnut, rosemary and Parmesan or seafood risotto with Iranian saffron, tomato and white wine. The third course, branzino with sea foam, herbs and pistachio or roasted venison with cranberry jus, celery root and savory granola. And dessert, persimmon cake or milk chocolate ganache with peppermint gelato. A la carte signature menu also available. $150 per person. 5 p.m. to close. 321 North Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood,310.271.6300, www.facebook.com/PetrossianBoutiqueRestaurant.

ALSO:

Caviar at 35,000 feet in the air

Plan Check restaurant opens on Fairfax

Deepak Chopra book signing, pub crawl, Animal guest chef