Skip the Cooking and Cleaning—Here’s Where to Dine This Christmas!
Some of Newport Beach’s best restaurants are cheffing up for you this year for Christmas dining in Newport Beach. With options to dine in or take your feast to go, you’re sure to find the perfect Christmas meal that meets your and your family’s needs. So before you create a mile-long grocery list and try to cook everything yourself, check out these eight delicious holiday menus! Leave the cooking to the pros this season—it’s what they do best.
Situated steps from the Newport Pier, 21 Oceanfront has stood the test of time, reigning as one of Newport Beach premier spots for an elegant dinner. This year, for $99 per person, the restaurant is serving a decadent Christmas Eve dinner from 4-9 p.m. that consists of three tasty courses. Start with appetizers like the bacon-wrapped dates or poached pear winter salad, then move onto mains like the bone-in pork chop or scallops with sage butter, spinach and butternut squash puree. Finish on a sweet note with the roasted fig red velvet cake!
Eager to skip the cooking and cleaning this year? Five Crowns in Corona del Mar is offering a delectable Christmas Eve menu chock-full of holiday favorites. With starters like lobster bisque soup and jumbo shrimp cocktail and mains like prime rib, roasted duck breast and rack of Colorado lamb, you and your family are sure to be satisfied. Don’t miss out on their selection of signature sides, which include creamed corn, creamed spinach, green beans, Brussels sprouts, and mashed potatoes.
If you’re playing host this Christmas and you know you have some long hours ahead of you in the kitchen, ease the stress with a meal out on Christmas Eve at Rothschild’s Restaurant! This authentic Italian eatery in Corona del Mar has been a local’s favorite since 1997 and continues to please the palates of all who dine here. This Christmas Eve, you and your family can enjoy a three-course, pre-fixe meal that includes your choice of starter, entree and dessert. Think grilled Chilean sea bass piccata, lobster ravioli, Sangiovese braised short rib, pistachio pesto fettuccine and more.
Looking to switch things up this Christmas Eve? Climb aboard and enjoy a decadent brunch or dinner on the water with City Cruises! This vessel/event company is hosting a festive Christmas Eve dinner cruise, which includes a 2.5-hour cruise on Newport Harbor, a delicious holiday buffet dinner, DJ entertainment and a fully-stocked cash bar. If you’re looking to celebrate on Christmas Day, reserve a table with your family on the Christmas Day Premier Brunch Cruise for a festive day out on the water.
Spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Dinner at The Mayor’s Table, where Chef Riley Huddleston will prepare a four-course meal that includes an amuse-bouche of Christmas Tamal and your choice of appetizer, entree and dessert. Tickets start at $95 per adult and $40 for children 12 and under. Come enjoy live music and a family feast this holiday when you make a reservation for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day!
This year, Balboa Bay Resort is making things merry by serving both a Christmas Eve and Christmas Day brunch! From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 24 and 25, you and your family can enjoy a decadent brunch buffet in the beautiful indoor-outdoor Lighthouse Room. Unlimited sparkling wine and mimosas are included, along with complimentary valet parking. Tickets start at $145 for adults and $75 for children—don’t miss out on this festive seaside celebration!
A destination for luxury seekers, families and everyone in between, The Resort at Pelican Hill is a pristine retreat perched on 504 acres of stunning coastline. In addition to a calendar packed with holiday happenings, the property is also making things extra merry this season with a Christmas Eve dinner buffet, Christmas Day brunch buffet and pre-fixe Christmas dinner at its signature restaurant Pelican Grill. Sit down and enjoy a gourmet meal with an ocean view and cheers to a holiday well-spent!
VEA Newport Beach’s signature VIEW Restaurant & Lounge will be offering three-course prix fixe menus curated by Executive Chef Andrew Arndt for Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner this year. The first course will feature a choice of chicory and persimmon, butternut squash soup or crispy Brussels sprouts. For the main course, guests can choose between grilled ribeye, halibut or roasted rack of lamb. Finish off your feast with dessert options, like dark chocolate creme brulee or eggnog cheesecake. Reservations for these holiday dining experiences can be made via OpenTable.
Written by: Kaylin Waizinger
