18 San Diego restaurant options for your Christmas Eve or Christmas Day plans (2024)

Butternut squash soup, wild mushroom risotto, a New York strip loin and eggnog gelato are just a few of the menu options at San Diego County restaurants this Christmas.

Here are 18 dining options for those who do not want to cook or who want to try something new this Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve

Animae: Get an Asian-inspired Christmas dinner at Animae. Executive chef Tara Monsod has constructed a menu including ube pandesal sweet rolls with cheddar butter, Taiwanese cauliflower, beef cheek dinuguan, mushroom ragu and more. For dessert, pastry chef Laura Warren has put together a menu that includes calamansi mousse with coconut cake and a chocolate cremeux with miso sesame foam, chocolate crumble and chili cashews. Christmas dinner will be available from 3 to 8 p.m. and costs $110 per adult and $42 per child. Reservations can be made at opentable.com. 969 Pacific Highway, San Diego. (619) 432-1225. animaesd.com

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Ambrogio by Acquerello: In La Jolla, Ambrogio by Acquerello is hosting two eight-course Christmas Eve dinners from Michelin-star chef Silvio Salmoiraghi. The first is a $199 per person option that includes Alaskan salmon, oysters, halibut, filet mignon or Kagoshima A5 wagyu, raviolo, lemon sorbet and desserts. The second is a vegetarian option (with vegan choices by request) that is $179 per person and has seasonal vegetables, goat cheese asparagus, raviolo, eggplant, lemon sorbet and desserts. Reservations can be made online or by phone. 7556 Fay Ave., La Jolla. (858) 412-3432. ambrogiobyacquerello.com

Avant: On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Avant at the Rancho Bernardo Inn is hosting a four-course dinner. The menu on each night will have choices such as honey-glazed duck leg with pineapple, Alaskan halibut, wagyu strip loin, wild mushroom bisque with creme fraiche, caviar, gingerbread cookies made with buttercream and more. Meals will cost $125 per adult and $65 for children and will be served from 4 to 8 p.m. each night. For reservations visit opentable.com. 17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive, San Diego. (844) 254-0013. avantrestaurant.com

Bleu Bohème: Executive chef Ken Irvine and owner of Bleu Bohème has created a Christmas Eve menu with a French wrinkle. The $80 per person three-course meal includes hors d’oeuvres like crab cakes and escargot, main entree options like braised beef short ribs in blue cheese-red wine sauce and filet mignon and steak frites, and dessert choices like brioche bread pudding or creme brulee. This Christmas Eve menu will also have a co*cktail called the canneberge, that has a French gin, cranberry juice, bitters, simple syrup and a lime for $16. This Christmas Eve offering will be available from 4 to 8 p.m. 4090 Adams Ave., San Diego. (619) 255-4167. bleuboheme.com

Christmas Day

Adelaide: A Christmas Day buffet awaits brunch aficionados at Adelaide inside L’Auberge Del Mar from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guests will have food options like prime rib and roasted leg of lamb carving stations, seafood, roasted chestnut soup and more. The buffet will be $170 per adult and $40 per child. Reservations can be made online or by phone. 1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar. (858) 793-6467. laubergedelmar.com/dining/adelaide

Born & Raised: For steakhouse lovers, Born & Raised in Little Italy has a Christmas dinner menu with various cuts of meats. One of the highlights is a dry-aged porterhouse that can be order by the ounce. There are also choices such as uni spaghetti with chili oil and cured yolk and charcuterie boards with a collection of cheeses, meats, fruits, pickles and freshly baked bread. Reservations start at 4 p.m. and can be made at opentable.com. 1909 India St., San Diego. (619) 202-4577. bornandraisedsteak.com

Covewood: Visitors to Covewood at Mission Bay Resort will get a prix fixe family-style menu from executive chef Roy Hendrickson on Christmas Day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Food highlights include wild mushroom risotto, pan-roasted lamb rack, wild sea bass, lobster bisque and a chocolate yule log with spiked eggnog ice cream and toffee brittle. This meal is $113.67 per person. Reservations can be made at opentable.com. 1775 E Mission Bay Drive, San Diego. (619) 275-7922. missionbayresort.com

George’s at the Cove: Get a four-course meal for an early Christmas Day dinner at George’s at the Cove. From 4 to 7 p.m. For $110, guests can get cauliflower steak, striped bass, rib eye and various desserts like apple pie snicker doodle, gingersnap and doughnuts. Also, George’s will be serving a Christmas lunch on the rooftop terrace and Level2 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 1250 Prospect St., La Jolla. (858) 454 4244. georgesatthecove.com

Kanpai BBQ & Shabu: For those looking for a Christmas Day deal, try Kanpai BBQ & Shabu. This all-you-can-eat eatery is offering one free meal for groups of six or more and discounting meals from $39.95 to $34.99 from Dec. 25 to 29. 3904 Convoy St., #114-115, San Diego. (858) 737-4253 instagram.com/kanpaibbqsd

Kona Kai San Diego: Enjoy Christmas dinner in Point Loma at Vessel Restaurant + Bar inside Kona Kai San Diego. The menu includes a harvest candied beet salad, cranberry brie bites, a 9-ounce rib-eye, eggplant rollatini, pumpkin cheesecake and more. Dinner will be available from 4 to 8 p.m. by reservation. 1551 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego. (619) 819-8195. resortkonakai.com

Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina Kitchen: Early risers on Christmas Day will have the option of eating a breakfast buffet at Marriott Marquis San Diego’s Marina Kitchen. For $55 per person, customers can expect a menu that has honey-bourbon roasted ham, smoked New York strip loin, strawberry and lemon crepe, a build your own hot cocoa station and more. The buffet will be available from 6:30 to 11 a.m. For reservations visit opentable.com. 333 West Harbor Drive, San Diego. (619) 699-8222. marriott.com

Rancho Bernardo Inn: Live entertainment and a holiday buffet await guests at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. The spread will include grilled chicken with arugula cream, cured salmon with salt, brown butter garlic mashed potatoes, various desserts, meat carving stations, beer, co*cktails, wine and sodas. The buffet will be available from 1 to 4 p.m. with pricing at $135 for adults and $55 for children. 17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive, San Diego. (855) 574-5356. ranchobernardoinn.com

The Smoking Gun: In the Gaslamp Quarter, the Smoking Gun is hosting its third annual Chinese Christmas dinner. Chef Navor Martinez has prepared a menu that has fried rice, spicy honey garlic chicken, beef broccoli, deep fried green beans, honey walnut shrimp, wagyu beef brisket cumin soup and more starting at 5 p.m. Dishes vary in price from $11.99 to $15.99. 555 Market St.,San Diego. (619) 233-3836. thesmokinggunsd.com

Certainly! Based on the article you provided, it seems to focus on various dining options available in San Diego County for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. As an enthusiast in culinary experiences and dining trends, let me break down the concepts mentioned and the related information:

1. Butternut Squash Soup:

Mentioned in menus at locations like Marriott Marquis San Diego, offering it as part of their Christmas Eve dinner.
A classic winter soup made from pureed butternut squash, often seasoned with spices like nutmeg or cinnamon.

2. Wild Mushroom Risotto:

Not explicitly mentioned but could be a potential menu item in various restaurants due to the seasonal nature of risotto.
It's a creamy Italian rice dish made with Arborio rice, broth, white wine, and sautéed wild mushrooms.

3. New York Strip Loin:

Featured as a dish at Marriott Marquis San Diego for Christmas Eve dinner.
It's a popular cut of beef from the loin area, known for its tenderness and flavor.

4. Eggnog Gelato:

Also offered at Marriott Marquis San Diego, part of their Christmas Eve dinner.
Gelato flavored with the traditional holiday drink eggnog, made with milk, cream, sugar, and seasonal spices like nutmeg and cinnamon.

Restaurants & Menus:

Animae: Offering an Asian-inspired Christmas dinner with items like ube pandesal sweet rolls, beef cheek dinuguan, and calamansi mousse.
Ambrogio by Acquerello: Hosting two eight-course Christmas Eve dinners by Michelin-star chef Silvio Salmoiraghi, featuring options like Alaskan salmon, oysters, and vegetarian choices.
Avant at Rancho Bernardo Inn: Presenting a four-course dinner with options like honey-glazed duck leg, Alaskan halibut, and wild mushroom bisque.
Bleu Bohème: Serving a French-inspired Christmas Eve menu with dishes such as braised beef short ribs and a special co*cktail called "canneberge."
Cafe Sevilla: Offering bottomless mimosas for brunch and a three-course dinner with options like lamb sirloin and champiñónes y crema soup.
Marriott Marquis San Diego (Marina Kitchen): Serving a prix fixe dinner with dishes like butternut squash soup and dry-aged prime New York steak.
Paradisaea: Hosting a three-course Christmas Eve dinner with options like prime rib and sticky toffee pudding.
Rusticucina: Offering a Sicilian-style $55 prix fixe menu on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with dishes like lobster ravioli and house meatballs.
Serẽa Coastal Cuisine: Presenting a four-course meal including wagyu eye of rib and fried eggplant.
Adelaide: Hosting a Christmas Day buffet brunch with options like prime rib and roasted chestnut soup.
Born & Raised: Offering various cuts of meats and dishes like uni spaghetti and charcuterie boards for Christmas dinner.
Covewood: Providing a prix fixe family-style menu on Christmas Day with dishes like wild mushroom risotto and pan-roasted lamb rack.
George's at the Cove: Offering a four-course meal for early Christmas Day dinner featuring cauliflower steak and rib eye.
Kanpai BBQ & Shabu: Presenting an all-you-can-eat deal for Christmas Day.
Kona Kai San Diego: Serving Christmas dinner with dishes like a 9-ounce rib-eye and pumpkin cheesecake.
Marriott Marquis San Diego (Marina Kitchen): Hosting a Christmas Day breakfast buffet with options like honey-bourbon roasted ham and a build-your-own hot cocoa station.
Rancho Bernardo Inn: Offering a holiday buffet on Christmas Day with various dishes and carving stations.
The Smoking Gun: Hosting a Chinese Christmas dinner with dishes like fried rice and honey walnut shrimp.

These restaurants offer diverse cuisines and dining experiences for those seeking unique or traditional options for the holidays in San Diego County.