This Christmas, leave the cooking to the professionals.
Thee Bay Area restaurants will be serving decadent feasts for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Whether you'd rather dress up and make it an event or order in for a cozy meal, you'll have plenty of choices.
Here are the best options for dining or takeout for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2023.
Where to Eat on Christmas Eve in the Bay Area
Do Christmas the SF way, with a whole Dungeness from the Crab House.
(Courtesy of Crab House)
3rd Cousin
Neighborhood favorite 3rd Cousin will be doing Christmas Eve up with a four-course prix-fixe ($135). The festive menu will include kabocha squash soup, black truffle and porcini mushroom ravioli, and a choice of fillet mignon or butter-poached lobster tail. There's also a vegetarian option, with a main dish fashioned with choy sum, grilled tofu, date butter, and celery root puree, and a supplement for uni addicts. // 919 Cortland Ave. (Bernal Heights), 3rdcousinsf.com
Crab House (+ Christmas)
Do Christmas dinner the San Francisco way with Dungeness crab. Pier 39's Crab House has got theirs roasted in garlic sauce and ready to serve alongside other local seafood stars like crab chowder, shellfish topped garlic noodles, and cioppino on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 11:30am to 9pm. Although reservations are recommended, this is one of the few places that'll take walk-ins in case you have a last minute hankering for the riches of the deep. // 203 C Pier 39 (Fisherman's Wharf), crabhouse39.com
Estiatorio Ornos
Celebrate Christmas Eve in Mediterranean style at Estiatorio Ornos. The four-course holiday meal ($145) gets decadent with winter fattoush topped with brown butter truffle vinaigrette, Liberty duck with honey glazed breast and baby root veggies, and, for dessert, loukoumades served with Greek honey, cinnamon spice, and toasted sesame seeds. // 252 California St. (Financial District), michaelmina.net
Fog Harbor Fish House (+ Christmas)
Celebrate the holidays with fresh, sustainable seafood from Fog Harbor Fish House on Pier 39. The whole menu is on offer both Christmas Eve and Christmas day, which includes everything from seared scallop and crab risotto and garlic roasted Dungeness crab to crab cakes and award-winning clam chowder. The restaurant will be open from 11am to 9pm on December 24 and 25; reservations aren't required, but are recommended. // Pier 39 (Fisherman's Wharf), fogharbor.com
International Smoke
International Smoke is preparing a Christmas Eve feast for the ages. At their holiday buffet ($125/adult, $55/kids 12 and under), you'll find Northern California classics like Hog Island oysters, SF garlic noodles, and apple and endive salad combined with seasonal favorites like honey glazed ham, mac and cheese, and co-founding chef Ayesha Curry's special cornbread served with Thai red curry butter. // 301 Mission St. (SoMa), michaelmina.net
At Luce, Christmas Eve dinner is an exquisite tasting experience. The five-course modern Mediterranean/European holiday menu ($165) will include ham Iberico with hazelnut and apple, venison with chestnut puree, and gingerbread cheesecake. Open from 5:30pm to 9pm on December 24. // 888 Howard St. #3011 (SoMa), lucewinerestaurant.com
Parche
Parche's Christmas Eve dinner comes with Columbian flavors baked right in. Fron 4pm to 8pm on December 24, they'll be serving four delicious courses including rabbit braised for 12 hours in red wine and strawberries and cream. // 2295 Broadway Ave. (Oakland), parcheoak.com
Penny Roma
The pasta masters at Penny Roma are shaping an Italian celebration. Their feast of the seven fishes ($135) will include seven courses of family-style seafood-centric dishes, plus dessert and optional wine pairings. Dinner starts at 4pm. // 3000 20th St. (Mission-Bernal), pennyroma.com
SSAL
Michelin-starred contemporary Korean restaurant SSAL is hosting a luxurious Christmas Eve meal. The deluxe holiday tasting menu ($395/person) is still under wraps, but whatever they serve, you'll watch it all come together in the open kitchen. // 2226 Polk St. (Russian Hill), ssalsf.com
Sula (+ Christmas)
Cavallo Point's elegant Sula is cooking up some Yuletide cheer on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The four-course prix-fixe affair ($125/adult, $55/kids under 12) will include both traditional and not-so-traditional California fare including starters like peppered seared ahi and Dungeness crab bisque, mains like grilled lamb loin with potato celery root puree and duck breast with parsnip puree, and a choice of two desserts. Dinner is served between 5pm and 9pm on December 24 and 12pm to 9pm on December 25. // 601 Murray Circle, Fort Baker (Sausalito), cavallopoint.com
Terrene (+ Christmas)
Terrene at 1 Hotel San Francisco is preparing a farm-to-table feast on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day---which you can tuck into in the lush restaurant or their pop-up Apres Ski Chalet. The whole menu (including a special winter-themed one at the chalet) is on offer, as well as seasonal specials like New York strip with black garlic au poivre and rosemary honey almond tart. Dinner is served from 4pm to 10pm daily. // 8 Mission St. (Embarcadero), 1hotels.com/san-francisco
Villon
Villon is serving a multi-course prix fixe menu ($145/adult, $55 kids under 12) on Christmas Eve. The menu is full of holiday flavors and includes a feast of seven fishes antipasti, prime rib with Yorkshire pudding, and gingerbread roulade. Dinner will be served between 4pm and 9pm with optional wine pairings ($65) // Proper Hotel, 1100 Market St. (Civic Center), properhotel.com
Bay Area Restaurants Open on Christmas Day
Che Fico Alimentari's take home Christmas feast includes short ribs or polenta fritti with roasted veg.
(Courtesy of @cheficoalimentari)
Brenda's French Soul Food (+ Takeout)
Who says your festive Christmas meal can't be brunch? Not Brenda Buenviaje of Brenda's French Soul Food, who's serving up classic homestyle dishes like cream biscuits and country gravy, shrimp and grits, and beignets from 9am to 2pm. There's something for Christmas dinner die hards too: A holiday ham plate loaded with glazed pit ham, andouille cornbread dressing, green beans, and glazed yams. You can also pick up a version of the feast for a Christmas dinner at yours; reserve one of Brenda's holiday ham kits ($235, serves 6) for pickup on Dec. 22 // 652 Polk St. (Tenderloin), frenchsoulfood.com
Che Fico Alimentari (Takeout only)
Omnivores ($325) and vegetarians ($300) alike have a gorgeous Christmas meal for four in store at Che Fico Alimentari. Choose from a main of short ribs or polenta fritti with roasted vegetables in a pre-prepped dinner that also includes winter citrus salad, black truffle lasagna, potato parmigiano gratinato, and roasted Burssels sprouts. A tangelo and almond cake, as well as beer and wine, are also available a la carte. Pick up on December 23. // 834 Divisadero St. (NoPa), cheficoalimentari.com
The Butcher's Son (Takeout only)
Feast vegan-style with the Butcher's Son. The Berkeley plant-based deli's holiday meal ($77, serves 3-5) comes with your choice of ham, crispy-skin turkey or Impossible meatloaf; egg nog; chicken pot pie; and classic New York cheesecake. Don't need the whole smorgasboard? A la carte options are available, too. Order by December 10th for pick up December 18th through 24th. // 1954 University Ave. (Berkeley), thebutchersveganson.com
We love the moody, lux vibes of The Cavalier in regular times, with its dark wood finishes, marble tables and brass finishings. But when it gets decked out for the holidays, the bistro's all the better. Get ready for a pre-fixe menu ($150/adults, $50/kids 12 and under) full of classic Christmas dishes including wild mushroom soup, roast Cornish game hen, brown butter Brussels sprouts, and sticky toffee bread pudding with coffee ice cream. Get a seat at the table starting at 11:30am on December 25. // 360 Jessie St. (SoMa), thecavaliersf.com
Greens (Takeout only)
Place your order by December 15 for a vegetarian spread that will light up your Christmas table. Greens’ a la carte holiday to-go menu includes portobello mushroom Wellington with porcini jus, wild mushroom terrine, potatoes au gratin, masala-spiced winter squash, and desserts like chocolate hazelnut tart and Meyer lemon chevre cheesecake. Pick up your order December 23 or 24. // 2 Marina Blvd., Bldg A (Marina), greensrestaurant.com
Maison Nico (Takeout only)
For Francophiles, no traditional Christmas would be complete without a bûche de Nöel, that fanciful Parisian yule log. This year, Maison Nico debuts its version ($87), layered with Tahitian vanilla white chocolate mousse, cashew praline, and . At about 10-inches long, it will easily serve at least 10 guests. When you place your order, you can also opt in for beef wellington ($160), duck pithivier ($50), and other gorgeous, celebratory pastries. // 710 Montgomery St. (Jackson Square), maisonnico.com
The Morris (Takeout only)
Chef Gavin Schmidt is pre-smoking his signature duck ($50-$100) for you to roast at home for Christmas. Pre-order half or whole birds plus root vegetables, charcuterie, a duck noodle soup kit, and chocolate pudding for dessert. Pickup is December 23rd and 24th from 12pm to 4:30pm. //2501 Mariposa St. (Potrero Hill), themorris-sf.com
Palette Tea House
Join the Christmas Day festivities in Ghiradelli Square at the expansive, modern Cantonese and dim sum restaurant, Palette Tea House. They'll be open for indoor or outdoor seating from 11am to 8pm on December 25. // 900 North Point St., Ste. B201A (Fisherman's Wharf), paletteteahouse.com
United Dumplings (Takeout only)
If you've never known the joys of eating Chinese food on Christmas Day, a longstanding Jewish tradition, here's your chance. Take home United Dumplings' lobster dumpling or crab dumpling meal ($228, serves 4-6), which in addition to lobster or crab and dumplings includes potstickers, fried noodles, sweet and spicy chicken wings, veggie spring rolls, and a bottle of champagne. Order now for pickup at their Bernal location between now and Christmas Day. // 525 Cortland Ave. (Bernal Heights), uniteddumplings.com
