Don't feel like cooking? Local restaurants make celebrating Christmas, New Year's easy

By PAM KRAGEN - Staff Writer | Thursday, December 18, 2008 5:08 PM PST ∞

Don’t feel like cooking for Christmas or New Year's Day? Local restaurants are offering a number of holiday dinners and New Year's Eve parties. Here’s a selection of some local dining options:

---

Christmas dinners:

-- Arterra: The San Diego Marriott Del Mar's restaurant will offer a prix-fixe, three-course Christmas Eve dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, and again from 1 to 6 p.m. Christmas Day for $44.95 for adults and $19.95 for children under 12. 11966 El Camino Real, Del Mar; (858) 369-6032.

-- Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino: The Lakeside casino will offer Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining specials in its three restaurants. The Barona Oaks Steakhouse offers a prix-fixe, three-course dinner for $52 ($82 with wine pairings) from 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Dec. 25. Ranch House Buffet will offer a casual buffet from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Christmas Day for $29.95 each. And Sage Cafe offers a three-course, prix-fixe menu from 4 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Christmas Day for $29.50. 1095 Barona Road, Lakeside; (888) 722-7662.

-- Bernard'O: The Rancho Bernardo French fine-dining restaurant will offer a special Christmas Eve prix-fixe, three-course dinner priced from $43 to $51 and live entertainment, seating from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. 12457 Rancho Bernardo Road, San Diego; (858) 487-7171.

-- Cafe Sevilla: The Gaslamp Quarter Spanish restaurant offers a Spanish meal will offer a Christmas Eve three-course, prix-fixe menu beginning at 4 p.m. Wednesday for $27.95. A Christmas Day three-course menu with live Flamenco entertainment will be begin service at 3 p.m. Dec. 25 for $27.95. 555 Fourth Ave., San Diego; (619) 233-5979.

-- Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa: The resort will present a prix-fixe three-course Christmas Eve dinner menu on Wednesday for $49 ($79 with wine pairings). A Christmas Day a la carte brunch menu will be offered from 6 to 11 a.m. in the Adobe El Restaurant. 9700 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla; (858) 964-6500.

-- Falkner Winery: The Temecula winery's Pinnacle Restaurant wil offer a special Christmas Holiday Special lunch for two from Dec. 26-31, which includes lunch for two, two glasses of wine, for $55; Falkner Winery, Calle Contento, Temecula; (951) 676-8231.

-- Four Seasons Resort Aviara: The Carlsbad resort hosts Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining options at its three restaurants. On Wednesday, California Bistro offers a prix-fixe four-course dinner for $85 from 5:30-10 p.m.; Vivace hosts a four-course special menu for $110 from 5 to 9 p.m.; and the newly refurbished Argyle Steakhouse offers a four-course special menu for $110 from 6 to 9:30 p.m.

Then on Christmas Day, California Bistro will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Argyle from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for holiday brunch buffets (both priced at $85 for adults and $42.50 for children ages 5 to 12). On the evening of Dec. 25, Vivace and Argyle will offer four-course prix-fixe dinner menus for $120 each. Vivace will be open from 4 to 9 p.m. and Argyle from 6 to 9:30 p.m. that night; Four Seasons Resort Aviara, 7100 Four Seasons Point, Carlsbad; (760) 603-6000.

-- Grand Del Mar: The Carmel Valley luxury resort's upscale Addison offers a seven-course, prix-fixe Christmas menu from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for $150 ($285 with wine pairings). Amaya Restaurant offers a three-course tasting menu from 5 to 9 p.m. both nights for $75 ($110 with pairings). 5200 Grand Del Mar Way, San Diego; (858) 314-2000.

-- Kitchen 1540: The new restaurant at L'Auberge Del Mar will offer prix-fixe, design-your-own Christmas Day dinner for $49, adults, and $26 for children under 12. 1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar; (858) 793-6460.

-- Pechanga Casino: The Temecula casino's five restaurants will offer Christmas Day dining. The Great Oak Steakhouse will offer a three-course prix-fixe meal for $65 (5-10 p.m.). Paisano's will serve a four-course Italian dinner for $65 (5-10 p.m.). The Seafood Grotto will offer an a la carte holiday menu (5-10 p.m.). The Pechanga Cafe will offer a prix-fixe, three-course menu and a la carte items for $10.50-$18.50 (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.). And Pechanga Buffet will offer brunch from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ($19.99 adults, $5.99 for ages 3 to 11) and dinner from 4 to 10 p.m. ($24.99, adults; $7.99, children 3 to 11). 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula; (951) 770-2507.

-- Quarter Kitchen: The Ivy Hotel restaurant is creating a "sugar and spice" a la carte holiday menu (items from $10 to $26) for Christmas Day diners from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Ivy Hotel, 600 F St., San Diego; (619) 814-2000.

-- Savory Casual Fare: The Encinitas restaurant will offer a three-course Christmas Eve prix-fixe menu from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday for $54.50. Diners can order the same menu for take-out priced at $49 per person. 267 El Camino Real, Encinitas; (760) 634-5556.

-- Temecula Community Christmas Dinner: The city's 14th annual dinner feeds more than 1,500 diners, communal style, for free, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 25. Temecula Community Center, 28816 Pujol St., Temecula; (951) 678-2471.

-- Valley View Casino: The Valley Center casino will offer Christmas Day menus in all three of its restaurants (ages 21 and up only). The Buffet will serve a holiday buffet beginning at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 25 priced at $23.99. Black & Blue steakhouse will offer a four-course prix-fixe dinner for $49.95. And BLD's Cafe will offer a three-course dinner for $17.95. 16300 Nyemii Pass Road, Valley Center; (760) 291-2130.

-- Westgate Hotel: On Christmas Eve, Le Fontainebleau restaurant will offer a prix-fixe dinner from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday for $129 (including wine pairing). And on Christmas Day, there are two buffet options from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Le Fontainebleau for $65, and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Le Grande Cafe for $59. 1055 Second Ave., San Diego; (619) 557-3655.

---

New Year's Eve events:

-- Arterra: The San Diego Marriott Del Mar's restaurant will offer a prix-fixe New Year's Eve dinner with two seatings from 5:30-6:30 p.m. (four courses, $85) and from 8 to 9:30 p.m. (six courses, $115); wine and cocktail pairings are extra. 11966 El Camino Real, Del Mar; (858) 369-6032.

-- Bernard'O: The Rancho Bernardo French fine-dining restaurant will offer two New Year's Eve prix-fixe dinner seatings with live entertainment. Early seating from 5 to 6:30 p.m. features a four-course dinner (with optional cheese course) for $59.50; second seating from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. is a six-course dinner for $79.50 (includes party favors). 12457 Rancho Bernardo Road, San Diego; (858) 487-7171.

-- Crescent Heights Kitchen & Lounge: Downtown San Diego's newest restaurant owned by Wolfgang Puck protege David McIntyre of Carmel Valley will offer two dinner seatings on New Year's Eve. A prix-fixe four-course menu will be served at 6:30 p.m. ($90 or $125 with wine pairings) and at 9:30 p.m. ($125 or $160 with pairings and midnight champagne toast). 655 W. Broadway, San Diego; (619) 450-6450.

-- Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa: The resort will present a prix-fixe three-course New Year's Eve dinner menu (with glass of champagne) on Dec. 31 for $59 ($89 with wine pairings). A New Year's Day a la carte brunch menu will be offered from 6 to 11 a.m. in the Adobe El Restaurant. 9700 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla; (858) 964-6500.

-- Four Seasons Resort Aviara: The Carlsbad resort hosts New Year's Eve dining options in four of its restaurants. Vivace and Argyle Steakhouse will host host four-course special menus with choices for $160 with live entertainment and party favors and seating reservations from 6 to 10 p.m The California Bistro will offer an a la carte menu and prix-fixe four-course menu from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. for $75 (a $15 children's buffet available for ages 5 to 12). And the Lobby Lounge will host a New Year's Eve party, featuring a three-course set menu at 9 p.m. for $110 (open to resort and club guests only) followed by live entertainment, dancing, party favors and a balloon drop (non-resort guests can join the party after 9 p.m. for $60); Four Seasons Resort Aviara, 7100 Four Seasons Point, Carlsbad; (760) 603-6000.

-- Frankie's Steak & Seafood: The Temecula steakhouse is offering a New Year's Eve a la carte early dinner menu from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 31. Then a New Year's Eve champagne celebration, from 9:30 to 1 a.m., will include a three-course dinner, live Latin jazz, party favors and champagne is $95. 41789 Nicole Lane, Temecula; (951) 676-8040.

-- Grand Del Mar: The Carmel Valley luxury resort's upscale Addison offers a seven-course, prix-fixe Christmas menu from 5:30 to 10 p.m. New Year's Eve for $175 ($300 with wine pairings). Amaya Restaurant offers a four-course tasting menu from 6:30 to 10 p.m. both nights for $125 ($190 with pairings). A New Year's Eve Gala will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Manchester Salon, including dinner with wine pairings, champagne toast, dancing and live entertainment for $395. 5200 Grand Del Mar Way, San Diego; (858) 314-2000.

-- Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego: The harborside hotel will offer a limited a la carte New Year's Eve menu at Sally's Seafood on the Water and a New Year's Eve buffet in it's Lael's Restaurant ($65, adults; $30, children 4 to 12). Lael's will also offer a grand breakfast buffet on New Year's Day; 1 Market Place, San Diego; (800) 358-6744.

-- Pala Casino Spa & Resort: The casino is offering dinner, New Year's Eve party and room specials to ring in the new year. The Oak Room Steak & Seafood Restaurant offers a special holiday dinner and access to one of the parties in the Grand Cabaret or the Events Center for $109. Mama's Cucina Italiana will present a holiday dinner menu for $59. Terrace Buffet will offer a $29 menu with 140 items including steak and seafood. Parties with live music will get under way at 9 p.m. Dec. 31. Highway 76, Pala; palacasino.com.

-- Ponte Winery: The Temecula winery's Smokehouse Restaurant will offer a buffet dinner, full Ponte wine bar and live entertainment; 7 p.m. to midnight; $175 per person ($158 Wine Club). 35053 Rancho California Road, Temecula; (951) 694-8855.

-- Savory Casual Fare: The Encinitas restaurant will offer a prix-fixe three-course New Year's Eve dinner with champagne toast will be offered at two seatings, from 5 to 6:45 p.m. ($62) and 7 to 9:30 p.m. ($82); 267 El Camino Real, Encinitas; (760) 634-5556.

-- Tango Restaurant & Wine Bar: The Escondido restaurant will offer a five-course New Year's Eve dinner with two seatings from 6 to 7 p.m. ($69) and from 9-10 p.m. ($79); 417 W. Grand Ave., Escondido; (760) 747-5000.

-- Thornton Winery: The Temecula winery's New Year's Eve Gala, which begins at 7 p.m. Dec. 31, will include a gourmet dinner, champagne toast and dancing to the King Bisquit Review, priced a $165. 32575 Rancho California Road, Temecula; $(951) 699-0099.

-- Vigilucci's Seafood & Steakhouse: The Carlsbad seaside restaurant will offer New Year's Eve three-course prix-fixe menus ranging from $70 to $90. 3878 Carlsbad Blvd., Carlsbad; (760) 434-2580.

-- Vigilucci's Seafood, Steak and Chop House: The La Jolla restaurant will offer New Year's Eve three-course prix-fixe menus ranging from $70 to $90; 900 Prospect St., Suite 290, La Jolla; (858) 454-9664.

-- Vigilucci's Cucina: This Carlsbad Village restaurant will offer a New Year's Eve three-course prix-fixe menu for $85. 2943 State St., Carlsbad; (760) 434-2500.

-- Westgate Hotel: A New Year's Eve event includes a champagne reception at 7:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 8 p.m. (in either the upscale Le Fontainebleau or midpriced Le Grand Cafe) and dancing to live music in the ballroom 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.; $99-$185 ($129-$225 with wine pairings and champagne toast). 1055 Second Ave., San Diego; (619) 557-3655.

-- Wilson Creek Winery: The New Year's Eve Extravaganza includes a sit-down dinner, wine and champagne, music and dancing, party favors for $180 per person; 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.. 35960 Rancho California Road, Temecula; (951) 699-9463.



New Year's Day menu:

-- Grand Del Mar: The Carmel Valley luxury resort's Amaya Restaurant will offer a New Year's Day traditional breakfast buffet from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $28, adults, and $12 for children under 12. 5200 Grand Del Mar Way, San Diego; (858) 314-2000.