Sure it's traditional to have Christmas dinner at home. Holiday movies and television practically make it mandatory to have a huge tableful of adoring friends and family gather around for Christmas dinner. Even The Who's from How The Grinch Stole Christmas shared a "roast beast" with The Grinch on Christmas day.
But the harsh reality is that you'll wind up spending hundreds of dollars at the market and hours in the kitchen, only to be faced with mountains of dirty dishes to clean while everyone else is watching It's a Wonderful Life. This year, boycott your kitchen and let some of South Florida's best restaurants serve up the holiday meal. These restaurants offer delicious Christmas Day menus, none of which offer roast beast.
, 19088 NE 29 Ave, Aventura, FL 33186, (305) 935-2900. Open Christmas
Eve and Christmas Day 6-11pm. Reservations recommended.
Chef Allen Susser combines his award-winning mix of Caribbean, Latin and
America fare to create a special three course Christmas menu.
Selections include roasted Cornish hen with fig jam, seared jumbo
scallops with pumpkin risotto and wood-grilled lamb chops with root
vegetables. Three course Christmas Eve or Christmas Day menu is $75 per
person (excluding tax and gratuity).
900 State Road 84, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33315, (954) 463-6747. Open
Christmas Day from noon-9:00pm.
If you're a fan of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", you're probably
wondering where you can get a good Christmas Goose in South Florida.
Old Heidelberg is serving up a special Christmas menu that includes
Christmas Goose with potato dumplings ($26.95), German Duck with
stuffing ($20.95). Freak out the kiddies and order the pecan-encrusted
venison ($26.95) and tell them it's one of Santa's reindeers that were
too slow transporting him from the North Pole. All dinners come with a
choice of soup or salad.
at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, 1881 SE 17 Street, Ft.
Lauderdale, FL 33316, (954) 759-9950. Open Christmas Day from 6-11pm.
Bar opens at 5pm.
If you're looking for a Christmas dinner with some exotic influences,
China Grill is offering some holiday favorites with a distinct Asian
flair. Roast Christmas Goose "Mu-shu" is served with a duck comfit and
ginger plum jus ($56) and their China Grill "Surf & Turf" is a 10oz
grilled filet mignon and half Maine lobster served with baby bok choy
and morel and shiitake mushroom sauté ($85). Regular ala carte menu
will be offered, as well.
3033 NE 32nd Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308, (954) 566-2855. Open
Christmas Day from 11:30am-7:30pm with dinner seatings every two hours,
starting at 11:30. Call for reservations.
Shooter's is offering something for everyone this Christmas with a
Christmas Buffet featuring roast chicken, ham, turkey and a prime rib
carving station. A dessert buffet is included, as is a house salad,
fruit platter and non-alcoholic drinks. Adults $28.95, Children under
10 $14.95. Added bonus - Shooter's famous Hot Body bikini contest will
still be held Christmas afternoon and their daily In The Biz discount
(20% at the bar with paystub and ID) will be honored!
1850 SE 17th St Suite 109, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316, (954) 835-5507,
Open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 4-10pm.
Market 17 is a farm-to-table restaurant, utilizing the freshest organic
ingredients free from unnecessary chemicals or pesticides. Market 17
will be serving a special 4 course ($55) and 6 course ($75) tasting
menu for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in addition to their regular
ala carte menu. Since Market 17 uses only the freshest ingredients, the
menu has not been finalized, so call for updates.
