Can it be here already? Christmas is just around the esquina. As of today, Miami has 5 days to scrounge up plans, coordinate with the relatives, designate dishes, and have an overall panic attack realizing CHRISTMAS IS LESS THAN A WEEK AWAY.
Not to worry, though. Short Order has Miami's restaurant guide for Christmas and Christmas Eve.
Screw the colossal mountain of dishes at the end of your meal (someone's getting paid holiday time for that). Tell a potentially dry, overcooked turkey to kiss your Miami sun-kissed ass (there's no room for dry turkey at Miami establishments). But most importantly, take a load off and leave the Christmas meal to the experts.
Note: We'll be updating this list on a daily basis. If you'd like your restaurant's brunch, lunch, or dinner service to be included in this guide, please contact me at [email protected].
The Place: Quattro
The Vittles: Menu will include antipasti selections such as stuffed truffle polenta with fontina cheese fondue and white truffles. First courses will include champagne risotto with scampi and Ostera caviar, and "Langhe" taglioni, butter and white truffle. For the second courses, options include Turbot with artichoke, black olives and basil sauce, and duck breast with butter foie gras and sweet saba.
The Details: Dinner service will be offered Christmas Ever and Christmas Day. For more information and reservations, call 305-531-4833.
The Price: A la carte, price range from $34-$75 per dish.
The Place: BLT Steak
The Vittles: Chestnut apple soup with ginger whipped cream and apple tuille, Nantucket bay scallop with persimmon grilled county bread and candied kumquat, braised lamb shank with blood orange gremolata, or seared tarbot with black trumpet and salsify ragout, or 20 oz dry age KC Strip with smoked brisket marmalade. Sides include rainbow chard with parsnip and bacon lardons, wil mushroom tart with roasted tomato, and desserts include apple pie sundae with calvados ice cream and fleur de sel caramel, and buche de Noel with candy cane buttercream and vanilla "mushrooms".
The Details: BLT will offer the usual a la carte dinner menu on Christmas Eve, as well as the blackboard specials listed above. For reservations, call 305-673-0044.
The Price: A la carte, price range from $11-$55 per dish.
The Place: Gotham Steak
The Vittles: Holiday-inspired dishes include grilled Australian lamb porterhouse and roast prime rib of beef. Gingerbread and chocolate desserts will be expected to end the night on a sweet note.
The Details: Christmas Eve, Gotham will serve the regular dinner menu from 6p.m. to 12a.m.. Christmas Day, holiday dishes will be available from 6p.m. to midnight in addition to the regular menu. For reservations, call 877-326-7412.
The Price: TBA, but note that valet parking will be discounted to $12 with validation.
The Place: Scarpetta
The Vittles: Selections include raw yellowtail and creamy polenta to start. For pasta, the option of Scott Conant's spaghetti with tomato and basil, and for main course, the option of Alaska halibut or 21 day-aged sirloin of beed. Desserts include coconut panna cotta as well as two other selections.
The Details: Regular dinner menu will be offered on Christmas Eve from 6 p.m. to midnight. On Christmas Day, the restaurant will offer a four-course prix fixe dinner menu from 5- 10 p.m.. For reservations, call 877-326-7412.
The Price: $75 per person. Note that valet parking will be discounted to $12 with validation.
The Place: Toro Toro
The Vittles: On Christmas Eve, Toro Toro will offer a seafood buffet from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.. On Christmas Day, the restaurant will offer a four-course prix fixe plated dinner.
The Details: Christmas Day, the prix fixe dinner will include family-style appetizers, all-you-can-eat rodizio service and family-style desserts from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.. For reservations, call 305-372-4710.
The Price: Christmas Eve seafood buffet, $55 per person, $27 for kids 6-12 years old. Christmas Day prix fixe, $75 per person, $37.50 for kids 6-12 years old.
The Place: Sugarcane
The Vittles: Dishes include pan-seared foie gras cinnamon apple brioche, swiss chard with cranberry grastrique, duroc pork belly porchetta with polenta and melting pan vegetables. For dessert, candy cane parfait with frozen hot chocolate and peppermint marshmallows.
The Details: Sugarcane will be open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. For reservations or more info, call 786-369-0353.
The Price: A la carte, dishes range from $9-$32.
The Place: Sushi Samba
The Vittles: Chose from options like braised lamb belly with blood orange compote and candied shishimi pecans, Hudson Valley duck tataki with botija olive, palmito, shiso crema, crispy duck skin, and wasabi cress. For dessert, matcha pear millefeuille with caramelized pear, matcha castella and satsuma sorbet.
The Details: Sushi Samba will be open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. For reservations, call 305-673-5337.
The Price: Prices range from $10-$13 per dish.
The Place: Cascata Grill at the Turnberry
The Vittles: For Christmas Eve, lobster bisque, stuffed squid or meatballs, seafood bouillabaisse, steak frite. For Christmas Day, creations include forest mushroom bisque, shrimp napoleon, coffee and chili crusted beef carpaccio, roast Cornish game hen, herb & horseradish crusted prime rib of beef, and apple cardamom almond cake.
The Details: Prix fixe Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner from 5p.m. to close. Call 786-279-6800 for reservations.
The Price: $48 per person.
The Place: Veranda at the Turnberry
The Vittles: Buffet selections include a seafood and antipasto display, carving stations, butternut squash ravioli and a wide variety of desserts.
The Details: Christmas Day seatings between noon and 7 p.m. Call 305-933--6570 for reservations.
The Price: $65 per person, $32.50 for kids.
The Place: Area 31
The Vittles: Christmas buffet includes sparkling, red and white wine and features decadent offerings such as curried steak salad, roast suckling pig, and grilled dayboat swordfish.
The Details: Buffet will be served on Christmas Day from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.. For reservations, call 305-424-5234.
The Price: $65 per person.
The Place: Josh's Deli
The Vittles: Who said you can't spend Christmas at a Jewish deli? Christmas specials include porchetta sandwiches, and roast duck sandwiches, kreplach or matzo soups. Perfect way to load up before hitting the Matzo Ball at LIV.
The Details: Josh's Deli will be open all day Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
The Price: All dishes will be under $15.
The Place: Asia de Cuba at Mondrian
The Vittles: Prix-fixe menu items include Salt Cod Croquette salad of tomato, Mojo Marinated Shoulder of Pork Caja China moros y christianos, roast plantain mashed potatoes, napa cabbage with chicharrones, shisho and thai basil chimichurri.
The Details: Dinner is available Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Call 305-514-1940 for reservations.
The Price: $52 per person.
The Place: Serendipity 3 Miami Beach
The Vittles: Choose from either your traditional Christmas dinner of Glazed Ham, Potatoes Au Gratin, Roasted Chestnut Soup, Honey Glazed Carrots and Cranberry Sauce or if you want something a little differnt the Chinese Christmas menu which includes Chicken Stir Fry and Rice and a Spring Roll. Each dinner comes with a Peppermint Frrrozen Hot Chocolate, which comes regular for the kiddies or "Spiked" for the adults.
The Details: Make reservations for dinner at 305-403-2210.
The Price: $19.95 per person for Dinner, Holiday Cocktails $12, Holiday Desserts $14
The Place: Villa Azur
The Vittles: Offering a 6-course dinner with Champagne. Menu items include French favorites such as Truffled Foie Gras, Beef Wellington Filet and the traditional Bŭche De Noël.
The Details: Make sure to make your reservations in advance by calling 305-763-8688.
The Price: $145/per person and includes one glass of champagne.
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