On Tuesday, December 24, and Wednesday, December 25, Miami restaurants like the acclaimed Torno Subito in downtown Miami are offering special meals to celebrate Feast of the Seven Fishes, Christmas Eve, Nochebuena, and Christmas Day.
Without further ado, here's your guide on where to have a memorable Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the Magic City, listed in alphabetical order.
Bouchon Bistro
2101 Galiano St., Coral Gables305-990-1360
thomaskeller.comFor those seeking French fare on Christmas Eve, Chef Thomas Keller's award-winning bistro in the historic La Palma building in the heart of Coral Gables has a three-course Périgord menu. The prix-fixe experience on December 24 begins with pâté en croûte, a pork and black winter truffle pâté served with poached dried French prunes, Honeycrisp apple, and celery root rémoulade. For the main course, savor the poulet farci truffé sous la peau, a poached chicken breast with black winter truffles, morel mushroom velouté, and rice pilaf. Conclude the evening with the galette des rois, a caramelized puff pastry with frangipane. The à la carte menu will also be available for those who prefer additional options. Price: $95 per person. Closed on Christmas Day.
Cafe La Trova
971 SW Eighth St., Miami786-615-4379
cafelatrova.comWorld-renowned bartender Julio Cabrera and chef Michelle Bernstein's Café La Trova on Calle Ocho is celebrating Nochebuena on December 24 with a menu that is sure to please all palates. The three-course menu will include dishes served family style that begin with bacalao fritters, tiny spinach empanadas, and poached shrimp tiradito. The main course will include branzino with whipped potatoes and Italian salsa verde, braised mojo-marinated pork shoulder with steamed yuca and crisp pork skin, churrasco with sauce au poivre, mushroom and cipollini onion ragout, butternut squash risotto, and roasted broccolini. Rounding out the meal are a flan, "Michy's Bread Pudding," and buñelos. Price: $95 per person and $30 for children under 12. Closed on Christmas Day.
Carbone Miami
39 Collins Ave., Miami Beachcarbonemiami.comCarbone is celebrating Christmas Day with a meal that will be served family style except for the main course. The starters offered will be the "Caesar a la ZZ," lobster cocktail, burrata, and caviar. Following the starters is Chef Mario Carbone's popular spicy rigatoni vodka pasta along with a truffle tortelli. For the main, guests can opt for the prime rib au jus and flag sauces or the shrimp fra diavolo, both served with garlic spinach and "Potatoes Louie" as sides. Ending the meal on a sweet note are the panettone anglaise and a rice pudding with caramel roasted pear. Price: $225 per person.
La Mar by Gastón Acurio has been serving Peruvian-Nikkei cuisine in Brickell for ten years.
La Mar by Gastón Acurio photo
La Mar by Gastón Acurio
500 Brickell Key Dr., Miamiat the Mandarin Oriental
305-913-8358
lamarcebicheria.com/miamiLa Mar by Gastón Acurio is hosting a "Jingle Bells Christmas Eve" dinner experience, as well as a Christmas Day experience, offering traditional Peruvian-inspired holiday cuisine by executive chef Diego Oka. Patrons can indulge in a family-style pork feast and lavish buffet featuring various grilled favorites, including anticuchos de corazón (heart skewers), anticuchos de pollo (chicken), and anticuchos de camarón (shrimp), alongside live stations of seafood rice and scallops. Additional items include the signature whole fish Nikkei, ajà de gallina (hen) empanadas, papas y choclo, quinoa salad, pasta salad, and more. Guests are also invited to sip on an array of cocktails served alongside views of Biscayne Bay and the Brickell skyline. Price: $250 per person (21+), which includes a two-hour dinner experience with Champagne plus a selection of cocktails, wine, and beer, and $125 per person for guests who are 7-20 years of age. Also open on Christmas Day with the same special.
Le Jardinier
151 NE 41st St., Ste. 135, Miami
305-402-9060
lejardinier-miami.comThe Michelin star recipient is offering a special Christmas Eve four-course dinner. The first course has selections of either a tataki-style tuna with avocado and jalapeño dressing or a cauliflower velouté with pine nut gremolata and sage crouton. The second course features pumpkin agnolotti with foie gras and pecan brown butter or a seared scallop with yuzu butter and salsify. The main course is a veal chop with a chanterelle mushroom fricassé and baby carrots. Rounding out the meal is a pain d’épice Chantilly apple tatin with cranberry sauce and speculoos. Price: $155 per person with optional wine pairing for $135 per person.
Lightkeepers
455 Grand Bay Dr., Key Biscayneat the Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne
305-365-4156
ritzcarlton.comLocated inside the Ritz Carlton in Key Biscayne, Lightkeepers' Christmas Eve special is a four-course, prix-fixe dinner beginning with an amuse bouche of goat cheese pannacotta with pickled green apples and caviar. Continue on to morels velouté with green asparagus and guanciale foam, followed by a choice of either ravioli Maine lobster bolognese with bisque emulsion or a turkey blanquette roulade with heirloom roots and white truffle sauce. End the meal on a sweet note with the chef's selection of desserts. Price: $120 per person.
Rao's Miami Beach
1601 Collins Ave, Miami Beach305-404-7267
raosonmiamibeach.comThis Christmas Day and Christmas Eve, Rao's Miami Beach at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel invites guests to enjoy a holiday feast with a selection of exclusive specials perfect for gathering family and friends together. On Christmas Eve, the restaurant will offer a "Feast of the Seven Fishes" special featuring a selection of seafood dishes like shrimp cocktail, spicy fritto misto, baked clams, "Frutti Di Mare," stuffed lobster with shrimp and jumbo lump crab meat, red snapper, and grilled swordfish. On Christmas Day, the restaurant will offer pan-seared scallops, lasagna, osso bucco with saffron risotto, and panettone bread pudding.
Sunny's Steakhouse
7357 NW Miami Ct., Miamisunnysmia.com Sunny's Steakhouse will be open this Christmas Eve and will accept reservations from 4 to 9 p.m. Chef Carey Hynes and Aaron Brooks will be serving a la carte holiday specials, including prime rib with horseradish cream, au jus, and Yorkshire pudding. Sunny's signature dinner menu will also be available for guests. Closed Christmas Day.
Torno Subito
200 E. Flagler St., Miami786-206-1395
tornosubitomia.com Chef Massimo Bottura's Italian restaurant in downtown Miami features a prix-fixe Christmas Eve tasting menu. The menu includes a 36-month-aged Parmigiano Reggiano with Grissini prosciutto, apple, and balsamic vinegar as an aperitif. The starters include a "Christmas Salad" and cocktail di gamberi (shrimp), while the mains to anticipate are the "Colpa d'Alfredo," a Parmigiano risotto featuring porcini mushroom and black truffle, as well as a veal porchetta made with turkey breast, rosemary dill, and red wine sauce. The panettone soufflé finishes the meal as Chef Bottura's take on a traditional Italian dessert with candied oranges and creamy vanilla ice cream. The restaurant will also offer its traditional à la carte menu. Torno Subito's indoor dining room offers a chic yet playful Christmas Eve atmosphere with views of downtown Miami from its rooftop location at Julia & Henry's.
Toro Toro
100 Chopin Plz., Miamiat InterContinental Miami
305-372-4710
torotoromiami.comCelebrate Nochebuena and Christmas Day with a Pan-Latin holiday feast at Toro Toro, chef/restaurateur Richard Sandoval's acclaimed restaurant inside the InterContinental Miami. On Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24, from 6 to 10 p.m., and Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25, from noon to close, Toro Toro is featuring several seasonal à la carte dishes. Begin the feast with snow crab bisque with sweet corn ravioli, crab remoulade, and herb oil ($24) and "Winter Greens Salad" with spiced pecan, apricots, cranberries, goat cheese crumble, sourdough crisp, and maple sherry vinaigrette ($19). Entrée highlights include morita chili-glazed black cod with celery root purée, sautéed oyster mushroom, and winter truffle jus ($63), pork belly with sweet potato purée, pickled heirloom carrots, figs, and port wine gastric ($46), and veal cheeks braised for eight hours and served with butternut creamy rice, blossom squash crisp, and thyme au jus ($52). End the holiday feast on a sweet note with dessert selections, including a passionfruit Christmas pavlova made with seasonal berries, passionfruit court, guava marshmallow, and raspberry sorbet ($16) and the "Noir de Noël" dark chocolate cake with espresso ganache and Madagascar vanilla bean gelato topped with snowflake crisps ($18).
