Luce Restaurant’s Maine lobster — from traditional dinner menu
It’s almost Christmas 2014! If you’re planning to dine in San Francisco or Oakland for the occasion, here are a few restaurants to consider including ones that feature additional holiday events like special teas and brunches.
A16 in San Francisco and A16 Rockridge in Oakland will once again celebrate Christmas Eve with “Feast of the Seven Fishes.” An honored Italian-American tradition, the seven-course meal will feature seafood fare from Executive Chef Rocky Maselli including dishes like Dungeness Crab with fried Brussels sprouts, Calabrian chili and Meyer lemon and Roasted Monterey Squid with saffron potato and salsa verde. This special Christmas Eve menu will be served family style with three optional wine pairings from Wine Director/Owner Shelley Lindgren including a classic pairing, a Rosso pairing, and a unique and rare pairing. Dinner is priced at $80 per person with wine pairing selections from $55-75 per person at A16 and $48-68 per person at A16 Rockridge. For reservations visit Open Table or call 415-771-2216 (SF) or 510-768-8003 (Rockridge).
Bocanova
If you want to celebrate Christmas Eve on the water this year, Bocanova on Jack London Square is serving dinner. Chef/Owner Rick Hackett and Executive Chef John Jackson have put together a prix fixe four-course tamale menu for $38 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Menu highlights include the Cuban Tamale with Dungeness crab, the Green Tamale with chicken, chipotle, and tomato, and the Persimmon Pudding with eggnog ice cream. Call 510-444-1233 for reservations.
Luce at the InterContinental San Francisco
Luce at the InterContinental San Francisco, awarded a Michelin star for six consecutive years, is open for Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. Chef Daniel Corey is offering a four-course dinner to celebrate the merriment of the holiday season. Diners will enjoy a globally inspired meal prepared by Michelin-star Chef Daniel Corey with seasonal, local ingredients. Menu highlights include local mushroom potage with crispy chicken skin and herb pistou; marinated baby beets, pickled apple, turnip and burrata; sweetbread ravioli with crispy sweetbreads and truffle; black bass, Dungeness crab jus and cauliflower; and a poached and roasted duck breast with onions and quince. Desserts will include pear cake with roasted white chocolate mousse and crème fraîche ice cream and chocolate pound cake with ginger infused custard, orange marmalade and a cranberry reduction. The special menu, served exclusively on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, will be $90 per person or $130 with wine pairing. Children ages 12 and younger are $45. Reservations are required. Call 415-616-6566.
Top of the Mark at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins
The Top of the Mark is serving a buffet for Christmas Eve dinner, a buffet for Christmas Day brunch and dinner, plus special events listed below. For reservations for any event or meal, please call 415-616-6941.
- Christmas Eve Dinner
Celebrate Christmas Eve at the festive Top of the Mark with the city of San Francisco twinkling in the background. Enjoy a dinner buffet including a raw bar, antipasto selection, chef station, small plates, entrees, roasts, and more. Chef Nenad Stefanovic will feature some traditional holiday favorites including Rosemary crusted prime rib, Upland Cress with frisee, white asparagus and horseradish mustard dressing, Bruschetta station with fava bean, manchego cheese, grilled pear, blue cheese, honey sweet potato and pancetta hash, and much more. Dessert will include Crepes Suzette with Grand Marnier sauce and orange supreme, as well as traditional holiday classics. Guests will also enjoy live music from San Francisco’s renowned pianist, Ricardo Scales. Top of the Mark’s Christmas Eve dinner buffet is offered from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Adults are $119 per person and children (ages 4-12) are $59.
- Christmas Day Brunch and Dinner Buffet
There is a holiday brunch and dinner buffet on Christmas Day at Top of the Mark. From 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., enjoy every delicious holiday treat you could imagine from traditional prime rib and turkey to a sweet selection of holiday cakes and pies. Brunch highlights include an omelet and waffle station, Scrambled eggs with chives and seasoned breakfast potatoes, and La Mer Benedict with béarnaise sauce. Additional highlights include Bone in Ham with charred pineapple sauce, Beef Medallions with caramelized shallots au poivre and fried parsnip chips, Grilled Lamb Chops with spiced lamb breast and honey mint dressing, Lobster bisque, and more. Guests will also enjoy live entertainment from pianists Michael Athens and Ricardo Scales. Top of the Mark Christmas Day Brunch and Christmas Dinner buffet is $119 per adult and $59 per child (ages 4 – 12).
- Holiday Tea
Celebrate at Top of the Mark’s annual afternoon Holiday Tea, which began Thanksgiving weekend and continues for a few more days. A selection of fine teas and delectable three-tier presentations of desserts, scones and tea sandwiches will be offered by Chef Nenad and will feature classics like Cranberry scones with Devonshire cream and lemon curd and Mini Yule Logs. Holiday Tea is held Mondays and Tuesdays from December 22nd to December 29th. Holiday Tea at Top of the Mark is $50 per person.
- Children’s Magical Holiday Tea
Magical Holiday Tea is an entertaining family-friendly event open to kids and adults of all ages, featuring Perry the Magician and face painter Pixie. Guests will also enjoy a cookie decorating station with Chef Nenad. Adults are offered an array of both sweet and savory tea sandwiches as well as special items from the kitchen including Kobe beef sliders, meatball kebabs, and Bacon Monte Cristo Finger Sandwiches. Young tea-goers will receive a selection of popular kids’ treats and finger foods including Pigs in a blanket, Macaroni and cheese, and Chicken nuggets. Guests may also enjoy the elaborate dessert buffet filled with a Christmas Yule log, fresh fruit tartlets, homemade marshmallows, and more. Magical Holiday Tea began in early December. Remaining days are Friday, December 26 and Saturday, December 27 with seatings at 12:00 p.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. In the spirit of giving, Top of the Mark invites guests to bring a new toy to donate to the Toys for Tots drive. Magical Holiday Tea is $60 per person, or $56 with toy donation.
- Holiday Champagne Brunch
Top of the Mark’s luxurious holiday Sunday champagne brunch began Nov. 30 and occurs each Sunday until the end of December. Chef Nenad’s buffet has a raw bar, soups, salads and small plates, as well as roasts and breakfast selections. Menu highlights include Cioppino, Black Cod & Prawns with flageolet and braised chard stems, Turkey hash benedicts, Caviar selections, Porcini ravioli with seared Brussels sprouts, butternut squash and brown butter cream, and more. The brunch will also feature a decadent Viennese table dessert buffet and bottomless sparkling wine. Guests will also enjoy entertainment from a live jazz pianist. Brunch is from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and is $99 per adult and $59 per child.
Nob Hill Club at Intercontinental Mark Hopkins
The Nob Hill Club offers Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner. Christmas Eve Dinner showcases Chef Nenad’s selections of upscale holiday creations including Quince & Brie with pistachio and lavender honey, Braised Sea Bass with endive, pomegranate and fennel cream, Pork Tenderloin with honey & thyme braised tangerine, rapini and pommes dauphinoise, and a sophisticated dessert of Elderflower Panna Cotta. For Christmas Day, the menu includes Lobster bisque with tempura chives, Grilled Chicory with artisan lettuce, crispy duck prosciutto, grapes, olives and candied walnuts, Beef Tenderloin served with bone marrow butter, white asparagus bundles and duchesse potato. Dessert is a Lemon & Pink Peppercorn Pot de Crème with olive oil and rosemary water. Each dinner is $79 per adult, $109 per adult with wine pairing and $49 per child (ages 4 – 12). Call 415-392-3434 for reservations.
One Market Restaurant
For Christmas Eve, One Market is serving a special a la carte menu by Chef Mark Dommen and Pastry Chef Patti Dellamonica-Bauler. The seven first course choices include Dungeness crab cakes; shaved lamb’s tongue with mache, Asian pear, and puffed quinoa; and beet carpaccio with radish, chèvre, and sherry vinaigrette. Seven entrée selections include wild arugula risotto with pears, black walnuts, and parmesan; roasted Liberty Farms duck with turnips, chanterelles, and honey jus; and day boat scallops with artichokes, potato puree, and lobster emulsion. Four dessert selections include Valrhona chocolate palet d’or with white chocolate sorbet. Please call 415-777-5577 for reservations.
Happy Holidays!
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