12 fabulous Christmas dinners (+ take out) at restaurants in the Bay Area

Looks like more Bay Area restaurants than usual are closing for the Christmas holidays – and who can blame them? It has been a difficult year (or two).

But for those of you whose culinary skills boil down to boiling water, there is hope: we have a dozen restaurants in San Francisco, Oakland, and Marin that will serve up decadent feasts in their halls. to eat elegant or prepare them to go.

Here are the best options for dining out or grabbing restaurant takeout on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2021.

Luce (to eat)

Michelin-starred chef Rogelio Garci de Luce prepares a six-course tasting menu to celebrate Christmas Day. Start with a curl of Jerusalem artichoke, followed by a course of Japanese shima aji crudo, then a crispy sautoir of scallops with turnips, carrots and brussels (add tagliarini with black truffle if you wish). Starters include roasted guinea fowl from the San Joaquin Valley and 100-day dry-aged rib eye with Yukon Gold Potatoes. Finish on a sweet note with a sticky caramel pudding. Golden osetra select caviar is available for $ 200 an ounce with blinis and accessories. // Dinner is $ 165 per person, book through OpenTable; 888 Howard Street # 3011 (SoMa), lucewinerestaurant.com.

Villon (Dinner)

Executive Chef Jason Fox serves a true four-course Christmas dinner. Starters include an egg stuffed with caviar, endives stuffed with squash and a mortadella pie with truffles, followed by antipasti or a salad of smoked duck breast. Choose from two fine dishes – sablefish with crispy artichokes or roasted thick prime rib with mashed potatoes and Yorkshire pudding – and save room for dessert (green apple sorbet with pecan streusel or hot chocolate cake) . Do you prefer Christmas brunch? Morning and noon meals are available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Indoor and outdoor seating are available. // Dinner sto eat ($ 115 / person, $ 55 / types under 12; $ 45 /food and wine pairings) are available from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. by reservation at OpenTable; Proper Hotel, 1100 Market St. (Civic Center), properhotel.com.

Café Zootrope (to take away)

A Christmas dinner including focaccia bread and a bottle of wine? Yes, out of favor! This North Beach mainstay cooks meals for two ($ 84) for delivery and take out. You’ll feast on crab and mushroom strudel, roast leg of lamb stuffed with spinach, farro risotto with butternut squash and crispy Brussels sprouts. There is an orange cake with olive oil, raisins and roasted apples for dessert. // Place orders by Tuesday, December 21 for pickup or delivery ffrom noon to 4:15 p.m. on December 23 and 24, via Tock; 916 Kearny Street (North Beach), cafezoetrope.com.

Alexander’s Steakhouse (take out)

Got a few sides you love to make, but need help with your main course? Alexandre to the rescue! The meat masters here do all of the prep work on a special seven-pound prime rib, so all you need to do is grab and cook at home. They also include a few basic sides, like mashed potatoes and green beans, as well as a gravy and horseradish cream for the beef. // The special prime rib ($ 395 /serves six) is available to order through 5 p.m. Friday December 17th, for pickup or delivery 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, via Tock; 448 Brannan Street (SoMa), alexanderssteakhouse.com.

The Cavalier (Dinner)

We love the moody and luxurious vibe of The Cavalier in normal times with its dark wood finishes, marble tables, and brass finishes. Get ready for four courses of classic Christmas dishes including an appetizer, appetizer, a few starter options, classic sides, and dessert. The exact menu needs to be advertised, but keep an eye on their website. Caviar service, cocktails, and optional food and wine pairings will also be available on deck. // Dinner is $ 100 per person and $ 50 for children 10 and under. Reservations possible from 11:30 am to 8:00 pm, reservation via Tock. 360 Jessie Street (SoMa), thecavaliersf.com

Café de la Presse (take away)

Bring a taste of French elegance home for the holidays. The Café de la Presse offers meals for two with lobster bisque, smoked duck breast salad and truffle vinaigrette (with optional foie gras) and wellington beef with pinot noir sauce and parsnip purée. The dessert is a fondant chocolate lava cake with a drizzle of raspberry sauce. // Dinner ($ 150) if available for pickup or delivery from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve when you order via Knock; 352 Grant Avenue (Union Square), cafedelapresse.com.

Duende (take away)

Non-traditional globetrotters won’t hate this Spanish feast featuring braised veal (a vegetarian option is also available). Start with a coleslaw salad with Mahón cheese, green olives stuffed with anchovies and pistachios, then serve your starter with au gratin potatoes and chard sautéed with leeks and garlic. The dessert is a rich pot of cream. Spanish wines, pitchers of mulled wine and bottles of Spanish sherry are also available. // Dinner ($ 94 / for two, $ 30 to $ 45 for drinks) must be ordered by December 21 for a pickup from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve; 468 19th Street (Oakland), 510.893.0174, duendeoakland.com.

Murray Circle Restaurant at Cavallo Point (Dinner)

Much like Thanksgiving, Sausalito’s Cavallo Point has an array of decadent Christmas dining options, including brunch (7 a.m. to 11 a.m.), four-course dinner (3 p.m. to 9 p.m.), and the Grand Buffet (4 p.m. to 7 p.m.). The prix fixe option showcases gourmet dishes such as lobster risotto, chestnut apple soup, slow roasted prime rib, Sonoma duck breast and a roast rack of lamb. If you love the buffet, expect stations galore for soups, cheese and cold cuts, salads, and seafood, including crab cakes, oysters, and shrimp. There is also pasta, a cutting station for pork loin and prime rib, countless sides and several types of desserts. You will go home after this one. // Dinner ($ 115 / person and $ 30 / children 2-12) and the buffet ($ 149 person, $ 65 / children) will be served by reservation only; 601 Murray Circle, Fort Baker (Sausalito), cavallopoint.com.

Lazy Susan (take out)

If Chinese food is your tradition on Christmas Day, then Lazy Susan is your choice this year. Hayes Valley Restaurant is teaming up with Kung Pao Kosher Comedy (December 24-26) to offer party take-out and virtual stand-ups. The special four-course menu ($ 45) includes veggie potstickers, your choice of soup, garlic broccoli, white rice, and, of course, Kung Pao chicken (plus an option for vegetarians and additions like chicken wings and chili hoisin green beans). The show, starring the comics Ophira Eisenberg, Jessica Kirson, Arline Geduldig and Lisa Geduldig, can be streamed via Zoom and YouTube starting at 5 p.m. tickets are sold separately. // Dinner orders must be placed by December 19 for a 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. pickup or 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. delivery on December 25; meals are also available on December 26; 208 Fell Street (Hayes Valley), lazysusanchinese.com. Tickets for the show ($ 25 to $ 50) can be purchased at cityboxoffice.com

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Maison Nico (take away)

For Francophiles, no traditional Christmas would be complete without a Yule log, this whimsical Parisian pastry featuring a beautifully decorated branch. This year, Maison Nico is launching its version ($ 75), covered in chocolate, hazelnut and pear. About 10 inches long, it will easily serve eight to 10 diners. When ordering, you can also opt for the duck pithivier ($ 85 / small, $ 105 / large) and a box of holiday pâté ($ 65 / meal) with pickles and hazelnut financiers. Caviar, pastries, wines and cocktail packs are also available. // Pre-order by December 13 for pickup December 23-24 (as well as New Years Eve); 710 Montgomery St. (Jackson Square) maisonnico.square.site.

Le Morris (take away)

Chef Gavin Schmidt pre-smokes his signature duck for you to roast at home. Pre-order half or whole birds along with root vegetables, cold cuts, a duck noodle soup kit, and chocolate pudding for dessert. // Order through ToastTab by December 17th for a pickup December 23-24; 2501 Mariposa Street (Potrero Hill), themorris-sf.com.

Fog Harbor Fish House (Dinner)

Fog Harbor makes Christmas in true SF style with a Dungeness crab feast and festive holiday decor overlooking the bay. Go for the whole roasted garlic crab, the fillet and lobster surf ‘n turf, and the seared scallop and crab risotto. After your meal, take a stroll along the Embarcadero to avoid the holiday food coma. // Dinner is a la carte, without appointment only 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The day of Christmas; Pier 39, (Pier) Fogharbor.com.