Need a Last-Minute Christmas Reservation?
By Anthony Todd in Food on Dec 22, 2011 4:20PM
So, you decided not to cook Christmas dinner this year. Nothing wrong with that, especially if you have friends or family in town. Maybe you want to try something different. Maybe you want to enjoy your holiday dinner without doing dishes. No matter what the reason, we've got plenty of places for you to go. For Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, we've got you covered - all of these places still have availability. Start now, though - these reservations won't last forever.
Big Jones. Big Jones is hosting a traditional Creole reveillion! We've been very impressed with the re-jiggering of Big Jones's menu - their homage to traditional southern cooking reminds us how wonderful beignets and blood sausage really are. For Christmas eve, they're serving a meal inspired by two cookbooks: an 1885 copy of Creole Cookery by the Christian Women's League of New Orleans and the 1901 Times--Picayune’s Creole Cookbook. The history is solid and the price is right - $45 for four courses. Courses include Oyster stew, pickled baby beet salad, creamed venison pie and rum and nutmeg pudding. We almost want to ditch our family and sign up. Call 773-275-5725 for more information.
Cafe des Architectes. Stop in to Cafe des Architectes for Christmas Eve dinner - or just pop by for dessert! Their regular menu is available a la carte, and Pastry Chef Patrick Fahy has whipped up some amazing dessert specials that'll make you feel like Christmas. Try an Eggnog buche de noel with poached cranberries or some warm cider beignets with pine-cone ice cream. Ask if he has any of his fabulous macarons lying around the kitchen - and bring us some, please.
C-House. Nicole Pederson's cooking is one of the few things that could get us to leave our traditional Christmas Eve dinner behind. Head to C-House for a 3-course dinner for $49/person. Courses include home-made pickled herring, Swan Creek Farm Goose and a delicious gingerbread torte with spiced pear sorbet. The same menu is available for Christmas day. After dinner, head up to C-View and make a toast to the new year! Call 312-523-0923 for more details.
Lockwood. If you really want to impress guests or have a romantic Christmas dinner that your family is sure to remember, go to Lockwood. The surroundings couldn't be more classic, and walking into the Palmer House lobby on Christmas is something you'll never forget. Chef Gregory Elliot has worked up a 6-course menu for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, starting with foie gras and ending with toffee pudding. In between, try chestnut soup and creamy kumamoto oysters. They might have to roll you out, but you'll definitely be going to bed happy.
Kit Kat Lounge. Screw it. Traditional Christmas is for wimps - you want martinis and drag queens! Even better, you can do some good at the same time. On Christmas Eve, Kit Kat Lounge is serving a 3-course prix fixe for $30. On Christmas Day, the same meal is $15 - if you bring a canned good to donate to Vital Bridges. Need to escape the fam? Head to brunch on Christmas. Entertainment will be provided by Madam X (she rocks), and you can get endless mimosas or bloody martinis for $10. That's a great way to celebrate after the wrapping paper is scattered!
Merry Christmas!