Christmas Eve & Christmas Day 2016: 24 Tucson Restaurants Open

If you’re not in the mood to cook a holiday feast, no worries. Sometimes we just want to relax, right?

Many Tucson restaurants are open for Christmas Eve, although some close early — be sure to call ahead for hours. But most restaurants are closed on Christmas Day. Also, note that this isn’t an exhaustive roundup of open restaurants. Many ethnic restaurants are open on Christmas Day.

Below are a handful of Tucson restaurants offering holiday specials for either Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, and some are just offering their regular menu.

And lucky for you, 15 of the 24 restaurants mentioned will be open on Christmas Day.

Agustin Kitchen

100 S. Avenida del Convento

Agustin Kitchen will be open for Christmas Eve and will offer their regular menu in addition to two holiday specials.

The holiday specials include:

Classic prime rib served with horseradish parsnip crema ($30)
Chinese pork spareribs with scallop and shrimp fried rice and sesame-glazed baby vegetables ($26)

The restaurant will also have live music and homemade eggnog. Agustin Kitchen will be closed on Christmas Day.

For more information, visit agustinkitchen.com.

The Coronet

402 E. 9th St.

The Coronet doesn’t have a specified Christmas Eve menu, but the restaurant will be open and serving homemade wonton soup, eggnog, and other holiday treats.

Reservations are not required. The Coronet will be closed on Christmas Day.

For more information, visit cafecoronet.com.

Cup Cafe

311 E. Congress St.

The Cup Cafe will be serving three Christmas Eve specials from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The holiday specials include:

Tuna Tartare ($12) — Fresh ahi tuna, shoestring cucumber, ginger, scallion, pickled jicama, fried kale, sweet potato chips, and Yuzu vinaigrette
Roasted NY Strip ($34) — Coffee-rubbed and smoked 12 oz. New York strip with twice-baked potato, brussels sprouts and house-cured bacon, and cognac mustard cream sauce
Whole Grilled Branzino ($24) — Grilled Branzino with preserved lemon, fresh thyme, local heirloom tomato relish, roasted potatoes, and pan sauce

The next morning, Cup Cafe will also serve Christmas Day brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The brunch specials include:

Steak and Eggs ($18) — 7 oz. New York strip, two eggs any style, purple potato and bacon hash, and smoked maple syrup
Creole Brunch ($13) — Blackened shrimp, jambalaya cake, fried okra, and bloody mary sauce

For more information, visit hotelcongress.com. To reserve seats, call 520-798-1618.

Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails

135 S. 6th Ave.

In addition to the regular menu, Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails will serve a Christmas Eve dinner priced at $35 for adults, $20 for children under 12.

The holiday dinner includes:

First Course — Oaxaca tomato soup with cheese relleno and tortilla shards
Second Course — Roast turkey adobado with chorizo cornbread stuffing, maple-scented pan gravy, chipotle molasses sweet potatoes, and gingered jalapeno orange cranberries
Third Course — Warm Oaxacan bread pudding with eggnog ice cream and mezcal hard sauce

For more information, visit downtownkitchen.com.

Falora

3000 E. Broadway Blvd.

On Christmas Eve, Falora (and nearby Sidecar) will be offering happy hour specials all night.

At Falora, guests can get a kale or caesar salad with a Bianca or Margherita pizza for only $16. All bottles of wine will also be 24% off.

At Sidecar, all house Sidecars — Kentucky, Prohibition, Americana — will be $2 off.

For more information, visit falora.com or call 520-325-9988.

Five Palms Steak & Seafood

3500 E. Sunrise Ave.

Five Palms will be open for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and will be offering a special three-course dinner. Reservations are required.

The holiday dinner includes:

First Course — Pork belly crostini with goat cheese cream and cinnamon apple gastrique
Second Course — Choice of serrano ham and melon salad or butternut squash soup
Third Course — Choice of prime rib, pan-seared salmon, roasted chicken breast, or roasted vegetable napoleon
Fourth Course — Choice of eggnog panna cotta, pineapple upside-down cake, or chocolate espresso trifle

For more information, visit fivepalms.com. To reserve seats, call 520-615-5555.

Govinda’s Natural Foods

711 E. Blacklidge Dr.

Govinda’s will be open on Christmas Day and will serve a holiday buffet from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The buffet is priced at $15.95 for adults, $6.95 for kids 10-12, $5.95 for kids 4-9, and kids 3 and under eat for free.

The buffet will include organic Seitan roast, veggie croquettes in tomato broth, butternut squash with a maple glaze, garden vegetable soup, basmati rice pilaf, organic pasta and stir fry veggies, sesame crisps with almond pate, cranberry dinner rolls, apple berry crisps, and a full salad bar.

For more information, visit govindasoftucson.com.

Hacienda del Sol

5501 N. Hacienda del Sol Rd.

In true Hacienda del Sol fashion, the resort will be serving a holiday buffet from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Christmas Day.

The buffet is priced at $65 per person and $32.50 for kids. Kids 6 and under eat for free.

Among the many foods featured, the buffet will include traditional breakfast favorites, foie gras stuffed turkey breast, prime rib, shrimp, salmon, crab claws, salads, stuffed pork loin, slow roasted duck legs, and lots of desserts and sides.

For more information, visit haciendadelsol.com. To reserve seats, call 520-529-3500.

Hilton El Conquistador

10000 N. Oracle Rd.

Hilton El Conquistador is hosting two Christmas Day events.

The first event kicks off from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and includes a buffet lunch for $68 for adults, $26 for kids 6-12. Children under 6 eat for free.

The buffet will include a salad station, shrimp ceviche, artisan breads, carne asada flank steak, honey-baked ham, prime rib, rack of lamb, lobster thermidor, tamales, pozole, roasted vegetable lasagna, and an assortment of desserts.

The next event is Christmas dinner from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The three-course meal is priced at $50 per person.

The holiday dinner includes:

First Course — Butter leaf and radicchio salad with prosciutto, Danish blue cheese, oven-dried heirloom tomatoes, and roasted apple lime vinaigrette
Second Course — Braised lamb shank with Okinawan sweet potato and pickled collard greens
Third Course — Warm cinnamon bread pudding with eggnog ice cream, brandied cherries, and pecan crumble

Reservations are required for both events.

For more information, visit hiltonelconquistador.com. To make reserve seats, call 520-544-1244.

Kingfisher

2564 E. Grant Rd.

Kingfisher will be open and serving their regular dinner menu on Christmas Eve.

Reservations are recommended and the last seating will be 8 p.m.

For more information, visit kingfishertucson.com. To reserve seats, call 520-323-7739.

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort

7000 N. Resort Dr.

Loews Ventana Canyon will be hosting Christmas Eve and Christmas Day activities.

On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the resort will host a prix fixe dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Flying V Bar & Grill. The full menu will be available in addition to the holiday menu.

The prix fixe dinner is priced at $65 per person. Reservations are recommended by calling 520-615-5495.

A separate $45 prix fixe dinner will also be served in the Cascade Lounge from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Christmas Day.

For breakfast on Christmas Day, Canyon Cafe will be hosting a holiday brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Brunch is priced at $80 for adults, $40 for children 6-11, and $9.95 for kids 5 and under. Reservations are required by calling 520-615-5496.

In addition to breakfast in Canyon Cafe, the resort will also host a holiday breakfast buffet in the Ventana Dining Room from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. Breakfast is priced at $22 for adults, $9.95 for children 6-11, and $4.99 for kids 5 and under.

For more information, visit Loews Ventana Canyon Resort.

Maynards Market & Kitchen

400 N. Toole Ave.

In addition to the regular menu, Maynards will be serving four holiday specials on Christmas Eve. Reservations are encouraged.

The holiday specials include:

Beef wellington ($38) — Braised saffron leeks, cheddar and chive duchess potatoes, red wine and pear glaze, roasted wild mushrooms, grilled wild onion
Juniper-rubbed venison loin ($36) — Sweet potato poblano gratin, brussels sprouts, hazelnut breadcrumbs, smoked cranberry butter
Lobster and tarragon ravioli ($32) — Brown butter caper sauce, pine nut and parmesan bread crumbs, shaved fennel, smoked chile oil
Cast iron apple and caramel bread pudding ($10) — Sage and cinnamon ice cream

For more information, visit maynardstucson.com. To reserve seats, call 520-545-0577.

Pastiche

3025 N. Campbell Ave.

Pastiche will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve and from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Christmas Day.

Pastiche will be offering an extensive holiday menu, which will include items such as soups, salads, chipotle salmon cakes, roasted red pepper hummus, oven-roasted turkey, pumpkin ravioli, grilled ham steak, pork chops, lamb chops, and prime rib. Prices vary based on each item.

For more information and to see the full menu, visit pasticheme.com.

PY Steakhouse

5655 W. Valencia Rd.

Open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Christmas Day, PY Steakhouse is offering three holiday specials.

On Christmas Eve, the restaurant is featuring:

Roasted leg of lamb ($38) — Served with whipped potatoes, chef’s vegetables, and lamb demi glace
10 oz. slow-roasted prime rib ($36) — Served with whipped potatoes, chef’s vegetables, and au jus with creamy horseradish

On Christmas Day, the restaurant is featuring:

30 oz. slow-roasted bone-in prime rib ($55) — Served with whipped potatoes, chef’s vegetables, and au jus with creamy horseradish

For more information, visit casinodelsol.com.

Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink

101 E. Pennington St.

To celebrate Christmas Eve, Reilly will be serving the regular menu in addition to two holiday specials.

Reservations are recommended by calling 520-882-5550. The last seating will be at 8 p.m.

The holiday specials include:

Italian Seafood Soup
Spaghetti alla Chittara — Served with clams, garlic, chili, parsley

For more information, visit reillypizza.com.

Tavolino Risorante Italiano

2890 E. Skyline Dr.

Tavolino is hosting a Feast of the Seven Fishes from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

The event is priced at $75 per person.

The holiday dinner includes:

First Course — Crostini al Salmone and Frittelle al Granchio
Second Course — Seafood salad with shrimp, calamari, scallops, crab, shaved fennel
Third Course — Choice of Cannelloni di Pesce or Branzino in Cartoccio
Fourth Course — Choice of assorted fresh fruit sorbetto or vanilla creme brûlée

For more information, visit tavolinoristorante.com. To reserve seats, call 520-531-1913.

Westin La Paloma Resort

3800 E. Sunrise Dr.

Westin La Paloma is hosting their annual Christmas Day buffet from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The buffet is priced at $55.95 for adults and $27.50 for kids 6-12. Reservations are required.

The buffet will include salads, holiday ham, sage-brushed turkey with giblet sauce and cranberry orange relish, slow-roasted prime rib, salmon, chicken breast, toasted almonds, spiced yams, and a wide variety of holiday desserts.

For more information, visit westinlapalomaresort.com. To reserve seats, call 520-742-6000.

Wildflower

7037 N. Oracle Rd.

Wildflower will be offering a three-course holiday dinner on Christmas Eve. Wildflower will be closed on Christmas Day.

Dinner is priced at $45 per person.

The holiday dinner includes:

First Course — Choice of clam chowder, cold smoked salmon, farmers market salad, pan-fried edamame dumplings, crisp calamari, or spinach salad
Second Course — Choice of prime rib, butternut squash agnolotti, wood grilled New York steak, steelhead salmon, bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin, Spanish paella, or pan-roasted chicken
Third Course — Choice of key lime tart, cinnamon doughnuts, or bars of sin

For more information, visit Wildflower American Cuisine.