Who’s got time to cook, what with all the gift wrapping, holiday parties and merriment? If you’d rather spend quality time with loved ones and leave the cooking to the pros, reserve a spot for dinner or brunch at these area restaurants.
2941
Christmas Eve: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Chef Bertrand Chemel is cooking up a three-course, $135 prix fixe Christmas Eve dinner menu that includes Bonne Bouche Goat Cheese Mousse with apple cider glaze and poached lobster appetizers, Winter Black Truffle Risotto (vegan) and smoked Australian lamb chops. The tempting dessert choices include a confection called Santa’s Hat (vanilla cheesecake, cranberry-apple compote and burnt honey gelato) and another called Christmas Ornament (peppermint ganache, feuilletine and peppermint gelato). // 2941 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church
Ambar
Christmas Eve: 4-10 p.m.
Christmas Day: 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Take a trip to the Balkans for Christmas, minus the steep airfare. Executive Chef Dejan Pilovic is preparing special dishes that pair festive and traditional tastes. The dinner menu includes Jumbo Shrimp Tagliatelle, salmon tartare, Balkan pork ribs with a plum barbecue sauce and beef meatballs—all of which are part of Ambar’s Dinner Experience with unlimited small plates ($59.99). On Christmas Day, refuel from all the gifting with shareable plates such as pork flatbread, a ham and cheese crepe and mixed berries cake. // 2901 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
Corso Italian
Head to the Village at Shirlington on Christmas Eve for lobster ravioli, spaghetti alla bottarga, and desserts such as crushed peppermint chocolate mousse in a chocolate shell. From the bar, try the limited-edition Natale Nocello cocktail, made with mulled amaretto rum punch, cinnamon, rosemary and orange. // 4024 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)
Founding Farmers
Christmas Day, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Before or after you clean up all the gift wrap, head to this farmer-owned restaurant near Tysons Galleria for a special buffet. From 9 a.m.-2 p.m., fill your plate with leg of lamb, roasted rosemary pork, herb-crusted prime rib, crab cakes and Beyla honey glazed-spiral baked ham, plus brunchy staples like pancakes, eggs and French toast. If you come for the late shift (2-8 p.m.), you’ll find scratch-made pastas and parms. Regular menus are not available. The buffet costs $45. // 1800 Tysons Blvd., Tysons
The Inn at Little Washington
As the only restaurant in the D.C. area with three Michelin stars, the Inn is the definition of decadence. Chef Patrick O’Connell‘s $388 prix fixe holiday menu is soon to be announced. For something more casual, reserve a spot at sister eatery Patty O’s Cafe & Bakery, which is serving a five-course, old-fashioned meal ($195) with cast iron blackened Angus tenderloin and Yorkshire pudding with truffled madeira jus and classic béarnaise sauce. // 309 Middle St., Washington, Virginia
Joon
Dec. 24, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Choose from Persian-inspired dishes from the $20 prix fixe Christmas Eve menu, which has a choice of kebab (chicken, lamb or kubideh) or sandwich (Joon Burger or falafel). Other seasonal picks include a Frisee Salad with candied walnuts, dates and apples ($18); and big plates like the Joon Kabob Platter with with kubideh kabob, barg (filet mignon) and chicken kabob with grilled tomato, onion, saffron butter and saffron steamed rice with tahdig ($80). Sip on a Fig Old-Fashioned ($19) or Tehrooni Negroni with gin, blanc vermouth, bergamot orange liqueur, saffron ice, mint and basil ($19). // 8045 Leesburg Pike, Vienna
Neutral Ground Kitchen & Bar
Dec. 20, 21 & 24
Chef David Guas‘ newest restaurant will host Coastal Réveillon, a French custom of feasting on Christmas Eve that dates to the 1800s. Enjoy a five-course dinner for $85 per person (plus $45 for wine pairings) in addition to the regular menu. Specials include oyster stew, roasted duck breast and Smith Island cake. // 6641 Old Dominion Drive, McLean
Nue
Christmas Eve: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Christmas Day: closed
Reserve a spot in the elegant dining room of this Vietnamese restaurant and choose from several options on a special holiday menu. The family-style meal, designed to feed four for $249, comes with green papaya “Caesar” salad, chili oil wontons, coconut curry risotto with Hokkaido scallops, braised short ribs and yuca cake. Or go a la carte and try new dishes like Butternut Squash Bánh Xèo ($29), Chicken Congee Pie ($22), baby back ribs in a tamarind coconut glaze ($62), braised beef cheek with rice noodles ($39) and whole grilled branzino with sweet potato noodles ($49). Nue will also have a holiday cocktail menu, including Vietnamese coffee eggnog and mulled red wine ($16 each). // 944 W. Broad St., Falls Church
Osteria da Nino
Dec. 24, 4-9 p.m.
Reserve a table at one of three seatings (4, 6 or 8 p.m.) to enjoy Italian dishes from the regular menu or Christmas Eve specials. The latter includes fritto misto (fried calamari, shrimp, scallops and halibut), polpo grigliato (grilled octopus with mesclun salad and potatoes), lobster ravioli, seafood stew, Mediterranean seabass, and seafood stew with mussels, clams, shrimp, calamari, and halibut. // 2900 S. Quincy St., Arlington (Shirlington)
Palette 22
Christmas Eve: 11 a.m.-1 a.m.
Christmas Day: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Kick off Christmas morning with a bottomless brunch ($32.22) featuring taco and waffle bars, plus all-you-can-eat desserts. Bellinis, mimosas and build-your-own Bloody Marys are just $4.22 with brunch. At 3 p.m., the regular menu kicks in, or keep up the momentum with a Bottomless Dinner ($38.22) of P22 Cheeseburger Sliders, Street Corn Brick Oven Pan Pizza, and more. See the full menus here. // 4053 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)
Sfoglina
Christmas Eve: 5-9 p.m.
Have a Buon Natale at chef Fabbio Trabocchi’s pasta-centric trattoria in Rosslyn. The full menu will be available, along with Christmas Eve specials such as butternut squash agnolotti ($28), veal Wellington ($65) and a Christmas yule log made with chocolate roulade, cassis jam, orange curd, chestnut cremeux and chocolate ganache ($16). // 1100 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Rosslyn)