Ho-ho-holiday Dining: A merry guide to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dining in Carlsbad

Chandler's Oceanfront Dining at Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach

Christmas at Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach comes complete with a Christmas Day Brunch Buffet and an elegant Christmas Eve Dinner at Chandler’s Oceanfront Dining. On Monday, December 25, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the brunch buffet, priced at $100 for adults and $35 for children 12 and under, offers a diverse array of dishes for a holiday feast that will keep you full all day. The menu includes an Omelet Station with farm-fresh scrambled eggs, French toast, buttermilk pancakes and an assortment of breads and pastries.

On Christmas Eve, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., guests can enjoy a four-course dinner priced at $90 for adults and $25 for children. The dinner includes an amuse-bouche of salmon mousse, family-style starters like a farro and quinoa grain bowl, individual soup courses with options like Maine lobster bisque and a family-style dinner course featuring dishes like braised short rib and pan-roasted local seabass. The meal ends with a shared Yuletide log and peppermint ice cream for dessert. For children, options include chicken tenders or spaghetti bolognese.

20|Twenty Grill at the Westin Carlsbad

A festive spirit paired with delicious food is on the menu at 20|Twenty Grill this Christmas. Embrace the spirit of the season at 20 | Twenty with each bite of their Southern California classics, reimagined with a modern, international twist.

The restaurant will be offering a special menu for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve, guests can enjoy an artfully crafted dinner as the anticipation for Santa sets in. Dinner is priced at $75 per person. On Christmas Day, meals are priced at $125 per adult and $75 for a children's menu.

Park Hyatt Aviara Resort & Spa

This Christmas, Park Hyatt Aviara Resort & Spa presents a lavish feast that promises to be a highlight of the holiday season. The Christmas Feast 2023 at Ponto Lago, inspired by the bounties of the region and the nearby Batiquitos lagoon, will be a truly unique dining experience fit for end-of-year elegance. The menu features an array of starters like wood fired roasted salsa, Ponto Lago guacamole, local rockfish ceviche and jicama salad, with an option to add Pacific oysters.

The entrée selections, under the theme 'BRASA y LENA,' (burning wood) include wood grilled local catch & lobster al pastor, Kurobuta pork tenderloin & agave braised pork belly, grilled bone-in short rib, scallop, poblano & chorizo skewer and huitlacoche rice. These dishes are complemented by family-style sides like baby sweet potatoes and Iberico flambéed brussels sprouts. For dessert, guests can choose from sticky toffee pudding, rice pudding and leche quemada & chocolate fudge brownie.

Or, you can double up on Christmas elegance at the Christmas Brunch Buffet at the Park Hyatt, priced at $140 for adults and $60 for kids aged 3-12. Brunch will be available from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It features an iced seafood display with jumbo shrimps and snow crab claws, a selection of sushi and sashimi, a house smoked fish platter and a cold buffet with items like pear & walnut vichyssoise and beef tartar. The hot buffet includes Jidori chicken breast, Pacific sea bass, anson mills polenta, and Christmas fruit cake french toast.

Omni La Costa Resort & Spa

Omni La Costa Resort & Spa celebrates the holiday at two of their restaurants - Bob's Steak and Chop House and VUE. Both dining experiences are set against the backdrop of the resort's stunning championship golf courses, offering guests not only a feast for the palate but also for the eyes.

At Bob's Steak and Chop House, guests can enjoy a special "Dinner with Santa" menu. The meal begins with a choice of soup or salad, offering options like clam chowder, caesar salad with caesar dressing, parmesan cheese and croutons, a classic wedge salad with bleu cheese dressing, or a tossed salad with a choice of dressing. The entrée selection includes broiled verlasso salmon, broiled jumbo shrimp scampi and dry aged pork tomahawk priced at $65. For those seeking a more indulgent option, prime filet Mignon (9 oz), prime rib-eye (14 oz), and Australian rack of lamb are available for $80.

Meanwhile, Christmas Eve Dinner at VUE presents a holiday special on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Guests can savor the herb-crusted prime rib, a 10 oz. cut served with creamy mashed potatoes, horseradish cream, garlic butter mushrooms, Yorkshire pudding and jus, priced at $55. For dessert, the "Rudolph" features chocolate mousse, gingerbread-spiced brownie, marshmallow fluff, cranberry gel and a chocolate antler for $12.

Dini’s Bistro

Dini's Bistro, an oceanfront dining destination and longtime local favorite, offers a special Brunch by the Sea Menu for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The brunch, available from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., includes a variety of breakfast options like eggs benedict, crab cake benedict, veggie benedict and the ultimate “Benedini” featuring filet mignon.

Vigilucci’s Seafood and Steakhouse

Lastly, Vigilucci's Seafood & Steakhouse is offering a special holiday menu on Saturday, December 23 and Sunday, December 24, served from 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Happy holidays and bon appétit!