If your visions of sugar plums are starting to look more like rack of lamb and gingerbread martinis, these Valley resorts and restaurants have you covered this holiday season. From Christmas brunch to spreads for your Hanukkah celebration, reserve your spot or place for your order for holiday dining in Phoenix and beyond.
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Carcara at Sheraton Phoenix Downtown
On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Carcara will offer a Christmas dinner feature for holiday dining in Phoenix–a rosemary-crusted prime rib with yukon and fennel gratin, grilled broccolini, red wine jus and horseradish–in addition to the restaurant’s à la carte menu. Guests can also enjoy a festive libation, like a gingerbread martini with vodka, half and half and gingerbread syrup, or the North Pole featuring vodka, Kahlua, chocolate syrup, ginger syrup and heavy cream.
Cost: Prime rib special is $50.
To book: www.carcararestaurant.com.
Ko’Sin at Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass
Ko’Sin is celebrating Christmas with a three-course prix-fixe menu, available from 5 to 10 p.m. Start your holiday dinner off with baked lobster mac and cheese followed by roast beef, scalloped potatoes and root vegetables. Finish the festive evening with a traditional chocolate yule log.
To book: wildhorsepass.com/restaurants/kosin.
Talavera at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
On Dec. 24 and Dec. 25, Talavera in Scottsdale will feature festive dinner specials in honor of the holiday season. Choices include chilled Garrotxa cheese tart bacalao and king crab cake, and herb-dusted New Zealand lamb rack. The showstopper “Wonderland at the Desert,” presented by Executive Pastry Chef Yudith Bustos, features texturas de chocolate, cake, mousse, meringue and cranberries. (A condensed a la carte also menu will be available.) On Christmas Day only, indulge in a festive Christmas brunch in Talavera from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., complete with a carving station, pasta station, children’s buffet, “Sweet Santa Land” dessert display and hot chocolate station.
Cost: $165 per adult; $58 per child, ages 5 to 12 (brunch).
To book: www.fourseasons.com/scottsdale.
Terra Tempe Kitchen & Spirits at The Westin Tempe
Terra Tempe Kitchen & Spirits at The Westin Tempe brings holiday magic to life with a prix-fixe Christmas menu. Dishes include jumbo diver scallops, honey cake, Christmas soup with handcrafted with kielbasa sausage, red bliss potatoes, red kidney beans and kale, and other delicious options. The holiday menu is available Christmas Eve and Day from noon to 10 p.m.
Cost: $100 per adult; $40 per child, ages 6 to 12.
To book: OpenTable.
T. Cook’s at Royal Palms Resort and Spa
On Christmas Day from 1 to 8 p.m., Royal Palms Resort and Spa invites friends and family to celebrate the holiday together with a meal specially curated by Executive Chef Lee Hillson. Enjoy a three-course prix-fixe menu with decadent highlights including prime rib with confit, garlic-chive smashed potatoes and glazed carrots; lobster bisque with crème fraiche and caviar; halibut with butternut squash and creamy risotto; a lavish seafood display and bread service; and more.
Cost: $175 per person.
To book: www.opentable.com/t-cooks-at-royal-palms-resort-and-spa.
Rita’s Cantina & Bar at Camelback Inn
Make Christmas Day extra festive with this special brunch featuring live music, face painting, caricatures and family photos at Rita’s Cantina & Bar. Visitors and locals can embrace the holiday spirit during this brunch with a delectable array of seasonal favorites, like carving and caviar stations, Paella Royale and made-to-order tacos and quesadillas, brunch items and more. Christmas Day brunch is available on Dec. 25 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $155 per adult; $49 per child, ages 4 to 12.
To book: jwcamelback.ipoolside.com.
Meritage, an Urban Tavern at JW Marriott Desert Ridge
Join Meritage, an Urban Tavern on Christmas Eve for a prime rib entrée special. Then, on Christmas Day, diners looking to enjoy holiday dining in Phoenix can savor a veal osso buco entree. Both specials will be available alongside the restaurant’s a la carte standard dinner menu.
Cost: $59 (prime rib); $40 (osso buco).
To book: www.opentable.com.
Match Market & Bar at FOUND:RE Phoenix Hotel
Match Market & Bar at FOUND:RE Phoenix Hotel released its holiday menus, with options to-go on Christmas Eve and for dining in on Christmas Day. Designed to feed four to five people, the Christmas Eve Take-Out special is $120 and includes a family-sized lasagna, cheesy garlic flatbread, Christmas cookies and more. On Christmas Day, guests of the hotel and locals can join the Match family for the Christmas Day dinner, complete with a Christmas beef roast, a Santa’s milk and cookie mini cake and more.
Cost: $59 per person for dine-in option.
To book: matchphx.com.
Loews Ventana Canyon Resort
Savor Christmas Eve brunch–a special edition of the Blues, Brews & BBQ Bunch–at The Canyon Club at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson. The holiday-inspired brunch buffet includes prime rib, seafood and desserts, as well as local draft beers, mimosas and live music from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Or celebrate Christmas Day at the resort’s Flying V restaurant for a three-course prix-fixe menu with a la carte options. The special menu will be available from 4 to 8 p.m.
To book: www.loewshotels.com/ventana-canyon.
Keeler’s Neighborhood Steakhouse
On Christmas Eve at Keeler’s Neighborhood Steakhouse in Carefree, toast to the holiday with a special prix-fixe menu (each dish is offered a la carte, as well). Entree options include a 10-oz. slow-roasted prime rib with jumbo tiger prawns or a 12-oz. prime NY strip.
Cost: $79 per person (prix-fixe pricing).
To book: keelerssteakhouse.com.
ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho
Enjoy festive Christmas Day dining at ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho, or take advantage of family meals to go. Christmas morning will start off in SoHo Ballroom with a breakfast buffet and chef omelet station from 6 to 11 a.m. ($32 per adult or $14 for children 12 and under). Or celebrate with Christmas dinner at ZuZu from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a starter buffet followed by your choice of entrée. The dinner is $78 to $95 per person. Spending the holiday at home? The resort dishes up fully prepared sides and seasoned prime rib or ham that is ready for the oven (complete with cooking instructions). To-go meals start at $326 for four to six, and orders must be placed by Dec. 18 at 5 p.m.
To book: www.hotelvalleyho.com.
Rusconi’s American Kitchen
Phoenix’s Rusconi’s American Kitchen is celebrating Christmas in the most delicious way with an exclusive prix-fixe Christmas Eve menu, beginning at 5 p.m. Delicious selections include pan-roasted wild seabass, rack of lamb, breast of duck, boneless beef short rib and so much more.
Cost: $79 per person.
To book: rusconiskitchen.com.
Phoenix City Grille
On Christmas Eve, from 4 to 8 p.m., diners are invited to celebrate Christmas Eve at Phoenix City Grille with exclusive specials. Selected just for Christmas, specials available for holiday dining in Phoenix include New England clam chowder, Surf and Turf and crab-crusted bluenose bass “oscar.”
Cost: Varies.
To book: phoenixcitygrille.com.
Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen at Andaz Scottsdale Resort
Eat, drink and be merry at Andaz Scottsdale Resort’s signature restaurant Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen on Christmas Day. Gather with friends and family to enjoy prime rib, paccheri alla vodka, lobster bisque, gingerbread cake-scicles, warm apple cream puffs and more. The festive brunch will be available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $130 per adult; $60 per child.
To book: OpenTable.
The Italian Daughter
The Italian Daughter in North Scottsdale brings the Feast of the Seven Fishes tradition to the Valley. From Dec. 17 to Dec. 24, Italian cuisine-lovers can enjoy an authentic Italian seafood dinner to celebrate the holiday season with dishes like Tomaso’s 7 Fish Cioppino, char-grilled Sicilian shrimp and much more.
To book: www.theitaliandaughter.com.
elements
Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, A Gurney’s Resort & Spa’s elements restaurant dishes up Christmas Day dinner from noon to 8 p.m. The four-course, prix-fixe menu includes decadent plates like crispy duck confit and winter root veggie pot pie.
Cost: $165 per adult; $55 per child, ages 12 and under.
To book: www.gurneysresorts.com.
Ember
This Christmas Eve, Ember at We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort will serve a variety of mouthwatering and festive specials from 5 to 9 p.m. Diners can expect mesquite-grilled Texas quail, saddle of venison (with an optional black winter truffle supplement) and gingerbread cake.
To book: www.wekopacasinoresort.com.
The Americano
The Americano’s four-course Christmas Eve dinner features an option of favorites including lobster fritto, Icelandic salmon, New York strip steak and eggnog budino. The special menu will be served from 4 to 9 p.m.
Cost: $150 to $185 per person.
To book: OpenTable.
Mora Italian
This Christmas Eve, Mora Italian serves up a three-course family-style holiday feast with options like prime rib, rigatoni and hot chocolate panna cotta. The special menu will be served from 4 to 9 p.m.
Cost: $95 per person.
To book: OpenTable.
Maple & Ash
Alongside its full menu, Scottsdale’s Maple & Ash offers a special holiday menu on both Christmas and Christmas Eve. Savor Chateau (tarragon butter and roasted bone marrow), branzino (fennel, capers and preserved lemon) and more.
Cost: $100 per person.
To book: www.mapleandash.com.
The Scottsdale Resort & Spa
Enjoy Christmas Day brunch at The Scottsdale Resort & Spa from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Additionally, guests can contribute non-perishable food items for donation to St. Mary’s Food Bank.
Cost: $92 per adult; $42 per child, ages 12 and under.
To book: OpenTable.
Holiday Dining To-Go:
Chompie’s
With Chanukah and Christmas just around the corner, Chompie’s is making hosting a breeze thanks to a variety of to-go feasts, now available for pre-order. The Chanukah Dinner at Home serves eight for $249.99, while both Traditional (serves 12 to 15 guests for $299.99) and The Basic (serves 12 to 15 guests for $249.99) are available for Christmas dining. Pre-orders of whole turkey and large dinner packages must be confirmed at least 72 hours in advance of pickup. All to-go meal packages include reheating instructions so meals can be ready to serve in approximately 30 minutes.
To order: chompies.com.
Liberty Station American Tavern and Smokehouse
Liberty Station American Tavern and Smokehouse is taking the stress out of holiday hosting with its Christmas Dinner to-go offerings. Selections include salads (which can serve four), meats from the smoker (available by the pound) and a variety of comforting classic sides. Pre-orders are now being accepted through Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 4 p.m. Pick-up will be arranged for Sunday, Dec. 24, before 4 p.m. Plus, on Christmas Eve, dine-in guests can enjoy a smoke prime rib special, sided with mashed potatoes, asparagus, au jus and creamy horseradish for $39.
Cost: Varies.
To order: libertystationtavern.com.
Miracle Mile Deli
Phoenix’s Miracle Mile Deli offers a wide range of holiday family meals to make entertaining as easy as can be. Both the Oven-Roasted Turkey Family Feast and Hanukkah Dinner Delight serve six for $225. Individual entrees, desserts, sides and more are also available for pre-order. Holiday orders must be placed by Dec. 20 at 2 p.m.
To order: miraclemiledeli.com.