Denver-area restaurants are busy prepping festive dine-in options for Christmas meals.
Eating out gives families and friends opportunities to come together and enjoy delicious feasts without the hassle of cooking. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, restaurants serve special holiday meal options, including seafood, prime rib, pozole, and spiral-cut ham.
There’s something to delight every palate, so make your holiday reservation today. (Note: This is not a comprehensive list, so check other restaurants in your area. Listed in alphabetical order.)
Ajax Downtown
Address: 1899 16th St. in Denver
Website:
Hours: 5 to 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve and 2 to 8 p.m. on Christmas Day
Menu: Christmas Eve regular dinner menu plus specials. The three-course prix fixe menu on Christmas Day is $95 per adult, $35 per child under 12. Starter options include coal-fired oysters, bibb salad, ember-roasted wild mushrooms, coal-baked sourdough, and grilled shrimp; main dish opinions include black cod, truffle chicken ballotine, carrot cannelloni, braised lamb shank, and filet mignon; and dessert options of butternut squash pie, white chocolate cheesecake, and pear tatin.
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Chez Maggy
Address: 1616 Market St. in Denver
Website:
Hours: 5 to 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve
Menu: Caviar, endive salad or tuna Niçoises; lobster bisque or French onion soup; herb-roasted New York strip or crab-stuffed Petrale sole; and key lime pie or chocolate torte. A la carte kids menu available for children under 12. Vegetarian options available.
Common Good
Address: 13025 E. Montview Blvd. in Aurora
Website:
Hours: Seatings at 5 and 7:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day Brunch 7 to 11 a.m., and Christmas Day Dinner noon-5 p.m.
Menu: This Italian-style six-course seafood-centric Christmas Eve meal includes anchovy butter with sourdough, lobster bisque, scallop ceviche tart, brown butter halibut, diablo shrimp, and more. The price is $115 per person, with an optional wine pairing for an additional $65 per person. Christmas Day specials include beef carpaccio, beef filet and lobster tail, duck al orange, and flourless chocolate cake.
Coperta
Address: 400 E. 20th Ave. in Denver
Website:
Hours: Dec. 22-24
Menu: The Feast of the Seven Fishes menu includes potato croquettes, hamachi crudo, smoked trout, swordfish sausage, bay scallops spaghetti, and salt cod potato gnocchi. Regular menu dining is also available.
Corinne
Address: 1455 California St.
Website:
Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Menu: The family-style menu includes three entree options: prime rib, glazed ham, or gnocchi.
Corrida
Address: 1023 Walnut St. #400 in Boulder
Website:
Hours: 4 to 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve
Menu: Regular a la carte dining with specials, including prawns with caviar and scallops, Waguy beef carpaccio, and Santa Barbara uni.
The Cruise Room
Address: 1600 17th St. in Denver
Website:
Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. on Christmas Day
Menu: Prime rib dinner includes roasted root vegetables, smashed red potatoes, oven-roasted yams, and Brussels sprouts for $65. Spiral-cut ham dinner includes roasted root vegetables, smashed red potatoes, oven-roasted yams, and Brussels sprouts for $55. Pumpkin pie or chocolate cake is $14.
No reservations. Walk-ins welcome.
Elway’s Downtown
Address: 1881 Curtis St. in Denver
Website:
Hours: Dinner service on Christmas Eve and 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Christmas Day.
Menu: The holiday menu includes mixed greens salad, lobster bisque, bread dumplings, duck breast, prime rib, sea bass, eggnog cheesecake, and black forest Christmas tree cake.
Gattara Denver
Address: 1776 Grant St. in Denver
Website:
Hours: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Menu: The restaurant inside the Warwick Hotel offers two holiday a la carte dinner menus. Christmas in the U.S. includes pumpkin soup, baked salmon, and New York-style cheesecake. Christmas in Italy includes minestrone, shrimp scampi, and lava cake. Diners can mix and match items.
India’s Restaurant
Address: 8921 East Hampden Ave.
Website:
Hours: 11:30-2 p.m. for lunch, 5:30-8:30 p.m. for dinner on Christmas Eve and 5:30-8:30 p.m. for dinner on Christmas Day.
Menu: The evening dinner buffet for $32.95 on both days includes lamb, seafood, chicken, vegetarian options, naan bread, salads and desserts, plus live sitar music and belly dancers. Regular menu also available.
Kachina Cantina
Address: 1890 Wazee St. in Denver
Website:
Hours: 2 to 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Brunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Christmas Day.
Menu: The holiday meal includes prime rib, truffle parmesan mashed potatoes, bacon Brussels sprouts, and maple syrup glazed carrots for $55 per person. On Christmas Day, the regular menu of Kachina staples such as chicken pozole blanco, vegetarian pozole rojo, and beef birria is also available for brunch and dinner. The seasonal cocktail for Christmas Day is Holly & Jolly with Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Old Forester Rye, and house-made spiced cranberry juice.
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Local Jones
Address: 249 Columbine St. in Denver
Website:
Hours: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Menu: House-made fettuccine with lobster, sherry cream, seared scallops, breadcrumbs, confit tomato, and a chocolate mocha gateau ornament.
OAK at Fourteenth
Address: 1400 Pearl St. in Boulder
Website:
Hours: 4 to 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve
Menu: Belgium endive salad or spiced butternut soup, tortellini in brodo or lobster arancini, braised short rib or Colorado striped bass, bananas foster or choice of sorbet (menu subject to change) for $105 per person.
are available for parties of up to four guests. For larger parties, call (303) 444-3622.
Toro Latin Kitchen & Lounge
Address: Inside Hotel Clio at 150 Clayton Lane in Denver
Website:
Hours: 2 to 6 p.m. on Dec. 23-25
Menu: Highlights include butternut squash soup, Morita chili prime rib with lobster tail, and a hibiscus corn cake.
Price: $79 per person plus tax and service fee.
Urban Farmer
Address: 1659 Wazee St. in Denver
Website:
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Christmas Day
Menu: Charcuterie for the table, choice of local greens, seafood chowder or short rib gnocchi; spiral cut ham, prime rib, 6 oz. filet, stuffed delicata squash or salmon; and pumpkin pie or chocolate cake. The table will share sides, including roasted root vegetables, smashed red potatoes, oven-roasted yams, and Brussels Sprouts. Price: $85 for adults and $44 for kids under 12.
Wildflower
Address: 3638 Navajo St. in Denver
Website:
Hours: 5 to 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 23 and 24
Menu: Two multi-course tasting menu options for $92 and $115 per person.
Sara B. Hansen is a Denver-based freelance writer.
