Christmas eats: Palm Beach County restaurants offering special holiday menus

Liz Balmaseda, Palm Beach Post
·5 min read
Chef Mark Militello's cioppino seafood stew is served over pasta at Josie's Ristorante in Boynton Beach.
Chef Mark Militello's cioppino seafood stew is served over pasta at Josie's Ristorante in Boynton Beach.

Holiday cheer is spreading across the local restaurant scene as more diners venture out and seasonal visitors return. Here are a few holiday-worthy spots offering special menus on Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day, plus takeout.

Josie’s Ristorante

Here’s a real treat for those seeking an Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve but with fewer courses (and one more fish). James Beard Award-winning chef Mark Militello, a South Florida culinary icon, will create an “Eight Fishes Celebration for Two” at Josie’s Ristorante that evening.

The feast: a San Francisco-inspired cioppino featuring the “eight fishes.” Militello, a consulting chef for the restaurant, offers a delicious twist on the dish, combining baby clams, scallops, fresh mussels, shrimp, Maine lobster, halibut, king crab and calamari. He simmers the seafood in a tomato-fennel broth that’s scented with garlic and white wine and serves it all over black linguine. He serves it with an orange and fennel salad and crusty bread that’s drizzled with gremolata for dipping.

The Eight Fishes Celebration is $120 for two people. Josie’s is open Christmas Eve from 4 to 11 p.m. Reservations are strongly suggested.

Josie’s Ristorante: 1602 S. Federal Hwy, Boynton Beach, 561-364-9601, JosiesRistorante.com

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On the menu at Corvina: Grilled prawns “Diablo” served in a chipotle cream sauce with a Venezuelan sweet corn and cheese cachapa (pancake) and pineapple chutney.
On the menu at Corvina: Grilled prawns “Diablo” served in a chipotle cream sauce with a Venezuelan sweet corn and cheese cachapa (pancake) and pineapple chutney.

Corvina Seafood Grill

This new modern seafood restaurant, which opened Dec. 3 in Boca Raton, is offering a customizable three-course menu on Christmas Eve. Corvina diners can select their courses from the main menu. Prix-fixe prices range from $70 to $95 per person, depending on the selected entrée. For $12 more, savor a holiday coquito, a Puerto Rican-style boozy eggnog that’s available throughout December.

Executive chef Jeff Tunks has added a caviar option for the holidays and plans to start Christmas Eve dinner with a special amuse-bouche bite.

The restaurant, which is closed on Christmas Day, opens from 5 to 9 p.m. Christmas Eve.

Corvina Seafood Grill: 110 Plaza Real South, Boca Raton, 561-206-0066, CorvinaBocaRaton.com

A look at Ember Grill's dining room at The Ray hotel in Delray Beach.
A look at Ember Grill's dining room at The Ray hotel in Delray Beach.

Ember Grill at The Ray

This upscale American grill is the centerpiece restaurant at The Ray, the months-old boutique hotel in Pineapple Grove. On its inaugural Christmas season, Ember Grill will offer a special Christmas Eve menu.

The four-course, $85-per-person menu starts with chestnut soup and a Christmas salad of mixed bitter greens, citrus, nuts and feta. Main course is prime rib with a root vegetable puree and roasted baby carrots. The sweet finale: a yule log dessert. The holiday menu includes a wine pairing. Ember Grill opens at 4 p.m. for Christmas Eve dinner.

On Christmas Day, the restaurant will serve an a la carte holiday brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. On the menu: holiday pancakes, prime rib, egg dishes, sweets and brunch cocktails.

Ember Grill at The Ray Hotel: 233 NE 2nd Ave., Delray Beach, 561-739-1705, EmberGrillDelray.com

Clams e 'nduja broth will be served at Elisabetta's and Louie Bossi's restaurants on Christmas Eve.
Clams e 'nduja broth will be served at Elisabetta's and Louie Bossi's restaurants on Christmas Eve.

Elisabetta’s and Louie Bossi’s

Part of the Big Time Restaurant Group, these sibling ristorantes are serving the same specials on Christmas Eve. They include clams in a spicy ‘nduja broth ($17) and Maine lobster fra diavolo ($15) kicked up with Calabrian chilies and served with house-made spaghetti.

Elisabetta’s: In Delray Beach at 32 E. Atlantic Ave., 561-560-6699, in West Palm Beach at 185 Banyan Blvd., 561-342-6699, Elisabettas.com

Louie Bossi’s: 100 E. Palmetto Park Rd., Boca Raton, 561-336-6699, LouieBossi.com

The Christmas spread at Tropical Smokehouse in West Palm Beach.
The Christmas spread at Tropical Smokehouse in West Palm Beach.

Tropical Smokehouse

Chef Rick Mace’s buzzy barbecue joint has put together a Christmas Family Meal takeout package that serves six to eight people for $135.

The package includes a smoked heritage ham, 2 pounds of sweet corn pudding, 2 pounds of aged white cheddar mac and 1 Caribbean rum cake. You can add a smoked turkey breast for $55 and a half prime certified brisket for $70. The holiday dishes are also offered in family-sized portions a la carte.

All orders must be submitted by Sunday, Dec. 19, and must be picked up Christmas Eve between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Tropical Smokehouse: 3815 S. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, 561-323-2573, EatTropical.com

Cucina Cabana is at the Crystal Cove Commons plaza in North Palm Beach.
Cucina Cabana is at the Crystal Cove Commons plaza in North Palm Beach.

Cucina Cabana

This popular North Palm Italian restaurant and cabaret is serving a “Feast of the Seven Fishes” menu on Christmas Eve for $95 per person. The special three-course menu starts with a mixed seafood dish of calamari fritti, grilled shrimp and pan-seared scallops with rosemary potatoes. The following course combines clams and mussels in a scampi sauce. The third course pairs pan-seared snapper with lobster risotto.

Adding to the Christmas Eve ambiance, singer Reni D’Lorenzo pays tribute to Andrea Bocelli in a live performance that starts at 5 p.m. Cucina Cabana opens at noon on Christmas Eve.

Cucina Cabana: 1201 U.S. Hwy 1, Crystal Cove Commons plaza, North Palm Beach, 561-626-1616, CucinaCabanaRistorante.com

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Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner is served at Beacon restaurant at the Jupiter Inlet.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner is served at Beacon restaurant at the Jupiter Inlet.

Beacon

With a sparkling view of Jupiter Inlet waters, the stylish Beacon restaurant will serve holiday specials on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

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On executive chef Jordan Lerman’s holiday menu: stuffed turkey breast with jus and cranberry marmalade, potato puree, honey roasted squash, Brussels sprouts salad. For dessert, there’s ginger-scented poached pear with honey panna cotta and house-made pear sorbet.

Speaking of Christmassy pear flavors, Beacon has rolled out a holiday-spiced cocktail it calls The Partridge, which hints of pear butter, ginger and spiced rum and is served with dehydrated pear.

On Christmas Eve, Beacon opens from 5 to 10 p.m. On Christmas Day, it opens from 4 to 9 p.m.

Beacon: Located in the Charlie and Joe’s at Love Street complex, 1107 Lighthouse Promenade, Jupiter, 561-532-3280, TheBeaconJupiter.com

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Restaurants open Christmas, Christmas Eve with special holiday menus