Area eateries await for Christmas Day feasting
By Jennifer Olvera December 23, 2010 12:32PM
Sushi Samba on North Wells Street will be serving up its flashy Japanese-, Peruvian- and Brazilian-inspired fare on Christmas Day. | Dom Najolia~Sun-Times
Updated: April 19, 2011 5:27AM
It snuck up — Christmas is here. For some, that means breaking out the generations-old china, polishing the silver and preparing course after elaborate course for family and friends.
However, those of a different persuasion may find themselves looking for anxiety-free dining alternatives. Merrily, they won’t be left wanting for options: Many Chicago restaurants are not only open Dec. 25, they’re serving up festive feasts.
So skip the prep work and post-meal scouring, and hit these haunts, basking in the holiday glow — with little or no effort at all.
aria, (The Fairmont Chicago, 200 N. Columbus Dr., 312-444-9494; ariachicago.com.) Forget the roasts and figgy pudding: this moody, eclectic hotel dining room is opting for the atypical with a gourmet, three-course Chinese dinner and unrestricted movie pass at nearby AMC River East 21 ($45) between 11:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Christmas Day. Options range from chicken and mushroom dumplings with truffle dashi and vermicelli to vegetable spring rolls with papaya mustard and green papaya salad; tamarind-glazed Peking duck with ginger fried rice; and wok-fried barramundi paired with winter melon, garlic chives and chile peanuts. Desserts don’t disappoint, either, given there’s an interpretation of an Almond Joy on offer.
SushiSamba Rio, (504 N. Wells., 312-595-2300; sushisamba.com)
It’s no surprise this flashy Japanese-, Peruvian- and Brazilian-inspired hot spot plans to buck tradition. Open from noon until midnight on Christmas Day, it will dish up a wildly flavorful, a la carte menu that includes goose anticucho with cranberry pisto sauce ($16); aji panca-crusted standing rib roast alongside Yukon causa ($33); and spiced pionono with Asian pear jam, coquito ice cream and kaffir lime ($10).
Lockwood, (Palmer House Hilton, 17 E. Monroe, (312) 917-3404; lockwoodrestaurant.com)
Indulge in chef Greg Elliot’s five-course tasting menu from 5-10 p.m. on Christmas, reveling in the likes of Pacific red snapper with celery root custard, chard and oyster emulsion; sassafras-accented Cervena venison plated with glazed salsify and grilled radicchio; and bouche de Noel of chocolate genoise-swathed in coffee buttercream ($75).
Great Street, (Renaissance Chicago Downtown, 1 W. Wacker, (312) 795-3333, www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/chisr-renaissance-chicago-hotel). Dining out doesn’t necessarily mean forgoing. This hotel restaurant proves it with a three-course, choose-your-own Christmas day dinner from 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. For $45 a pop ($25 per kid), dive into melty Brie with Cabernet vinaigrette and honey-baked lavash; tournedos of beef paired with Red Bliss mashed potatoes and rock shrimp scampi; and warm chocolate pecan cake with port wine sauce, taking time to appreciate the Chicago River views.
Cafe des Architectes, (Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, 20 E. Chestnut, 312- 324-4063; cafedesarchitectes.com) You’ll be living large at this brasserie in the modern Sofitel Chicago — it’s serving a luxe, three-course menu with options such as butternut squash veloute, duck moulard and — to cap it all off — a chocolate snowball dessert ($72). Be sure to head to stylish Le Bar for some post-meal merrymaking.
Zest, (InterContinental Chicago, 505 N. Michigan, 312- 321-8790; www.icchicagohotel.com/dining/zest_restaurant.cfm) Step off the already festive Mag Mile from 11:30 a.m.- 3 p.m. on Dec. 25 and find a serious spread at this exec-friendly find. Load up on lobster, foie gras and leek terrine, smoked salmon tartare crostini and caponata with grilled scallops. Hitting the buffet for round two, score grilled halibut medallions atop Tuscan bean stew, veal goulash with a dab of sour cream and carved, oven-roasted duck with orange jus and grilled stuffing. There will be a kids’ table as well as a dessert table with opera cake and a napoleon of white chocolate, amaretto mousse and peach coulis ($55 adults, $23 kids 5-12). Can’t roll out of bed early? There’s a six-course prix fixe dinner, too, from 5-10 p.m. — complete with venison saddle, Wellington polenta, ratatouille tarts and cranberry glace ($65).
NoMI, (Park Hyatt, 800 N. Michigan, 7th fl., 312-239-4030; nomirestaurant.com) Perched oh-so-chicly above its namesake North Michigan Avenue, this Tony Chi-designed stunner will prepare a lavish brunch from 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. on Christmas. Those who dine early will encounter Gruyere and bacon quiche and a selection of spiced, banana and straight-up mini waffles, pancakes and French toast. Later, there’s duck confit with wild rice, polenta cakes and cauliflower gratin to tempt. But it’s the dessert table — brimming with chocolate-mango panna cotta, hazelnut Yule log and holiday cookies — that may justify the $115 price tag ($35 for kids 5-12).
Markethouse, (Doubletree Hotel Chicago, 611 N. Fairbanks, (312) 224-2200; markethousechicago.com) This hidden gem is just the place to while away a long, wintery evening — especially since executive chef Scott Walton will offer a special design-your-own three-course dinner. Expect choices that range from Maple Leaf Farms cassoulet with duck confit, garlic sausage and Christmas beans to a trio of Cedar Springs lamb with pistachio grits and raisin mostarda. Not to be ignored: an egg nog-inspired bread pudding with bourbon-spiked butterscotch sauce for dessert form 11 a.m.-10 p.m. ($36).
Elate, (Hotel Felix, 111 W. Huron, 312-202-9900; elatechicago.com) Kick off Christmas Day in eco-friendly style during the breakfast (7-10 a.m.) or brunch (10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.) hour at this sleek, hotel-centered pad. Whether you opt for braised skirt steak and eggs ($14), a turkey chorizo burrito with pickled jalapenos ($13), or a pizza crowned with smoked ham, truffle potatoes, caramelized onions and a sunny egg, you’ll be mighty glad you did.
Jennifer Olvera is a local free-lance writer.
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