Where To Dine For Christmas Dinner

A light-bedecked palm tree? Not an all together unfamiliar image during the holidays in still sunny SoCal. And, it comes as no surprise that many Angelenos eat out every year on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. After receiving a flury of e-mails querying us on who's serving what, when, and where, the brilliant idea came to mind to organize a list of goings on about town. After the jump, a list of newbies and old standbys that are open and serving, from salmon to steak. Please enjoy.

1) Locanda Del Lago
231 Arizona Avenue, Santa Monica; 310-451-3525; website
The Meal: On both December 24 and December 25 enjoy a three- or four-course prix fixe meal with optional wine pairing. Included on the menu are housemade tortello stuffed with spinach and ricotta, fresh porcini and baby radicchio risotto, John Dory with market squash and red shallots, pomegranate salad and milk-braised chestnuts, and lamb shank "osso buco" with rosemary reduction and semolina gnocchi.
The Price: Three courses for $45 per person. Four courses for $59 per person. Wine parings are an additional $25 per person.

2) Marino Ristorante
6001 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood; 323-466-8812; website
The Meal: On December 24 the restaurant offers Feast of The Seven Fishes, featuring seafood based dishes with Neapolitan roots.
The Price: $59 per person.

3) Simon L.A.
8555 Beverly Boulevard, Mid-City; 310-358-3979; website
The Meal: On December 24 and December 25, try a mushroom bisque, duck confit on escarole, herb-crusted lamb rack, prime rib, lobster pot pie, chocolate-almond buche de noel, panettone bread pudding and an assortment of holiday junk food are included on the menu. On December 26 and 27, the restaurant will feature a post-holiday brunch menu. Items include panettone French toast, lobster eggs benedict, and chestnut soup with apples.
The Price: $8 to $46 per menu item.

4) RH at Andaz
8401 West Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood; 323-656-1234; website
The Meal: On December 24 the restaurant offers a four-course meal including foie gras crostini, lobster parmentier, halibut with golden chanterelles, foie gras-stuffed chicken breast, and buche de noel for dessert.
The Price: $65 per person.

5) Melisse
1104 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica; 310-395-0881; website
The Meal: This Michelin-starred fine dining room will offer a five-course dinner on December 24. The menu includes a trio of truffled flans, foie gras, smoked salmon with caviar and potato blini, main lobster, loup de mer, berkshire pork, and for dessert: fig and apple tarts or valhrona marquise with eggnog.
The Price: $135 per person.

6) The Restaurant at Sunset Marquis
1200 Alta Loma Road, WeHo; 310-657-1333; website
The Meal: On December 24, a multi-course dinner is on offer, including cream of porcini soup, spiny lobster, applewood smoked prime rib, John Dory, and eggnog creme brulee. Wine pairings are optional.
The Price: $60 for adults, $25 for children 7-12, complimentary for children ages 6 and younger. Wine pairings are an additional $28 per person.

7) Gordon Ramsay At The London West Hollywood
1020 North San Vicente Boulevard, West Hollywood; 310-854-1111; website
The Meal: A three-course affair on December 23 and 24. Pumpkin veloute, quail salad, scallops, salmon, roasted beef fillet with ox cheek jam or steamed duck wrapped in house cured guanciale, panna cotta or cheese.
The Price: $85 per person.

8) Akasha
9543 Culver Boulevard, Culver City; 310-845-1700; website
The Meal: On December 24 a three-course holiday menu with multiple options is available. Pick from celery root bisque, ciopinno risotto, slow cooked duck confit, kobe rib eye, butternut squash gnocchi, and a dessert buffet including chocolate hazelnut creme brulee, meyer lemon meringue, persimmon cheesecake and Christmas cookies.
The Price: $55 per person.

9) Drago Centro
525 South Flower Street, Downtown; 213-228-8998; website
The Meal: On December 24, pick from a four- or seven-course menu. Included: sardine filet, cioppino soup, lobster agnolotti, branzino, panettone bread pudding, crab and orange blossom risotto.
The Price: $55 for four courses, $85 for seven courses. Wine pairings additional.

10) Philippe
8284 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood; 323-951-1100; website
The Meal: In addition to Philippe's usual tasting menus, the restaurant is also preparing a small turkey in the style of their peking duck. The peking turkey, served with cranberry plum sauce and house-made pancakes, must be ordered 2 days prior to the date of your reservation and is available through December 25.
The Price: Philippe's tasting menus are $85 per person.The Peking turkey is available for an additional $55.

11) Ford's Filling Station
9531 Culver Boulevard, Culver City; 310-202-1470; website
The Meal: On December 24 pick from a three-course menu including butternut squash soup, warm fig tart, a tasting of domestic hams, baked salmon, rib roast, oven-baked eggplant, apple buckle, ginger bread, and eggnog custard and peppermint ice cream.
The Price: $50 per person.

12) Cache
3110 Main Street, Santa Monica; 310-399-4800; website
The Meal: A three-course affair including roasted pear salad, chestnut-apple soup, rack of lamb, New Zealand snapper, duck breast, apple tart or warm chocolate cake with eggnog.
The Price: $65 per adult. $25 for children 6 and younger.

14) The Oaks Gourmet
1915 N. Bronson Avenue, Hollywood; 323-871-8894; website
The Meal: Maple spiral cut ham, scalloped potatoes, fava bean succotash, whiskey bread pudding.
The Price: $19.95 per person.

15) Bistro LQ
8009 Beverly Blvd, Mid-City; 323-952-1088; website
The Meal: Offered on December 24, the multi-course menu includes "plateau de mer," foie gras, lobster, choice of entree, buche de noel.
The Price: $65 per person.

16) Oliverio at Avalon Hotel
9400 West Olympic Boulevard, Beverly Hills; 310-407-7791; website
The Meal: Available both December 24 and 25, multiple courses: Marinated salmon, vegetable soup, ravioli filled with fontina cheese and pancetta, stuffed free range chicken with artichoke and potato, more.
The Price: $65 per person Christmas Eve, $45 per person Christmas Day.

17) Citizen Smith
1600 North Cahuenga Boulevard, Hollywood; 323-461-5001; website
The Dish: Offered December 24 and 25, four courses: wedge, Greek or Nicoise salad; ahi, crab cake, or scallop second course; swordfish, lef of lamb, steak au poivre; cheesecake, apple tart, berries and cream.
The Price: $60 per person, special $20 menu for kids.