But for others, the last thing you want to think about amid piles of torn gift wrap, tissue paper and opened boxes is spending hours in the kitchen. Either way, holiday festivities can work up an appetite.
Fortunately, several restaurants are ready to serve you and your family on Dec. 25. From elegant prix-fixe menus to lavish buffets and even take-and-reheat dinners, these 12 Valley establishments have you covered. Here's where to eat on Christmas in metro Phoenix.
Hotel Valley Ho
6850 E. Main St., Scottsdale Head to the buzzy Hotel Valley Ho for two dining options this holiday. Start your day with a brunch buffet in the SoHo Ballroom from 6 to 11 a.m. with breakfast favorites plus made-to-order eggs and omelets. The meal is $32 per person and $14 for ages 12 and younger. If you prefer to sleep in, hit ZuZu for a feast served from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Peruse the starter buffet of blackened shrimp cocktail, ahi tuna poke with wonton chips, Brussels sprouts salad, parmesan wild rice salad, cheese and charcuterie displays, artisan breads and more. Next, choose your entree of grilled Prime ribeye, mushroom bolognese, lamb shank, roasted Muscovy duck or blackened Icelandic salmon. Finish with your choice of cheesecake tart, caramel mousse or orange pavlova for dessert. The cost ranges from $82 to $98, depending on the entree selection, and is $25 for ages 12 and younger.
The dessert course features a rainbow cake and struffoli, sweet fried dough balls drizzled with honey.
The Italiano
The Italiano
9301 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale Savor a Christmas dinner, Italian style, with The Italiano’s Feast of the Seven Fishes. This five-course dinner boasts options such as charred jumbo prawns with creamy polenta in a spicy red wine sauce, traditional fritto misto, seafood salad, rigatoni alla vodka and prawns, seafood cioppino, lobster ravioli, stuffed swordfish and shrimp parmigiana. Save room for Italian rainbow cake with amaretti cookies and a profiterole for dessert. It’s $95 per person with a two-person minimum, so bring a friend or a few to join.
Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen
6114 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale Splurge at the Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows’ restaurant Weft & Wrap Art Bar + Kitchen this Christmas. Its expansive brunch buffet doesn’t make decisions easy. In addition to traditional fare like eggs, yogurt parfaits, home fries and bacon, linger over the raw bar and seafood station, duck confit, oysters Rockefeller and baked eggplant. Find roasted Prime rib and whole salmon at the carving station, plus salads and cheeses. A chocolate yule log, peppermint bark and a bevy of cookies and tarts end the meal on a sweet note. The buffet is $150 and will be served from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.T. Cook’s
5200 E. Camelback Road Indulge with an elegant three-course dinner at T.Cook’s, the signature restaurant at the Royal Palms Resort and Spa. The prix-fixe menu, which is $175, or $75 for ages 6 to 16, flaunts highlights such as Prime rib with mashed potatoes and glazed carrots, lobster ravioli with creme fraiche and caviar, halibut with sweet potato pave and maple beurre blanc and a mint chocolate bombe with peppermint chocolate cheesecake. The menu will be served from 1 to 8 p.m.
Kona Grill
Multiple locations Kona Grill will serve holiday specials on Christmas, such as a 10-ounce Prime rib with togarashi jus, horseradish cream and miso whipped potatoes ($43). There's traditional roasted turkey accompanied by sauteed green beans and miso mashed potatoes with cream gravy ($35); and baked glazed ham served with sweet chile green beans, roasted fingerling potatoes and a citrus honey mustard glaze ($41). A dressed-up slice of pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream, pepitas, caramel sauce, cinnamon and orange zest ($15) is a festive culmination to the feast.Terra Tempe Kitchen & Spirits
11 E. Seventh St., Tempe A special holiday menu at The Westin Tempe’s Terra Tempe Kitchen & Spirits will feature hearty plates like Meats by Linz Prime rib served with Yorkshire pudding and roasted winter vegetables ($52), and pan-seared Korina duck breast joined by a confit leg, potato and roasted parsnips ($48). There’ll also be a traditional buche de noel ($12), and the Rudolph’s Old Fashioned cocktail made with Buffalo Trace whiskey, amaro Montenegro and rosemary simple syrup ($18).
Palo Verde
34631 N. Tom Darlington Drive, Scottsdale Make your way to Boulders Resort & Spa’s Palo Verde restaurant for a four-course dinner loaded with all the favorites. Noteworthy dishes include winter squash bisque, Kentucky bourbon glazed ham with yams and roasted broccoli and butter-basted beef tenderloin with asparagus and red crab. For dessert, you can choose between the Eggnog Ornaments Mousse with apple compote and bourbon toffee anglaise or the Santa Hat Black Chocolate Cake. The meal is $111 per person or $57.50 for ages 6 to 12.Also, a to-go dinner option that feeds six to eight features main course dishes of pepper crusted Prime rib or spiral ham ($265), or herb-brined roasted turkey ($245). It comes with your choice of three sides such as caramelized Brussels sprouts, barbecue spiced heirloom carrots, roasted organic broccolini, roasted garlic mashed potatoes and wild mushroom stuffing. Choose pecan pie with bourbon caramel sauce or cranberry orange bundt cake for dessert. Orders can be placed through Dec. 24, with a pick-up window of 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Christmas.
