Cartwright's Sonoran Ranch House Tuesday, December 24
At Cartwright's in Cave Creek, they're celebrating the Christmas season cowboy-style. On Christmas Eve, the sophisticated Southwestern restaurant will serve its regular menu from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. But at night, the restaurant will serve a special Christmas Eve menu. From 4 to 9 p.m., guests can enjoy a three-course meal for $55 each or $18 for kids 5 to 12 years old. The menu includes appetizer, entree, and dessert. Entree options include prime rib with rosemary au jus and creamed horseradish sauce, mesquite-grilled Berkshire pork tenderloin with maple fig chutney, or pan-roasted fresh Chilean sea bass with Dijon butter sauce and housemade guajillo chile spatzle. Call 480-488-8031 for reservations.
See also: 11 Metro Phoenix Restaurants Open on Christmas Day
New Hong Kong Wednesday, December 25
If you're not doing the traditional Christmas thing, you not only have dining options, but really good ones this year. For example, our favorite Chinese restaurant will be open on Wednesday, and that's for take-out or dine in. Now that's a Christmas gift. In fact, if we weren't stuck with family all day, we'd probably be at New Hong Kong just because we like it that much. And for those of you not in Central Phoenix, check out our complete list of Chinese restaurants that will be open on Christmas Day.
Ingo's Tasty Food
Welcome to the future of hamburger stands. This new Arcadia spot, courtesy of LGO Hospitality, is like a burger joint straight out of your fantasies. Sure, the name is weird, but these gourmet burgers aren't messing around. Take, for example, the Ingo Bürger, a take on a classic Reuben sandwich. There's a juicy beef patty, scratch-made Dijon sauce, slices of nutty Fol Epi cheese, and a crunchy and tangy housemade sauerkraut. Find out what else we're still thinking about from our first taste of Ingo's Tasty Food.
(The restaurant will be closed on Christmas Day but open on Christmas Eve.)
Super Chunk Sweets and Treats
If you're still looking for sweet stocking stuffers or a fail-safe Christmas gift, head to the recently opened Super Chunk Sweets and Treats in Scottsdale. Cowboy Ciao pastry chef Country Velador and husband Sergio are pumping out all sorts of delectable desserts. You'll find small (a.k.a. stocking-size) packages of gourmet caramel corn as well as duck fat toffee and toffee nuts. If you're heading to a holiday party, pick up a container of take-and-bake chocolate chip cookies or a full-size cake or pie that's sure to outshine all those frosted sugar cookies. Super Chunk will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The store will be closed on Christmas Day but will be open on Christmas Eve.
And for more Christmas dessert ideas, check out our list of Christmas desserts to pick up or order right now.
Bar Crudo
Once you've made it through Christmas -- the last-minute frenzy of shopping, the day of in-laws, and the cleanup -- you more than deserve a drink. And not just any drink. A good one. Luckily, Phoenix is home to two of the best bars in America, at least according to Food and Wine magazine. Bar Crudo and Windsor both made the magazine's recent list of the 100 best bars in the country.
In short, you know where to find us drowning our post-Christmas blues.
