 It's the most wonderful time of the year... why spend it in the kitchen? Living in Orange County, we're surrounded by some of the best restaurants and entertainment in Southern California. Celebrate this holiday season at O.C.’s fine dining establishments, which are offering special prix fixe and holiday-themed menus for Christmas and New Year’s. New Year’s celebrations include masquerade balls and champagne toasts alongside dancing and live music. To guarantee your spot at the table, call ahead for reservations, as seats are filling up fast during the holidays.
Christmas Menus
Prego Ristorante
If a holiday escape to Italy isn’t on your Christmas agenda this year, arrive at the next best thing – an Italian Christmas dinner prepared by chef Ugo Allesina, who grew up in Piemonte. Prego Ristorante, whose Mediterranean ambience, homemade pasta and regional Italian dishes have made it a culinary destination for more than 20 years, is offering a prix fixe menu on Christmas Eve. Entrees include baked ham with mustard-marmalade glace, filet of sole with toasted almonds, and farfalle pasta with shrimp and prosciutto.
A prix fixe New Year’s Eve dinner includes live music and dancing to local blues-rock band Diane and the Deductibles, as well as a midnight champagne toast.
When: Christmas Eve, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and New Year’s Eve dinner
Cost: $39.95 per person, New Year’s Eve $74.95 per person
Location: 18420 Von Karman Ave, Irvine
Contact: 949.553.1333; pregoristoranti.com
Reservations strongly recommended
 Five Crowns
A replica of an old English inn, this cozy establishment invites patrons to indulge in fine wines or craft beer and dine on gourmet meats, including prime rib, holiday goose and rack of lamb. The prix fixe menu also includes a roast squash as a vegetarian option.
When: Until Jan. 2
Cost: Entrees from $31-$54
Location: 3801 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar
Contact: 949.760.0331; lawrysonline.com/five-crowns
The Cellar
Immerse yourself in old world European elegance and dine by the romantic light of chandeliers and candles at this downtown Fullerton gem. The Cellar specializes in gourmet French cuisine, and its holiday menu includes grilled venison chops marinated in red wine, braised short ribs and hazelnut soufflé.
When: Christmas Eve, starting at 5 p.m.
Cost: $64.95 per person
Location: 305 N. Harbor Blvd, Fullerton
Contact: 714.525.5682; cellardining.com
Reservations required
Back Bay Bistro
For a departure from traditional Christmas dishes, visit the Back Bay Bistro, located on the Newport Dunes waterfront. On Christmas Eve, the restaurant will serve seafood items like crab cakes, Hawaiian Ahi and Atlantic salmon alongside roast duck and steak. Decadent bread pudding and pecan pie round out the holiday menu.
Guests can ring in the New Year at a masquerade ball on New Year’s Eve, while dining on a diverse variety of cuisines, ranging from seafood to South American. A midnight champagne toast and live music cap off the festive evening.
When: Christmas Eve dinner, New Year’s Eve dinner
Cost: Christmas Eve entrees from $26 to $65; New Year’s Eve dinner $85 per person
Location: 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach
Contact: 949.729.1144; backbaybistronewportbeach.com
Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa
The Californian Restaurant
A Four Diamond restaurant, the Californian’s oceanfront setting entices diners as much as its award-winning fare. Traditional holiday flavors abound on the Christmas menu, which offers festive dishes such as butternut squash ravioli, roast turkey, gingerbread crème brulee and pureed parsnip soup. The Christmas kids’ menu includes roast turkey and spaghetti marinara.
If you’re looking to spend a romantic New Year’s Eve on the waterfront, dine at the Californian and indulge in stuffed quail, scallops and butternut squash soup.
When: Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve dinner
Cost: Christmas Day $48 per person, New Year’s Eve $68 per person
Location: 21500 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach
Contact: 714.698.1234; huntingtonbeach.hyatt.com
Reservations recommended
 Pelican Hill Resort
Pelican Hill has composed special gourmet dining menus and luxury recreational activities in time for the holidays, ensuring a memorable experience for both children and adults.
Among the variety of meals offered at the luxury Five Diamond resort this holiday season are Hanukkah menus, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners, and New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day meals, all offered at several of Pelican Hill’s restaurants. The resort also hosts a traditional holiday tea on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the season.
On Christmas Day, children can have their photo taken with Santa and watch a marionette show, while adults listen to live classical harp music in the Mar Vista Ballroom.
When: Dec. 20 to Jan. 1
Cost: Prices vary
Location: 22701 Pelican Hill Road South, Newport Coast
Contact: 949.467.6833; pelicanhill.com
Bayside Restaurant
Executive chef Paul Gstrein, an Austrian native and French-trained chef, will serve his regular menu of American cuisine as well as holiday specials on Christmas Eve. Diners can enjoy the piano and saxophone music of the Mike McKenna Duo, beginning at 5 p.m.
When: Christmas Eve dinner
Cost: Entrées from $20 to $34
Location: 900 Bayside Drive, Newport Beach
Contact: 949.721.1222; diningasart.com
New Year’s Menus
SOL Cocina
Start the New Year’s holiday off right with bottomless mimosas and Baja cuisine at SOL Cocina’s brunch on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. If you’re looking to extend the party past brunch, choose from three entrées on a pre-set dinner menu on New Year’s Eve and ring in the new year with a specialty margarita.
When: New Year’s Eve brunch and dinner; New Year’s Day brunch
Cost: Dinner entrées from $14 to $25
Location: 251 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Newport Beach
Contact: 949.675.9800; solcocina.com
Reservations recommended
LUCCA
Owner and chef Cathy Pavlos welcomes guests to visit LUCCA Café between 5 and 9 p.m. and celebrate New Year’s Eve on a New York schedule. The European eatery, which is known for using organic, local and free-range ingredients in its dishes and for its wine bar, will serve its regular dinner menu at the usual cost on New Year’s Eve. Greek, French, and Italian small plates are offered on the varied menu.
When: New Year’s Eve dinner
Cost: Entrées from $12 to $27 Location: 6507 Quail Hill Parkway, Irvine
Contact: 949.725.1773; luccacafe.com
Reservations recommended
 The Winery Restaurant & Bar
Famous for its selection of more than 650 wines and California regional cuisine, The Winery will entertain guests at its annual New Year’s Eve Masquerade. Indulge in a gourmet four-course dinner, and then celebrate with a midnight champagne toast and dancing to live R&B band, Family Style.
Guests can also celebrate at The Winery without coming to dinner, by joining the party at the restaurant’s Masquerade Lounge. For $25, guests will receive entry to the lounge, a midnight champagne toast, and an evening of dancing to a live DJ.
When: New Year’s Eve dinner
Cost: First seating $79 per person, second seating $169 per person
Location: 2647 Park Avenue, Tustin
Contact: 714.258.7600; thewineryrestaurant.net
Reservations required
Z’Tejas
Executive chef Daniel Stevens is serving up Southwestern regional holiday specials, including ancho chile glazed filet mignon and ceviche, throughout the New Year’s weekend at this South Coast Plaza eatery. The restaurant’s regular menu will also be available for patrons who wish to order their favorite dish.
When: Dec. 30 to Jan. 1
Cost: Entrees from $17.99 to $31.99
Location: 3333 S. Bristol Street, Costa Mesa
Contact: 714.979.7469; ztejas.com
Kimera
This modern restaurant’s special New Year’s Eve dinner menu will feature prime cuts of meat and fish at two seatings, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The second dinner seating, which starts at 8:30 p.m., is loaded with extra freebies: a champagne toast, party favors, a DJ and dancing until well past midnight. The restaurant’s lounge and dance floor will be open to the public, so non-diners can join the party as well.
When: New Year’s Eve dinner
Cost: First seating $45, second seating $75 per person
Location: 19530 Jamboree Road, Irvine
Contact: 949.261.1222; kimerarestaurant.com
Reservations required
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