Ho-ho-hungry! 9 Tucson restaurants open for Christmas

The foothills restaurant isn't open on Christmas, but visit them the evening before for a four-course, prix fixe holiday menu $60; $85 with wine. Abbreviated a la carte dinner menu available as well. Reservations suggested. 4-9 p.m. Dec. 24. $60. 3001 E. Skyline Drive. 520-232-0101.

The full menu from the restaurant's website: 

one

acacia deviled eggs

smoked salmon cream cheese pinwheel

flatbread with roasted red pepper hummus

two

petit greens, pt. reyes blue, grilled pear, cranberry-pear balsamic vinaigrette, spiced pecans

three

please choose one of the following

standing rib of prime beef au jus

or

roasted christmas turkey, natural pan gravy

Entrees are served with

bacon rashers with sage, onion and sausage, Yorkshire pudding, chestnut dressing brown butter roasted brussels sprouts, roasted carrots and herb roasted potatoes

four

hot fudge peppermint crepes

Also on Christmas Eve, head to Kingfisher and dig into the regular dinner menu, plus selected holiday specials. A la carte pricing on all. Reservations suggested. Last seating at 8 p.m. 5-9 p.m. Dec. 24. $39. 2564 E. Grant Road. 520-323-7739.

On Christmas Eve, Chef Massimo Tenino is putting on his yearly “Festa dei Sette Pesci,” a multi-course meal of Italian Seafood dishes. Served family style. 5-10 p.m. Dec. 24. $75. 2890 E. Skyline Drive. 520-531-1913.

The menu, from Tavolino's website: 

Bruschetta di Salmone Affumicato

Atlantic smoked salmon, avocado, tomatoes, capers and spicy aioli

Capesante e vongole con arugula e spinaci

Grilled scallops and mussels served with sauteed baby spinach and arugula

Risotto ai Frutti di Mare

Creamy seafood risotto with shrimp, mussels and crab

Branzino al cartoccio in Caponata

Fresh sea bass served with mixed vegetables caponata, olives and capers baked al cartoccio

Pere al Barolo

Poached pears in Barolo wine served warm with house made vanilla gelato and wine caramel sauce

Sorbetti Misti

Assorted house made sorbetto

Spend Christmas Day up in the foothills at the classy Westward Look Resort. Brunch includes roasted sweet potato soup, chilled seafood display with gulf shrimp, smoked salmon, eggs Benedict, Belgium waffles, and blackened red snapper with shrimp. Chef’s carving station features pecan smoked prime rib of beef and bourbon glazed ham. Reservations are required. $59; $25 children ages 5-11; free ages 4 and under. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 25. 245 E. Ina Road. 520-917-2970.

On Christmas Day, the Fourth Avenue bistro The Coronet opens for dinner with a full menu and special all-night happy hour with local music from Nick McBlain and Log Train. 5-10 p.m. 402 E. Ninth St. 520-222-9889.

Pastiche is holding it down both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with a limited a la carte menu full of holiday dishes. Reservations strongly recommended. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 24th; 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 25. 3025 N. Campbell Ave. 520-325-3333.

Some highlights from the menu: 

Roasted golden and red beet salad

Fresh house made mozzarella, orange segments, toasted pine nuts, drizzled with lemon basil vinaigrette, balsamic reduction, $11.00

Classic oven roasted Mary's free range turkey

Sliced dark and white meat, sage dressing, pan gravy, grilled asparagus, cranberry sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, $20.00

Pumpkin ravioli

Toasted fennel and champagne cream sauce topped with fried sweet potatoes, $18.00

Kentucky bourbon pecan pie

Buttery caramel pecans layered on a rich gooey bourbon filling drizzled with caramel and served with a scoop of all natural vanilla bean ice cream, $7.75

All day on Christmas, The Cup Cafe at Hotel Congress will serve its regular menu in addition to a host of holiday specials including coffee crusted prime rib, backwoods benedict, and diver scallops with cauliflower and parsnip puree.

Instagrammers with ugly sweaters can receive a holiday prize by posting a picture with the hashtag #hocosweater. 311 E. Congress St. 520-622-8848.

The Cup's sister restaurant Maynards is also open on Christmas Eve. 

And for the rest of us ... Gee's Garden Chinese restaurant will offer a full dim sum service with meat buns and dumplings galore on Christmas Day. 10 a.m to 3 p.m. dim sum, dinner menu until 9 p.m. Dec. 25. 1145 N. Alvernon Way, 520-325-5353.

And for something completely different, dine on the fragrant curries of Malaysia at Neo. The eastside restaurant will serve its regular menu on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Reservations recommended. 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 24, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 25. 6133 E. Broadway, 520-747-7811.