By the time you get to Christmas Eve, you’ll be ready to rest, relax and indulge in a holiday feast with family and friends. Instead of cooking, why not make a reservation for a festive meal to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year? These 13 NoVA restaurants will be open for a dazzling Christmas Eve meal.
Courtesy 2941
2941
Chef Bertrand Chemel will create a three-course Christmas Eve menu at 2941, Northern Virginia Magazine’s No. 2 Best Restaurant of 2024. Guests can choose from decadent dishes like Hawaiian Hamachi crudo, butter-poached lobster, grilled ribeye, Australian lamb chops, Dover sole, and more. The prix fixe holiday menu is $135 per person, served from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 2941 Fairview Park Dr., Falls Church
Courtesy Ada’s on the River
Ada’s On The River
In addition to Ada’s traditional menu, the waterside eatery offers two delicious Christmas Eve specials. Savor the Chilean sea bass, accented with cherry tomatoes, asparagus, fingerling potatoes, herbs, and miso brown butter or a 24-ounce prime Kansas City strip steak. Sip on a special holiday hot toddy or spiked cider to warm the soul. Open from 11:30 am to 11 p.m. 3 Pioneer Mill Way, Alexandria
Barca Pier & Wine Bar
Soak up stunning waterside views while you devoir specially curated Christmas Eve and Christmas Day cuisine. In addition to Barca’s traditional menu, guests can enjoy two festive specials: Catalan lamb kebab or crab stuffed jumbo shrimp. Barca will be open on Christmas Eve from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Christmas Day from noon to 9 p.m. 2 Pioneer Mill Way, Alexandria
Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse
On Christmas Eve, celebrate the Feast of the Seven Fishes with memorable food, friends and family at Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse in Reston. The three-course traditional Italian Christmas Eve menu features unique and delectable seafood courses with prawns, lump crab, scallops, lobster, swordfish, clams, and mussels, in addition to the à la carte menu. Join Davio’s between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. Reservations are recommended for the $85 per person three-course meal. 1902 Reston Metro Plz., Reston
Eddie Merlot’s Prime Aged Beef and Seafood
Celebrate the season with Eddie Merlot on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The Ashburn restaurant will serve its traditional menu, which includes hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood, and signature cocktails. Or, diners can peruse a special holiday menu with sommelier-selected wine pairings, available through January 6, 2025. The options include a porterhouse steak and king crab trio, surf and turf, elk chop, and veal osso buco. 20350 Minot Dr., Ashburn
Immigrant Food (Photo by Hawkeye Johnson)
Immigrant Food
The new Ballston location of Immigrant Food will be open for Christmas Eve brunch, with holiday specials including fried chicken and Belgian waffles. The brunch runs from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and reservations are encouraged. Plus, if all guests at your table wear festive holiday sweaters, you’ll receive a “Hong Kong French Toast” on the house. 4245 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington
J. Gilbert’s Wood-Fired Steaks and Seafood
J. Gilbert’s will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve, serving its traditional menu in a cozy atmosphere. Dig into classics like center-cut filet mignon, blackened chicken penne, and maple plank roasted salmon. 6930 Old Dominion Dr., McLean
L’Auberge Chez Francois
Visit this iconic Great Falls restaurant for an unforgettable meal. The seven-course holiday experience features delectable beef Wellington and holiday cuisine curated by chef Jacques Haeringer. On top of marvelous fare, enjoy award-winning décor, decorative lighting, trees, flowers, and three roaring fireplaces to enhance your bucket-list experience. Three seatings are available, at 11:30 a.m., 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. 332 Springvale Rd., Great Falls
Mia’s Italian Kitchen (Photo by Rey Lopez)
Mia’s Italian Kitchen
On Christmas Eve, Mia’s offers two special dishes — veal chop parmigiana, made with a pounded and breaded bone-in veal chop, spicy rigatoni pomodoro, melted mozzarella, and saba or lobster ravioli, featuring Maine lobster, pecorino, lobster sauce, ricotta, and sherry cream sauce. The Old Town Alexandria restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.100 King St., Alexandria
NUE (Photo by Amie Otto)
NUE
Plan to indulge in traditional and innovative Vietnamese American recipes at this elegant Falls Church restaurant. Dine family style or a la carte on delights like lump crab asparagus soup, honey-lacquered duck, coconut curry risotto with Hokkaido scallops, and bò kho pappardelle. Open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. 944 W. Broad St., Falls Church
Roberto’s Italiano Ristorante
Join chef Roberto Donna at his cozy Vienna restaurant on December 24 for the Feast of the Seven Fishes seafood extravaganza. The elevated eight-course menu includes poached cod, sauteed squid, halibut with truffle sauce, lobster raviolo, and sauteed sea scallops with black truffle. The meal ends with warm panettone and caramel sauce. Cost is $110 per guest. 144 Church St. NW, Vienna
The Majestic
The Majestic in Old Town Alexandria offers two special additions to its regular menu on Christmas Eve. Guests can enjoy pan-seared duck breast with butternut squash purée, honey glazed parsnips, and orange sauce or rockfish roasted with zucchini, eggplant, red peppers, onions, tomato-caper sauce, and herb oil. The restaurant is open on Christmas Eve from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. 911 King St., Alexandria
Vola’s Dockside Grill
Vola’s will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve, engaging in the holiday spirit. Guests can enjoy two special holiday dishes. The first is lobster and spinach ravioli with asparagus, tomato cream sauce, pecorino romano, and fried sage. The other is king salmon with quinoa, confit pearl onions, roasted butternut squash, watercress, and salsa verde. Vola’s regular menu will also be available. 101 N. Union St., Alexandria
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Feature image of L’Auberge Chez Francois by Rey Lopez
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