Happy Holidays! They look and feel different this year in many ways, but may the love and joy of the season fill you and yours with hope and happiness. Now not to sound like a broken record from my Top Thanksgiving Take Out Options in Orange County post, but time is limited and supporting local restaurants right now as much as possible is my jam.
Here are my top picks this year for the best Christmas take out options in Orange County:
Old Brea Chophouse – Brea
Old Brea Chop House, North Orange County’s premier steakhouse, is offering Christmas Eve Takeaway Dinners available for pre-order through 12/22. Serving families of two or four, each meal includes a choice of Beef Wellington, Surf & Turf, or Prime Rib plus a roasted pear salad, five seasonal sides, and a festive Chestnut Trifle for dessert.
Availability is limited, so those interested are encouraged to visit Old Brea Chop House’s website to place their order and reserve a pickup time for 12/24.
Driftwood Kitchen – Laguna Beach
Driftwood Kitchen is offering two Christmas take out dinner to go options with Prime Rib or Whole Roast Christmas Turkey! Chef Rainer Schwarz begins the meal with Parker House Rolls, followed by a Driftwood Winter Salad with little gem lettuce, purple haze goat cheese, sweet 100s tomatoes, avocados, dates, croutons, and creamy pear dressing; and Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail with atomic horseradish sauce. For the main course, there is a choice of a 6-pound Double R Ranch Prime Rib Roast with yukon gold mashed potatoes, au jus, grilled jumbo asparagus and heirloom carrots; or Diestel Whole Roasted Turkey with yukon gold mashed potatoes, green beans and heirloom carrots, cranberry sauce, and sherry-sage gravy. The meal ends with a traditional Yule Log “Buche de Noel” to make every Christmas celebration sweeter.
Driftwood Kitchen is also offering cocktails to go and a selection of wines by the bottle. The Prime Rib Dinner is $350 and the Roasted Turkey Dinner is $285; both options feed 6-8 guests and must be ordered by Tuesday, December 22nd for curbside pick-up between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24th. Order the Prime Rib Feast HERE and Turkey Feast HERE.
The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar — Tustin and Newport Beach
The Winery is offering a traditional Christmas Turkey Dinner To Go at both of its Orange County locations! Chef Yvon Goetz’s take-home dinner menu features a choice of Whole Roasted Prime Rib (4 lbs) with au jus and horseradish cream or Whole Roasted Diestel Turkey Breast with Gravy, both served with Seasonal Vegetable Medley and Truffle Mashed Potatoes. The meal begins with an Organic Mixed Greens Salad with strawberries, toasted almonds, tomatoes, blue cheese, and raspberry-balsamic vinaigrette; and Maine Lobster & Tarragon Bisque. The meal ends with Sticky Toffee Pudding with caramelized banana and eggnog crème anglaise.
Guests may also purchase wines by the bottle or craft cocktails to accompany their meals. The Prime Rib Dinner is $199 and the Turkey Dinner is $179, and each dinner serves up to 5 guests. To learn more or to place your order, please call Tustin at (714) 258-7600 or Newport Beach at (949) 999-6622. Orders must be placed by 3pm on Tuesday, December 22nd for pick up between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 24th.
Hendrix Restaurant & Bar —Laguna Niguel
Celebrate Christmas Eve with Hendrix’s Feast To Go! Chef Rainer Schwarz is offering a palate-pleasing meal to take home, with choice of 4-pound Double R Ranch Rotisserie Prime Rib Roast with yukon gold mashed potatoes, green beans & heirloom carrots, creamy horseradish and au jus; or Whole Roasted Turkey with yukon gold mashed potatoes, green beans & heirloom carrots, cranberry sauce, and turkey gravy. The meal begins with Parker House Rolls and Hendrix Chicken Salad with goat cheese, sweet 100s tomatoes, avocados, dates, croutons and creamy pear dressing. The meal ends with a traditional Yule Log “Buche de Noel” to make every Christmas celebration even sweeter.
Hendrix is offering Cocktails To-Go (32-ounces; can serve up to 6); buy one, get one free bottles of select wine; and 30% off select specialty wines. The Prime Rib Dinner is $275 and the Roasted Turkey Dinner is $249. Each meal feeds 6-8 people and must be ordered by Tuesday, December 22nd for curbside pick-up between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24th.
Fable & Spirit – Newport Beach
Dublin 4 Gastropub and Wineworks For Everyone – Mission Viejo
Sister restaurants Fable & Spirit, Dublin 4 Gastropub, and Wineworks For Everyone are offering a Family-Style Christmas Eve Dinner to go. The 4-course dinner begins with a Chef’s selection of Artisanal Cheese & Charcuterie, followed by Shrimp en Cassoulet with grilled country bread. For their entrée, guests will have choice of Pasturebird Chicken Confit with heirloom marble potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, chorizo bilboa, and pearl onions in a roasted garlic chardonnay reduction; or Veal Osso Bucco with truffle parmesan polenta, roasted romanesco, tomato confit, Calabrian chili, and cabernet braising jus. The meal ends with Sticky Toffee Pudding with crème fraiche mousse, pecan brittle, brown butter snow, and salted caramel.
The restaurants’ Sommelier Ali Coyle has put together a few wine recommendations to accompany the meal, and Director of Spirits Drew Coyle has assembled a D4 Irish Coffee Kit that serves 2. The Christmas Eve Family Dinner is $130 and serves 2 guests ($260 for 4 guests, $380 for 6 guests). All dinners must be pre-ordered by 6 p.m. Monday, December 21st online. Dinner can be picked up at the designated restaurant of your choice between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 24th.
Knife Pleat — Costa Mesa
Enjoy an elegant Christmas Dinner or New Years Eve Dinner by Michelin-starred chef Tony Esnault, who has carefully curated a 4-course meal to enjoy in the comfort of your home. The meal begins with a Fall Soup with sunchoke, salsify, parsnip, celery, beluga lentils, and granny smith apple; followed by a Maine Lobster Salad with romaine, fennel, farmers market citrus, crème fraiche, and lobster essence. For the main course, Chef Esnault presents a perfectly executed Beef Wellington with pasture-raised beef tenderloin, mushroom duxelles, and spinach, wrapped in brioche with black truffle jus; alongside his signature Roasted Vegetables and Rosti Potato. The meal ends with a beautiful Bûche de Noël with cognac sponge cake, caramel crémeux & sauce, and meringue. There’s also a vegetarian menu option for non-meat eaters.
This dinner is priced at $460 to serve 4 guests. The meal will be cooked & chilled with simple instructions for serving. Orders must be placed online by 6 p.m. on Monday, December 21st for pick up on Wednesday, December 23rd from noon – 6 p.m. and Thursday, December 24th from noon – 3 p.m. For New Year’s Eve dinner, order mut be placed by Monday, December 28th for pick up on Wednesday, December 30th from noon – 6 p.m. and Thursday, December 31st from noon – 3 p.m.
Haven Craft Kitchen + Bar —Orange
For Christmas Day, Chef Craig Brady is offering a cook-at-home holiday Prime Rib Roast Dinner for 4. This holiday meal kit includes a 4-pound Roasted Garlic & Herb Crusted Allen Brothers Boneless Angus Prime Rib with Duck Fat Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Sage Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Horseradish Cream, Balsamic & Red Onion Jam, and Beef & Mushroom Jus. Guests may add on beverages, including beers, a variety of wines, and cocktail kits to go!
Orders must be placed by noon on Monday, December 21st for pick up between noon and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 23rd and Thursday, December 24th. Haven Craft Kitchen will be closed on Christmas Day. Guests may place orders online HERE.
Fork & Knife —Costa Mesa
To ensure that your Christmas Dinner is memorable, Chef Jonathan Blackford has created a menu that takes care of your holiday dinner needs by bringing the Chef-curated restaurant experience into your home. Create your perfect meal by ordering from a selection of starters, including Parker House Rolls, Soups, Fresh Salads and Charcuterie Boards. Order a Standing Rib Roast that is prepared to finish at your home oven, along with an option of sides and house-made desserts.
Full menu and order form can be found online – simply fill out order form and place your order (can be dropped off or emailed to [email protected]) no later than 7:30 p.m. on December 19th for pick up between 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on December 23rd and between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on December 24th (closed Christmas Day).
Georgia’s Restaurant — Anaheim and Long Beach
Christmas is all about spending time with family, so this year let family-owned Georgia’s Restaurant at the Long Beach Exchange and the Anaheim Packing House bring the Best of the South to the table. Pre-order Georgia’s Christmas Festive Feast & Soulful Sides! Nana Gretchen and Nika Shoemaker-Machado are offering up their signature Fried Chicken (49.95 per half-pan), BBQ St. Louis Ribs ($22.95 per half-pan) and house specialty Jambalaya ($69.95 per half-pan). They are also offering a slew of Southern Soulful Sides (each by the half-pan) featuring Cole Slaw, Chili, Chili Mac, Corn on the Cobb, Collard Greens, family-favorite Red Beans and Rice, Baked Beans, Black Eyed Peas, Garlic Rice, House Salad, Potato Salad, Mac and Cheese, Mashed Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables, Sliders, Yams and Nana Gretchen’s famous Corn Bread and Honey Butter. Christmas would also not be complete without Georgia’s Restaurant’s delectable “soul-delicious” desserts including their Whole Peach Cobbler ($27.95 each), Lemon Cake ($14.95 each), Pound Cake ($14.95 each), and Sweet Potato Pie ($14.95 each).
Georgia’s Restaurant at the Anaheim Packing House and Long Beach Exchange will offer their Christmas Festive Feast & Soulful Sides for pre-order until Monday, December 21st. The Christmas Festive Feast & Soulful Sides will be available for Christmas pick-up on Thursday, December 24th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Georgia’s Restaurant will be closed on Christmas Day, December 25th. For more information or to order directly, please call Georgia’s Restaurant at the Anaheim Packing House at (714) 906-1900 or at the Long Beach Exchange at (562) 420-5637.
BRUXIE — Orange and Brea
Known for featuring seasonal specials throughout the year, Bruxie brings back its popular Candy Cane Shake with Peppermint Infused Frozen Custard with Crushed Candy Canes and Fresh Whipped Cream, and its Eggnog Shake with Seasonal Eggnog and Frozen Custard with Fresh Whipped Cream and Ground Nutmeg. Both are offered through the end of the year.
More information on BRUXIE offerings in Old Towne Orange and Brea Downtown can be found on Instagram and Facebook. For hours of operation, address and menu, please visit their website HERE.
Know of another great restaurant for Christmas take out in Orange County this year? Please let us know in the comments!
