Where to have Christmas dinner

Even if Christmas isn’t your thing, the food associated with it should be. From 24-hour joints to fine dining rooms, holiday specials in Vegas will have you catching the yuletide spirit. So before you roast a chestnut over an open fire for Christmas dinner, consider these options:

La Cave Wine and Food Hideaway

For many, wine is a must to get through the holidays. La Cave Wine and Food Hideaway is a cozy spot — hole up in their dim, cellar-like room with a good bottle of red and a table of tapas such as asparagus with jamon Serrano and sunny-side-up egg, or a beef filet and blue cheese flatbread. This is Christmas after all, so chef Billy DeMarco has prepared something special for you: grilled black bass with tomato vinaigrette, baby artichoke ravioli and broccoli rabe ($24). He’s even thought of the wine to pair with it — the 2007 Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese ($27). You’ll be decking the halls in no time.

Wynn Las Vegas
(702) 770-7375
www.wynnlasvegas.com

Michael Mina Bellagio

If you’re looking for an upscale dining adventure on Dec. 25, Michael Mina at Bellagio, with its four-course prix fixe menu, is the place to go for a white-tablecloth Christmas. The elegant experience starts among choices of Kabocha squash soup with Nantucket Bay scallop and spiced apple cider gelee, or a salad of market greens with pear, hazelnut and goat cheese. Chef Mina’s signature lobster pot pie, chock full of seasonal vegetables and steaming from brandied lobster cream, is presented tableside for your second course. Go super-meaty when you select from entrées of Liberty Farms duck breast with Brussels sprouts, chestnuts and foie gras, or the tender American Wagyu ribeye, which also includes a cut of braised cheek. The sweet finish is a choice of pumpkin tart with Chantilly cream, spiced bread pudding or a classic root beer float. The cost of this Christmas miracle is $115 per person.

Bellagio
(702) 693-8199
www.bellagio.com

Delmonico

Open Christmas day for lunch and dinner, Delmonico Steakhouse offers classic winter flavors with specials that’ll make your season bright. Warm up with a bowl of creamy, earthy pumpkin bisque with foie gras fritters ($14), or savor the Brussels sprouts salad with apple bacon, caramelized onions and Banyula vinaigrette, highlighting some of the best ingredients of the cold weather months. Game lovers will dig the rabbit fricassee, served with sweet potato gnocchi and black truffles. The star of Delomonico’s show, however, is the slow-roasted prime rib, a Christmas staple, meaty and juicy, served with savory herb popovers and red wine jus ($55). It’s easy to find joy when you’re eating your way through the season.

The Venetian
(702) 414-3737
www.venetian.com

Mr. Lucky’s 24/7 Café

There’s something perfect about Christmas dinner at a 24-hour diner. No frills, no fuss — just the right amount of Christmas cheer served with a side of fries. Mr. Lucky’s 24/7 has steak and eggs ($9.99) and a meatloaf plate ($15.99) if you’re feeling like a hearty meal. Or if you’re looking for a dish that’s a bit more festive, there’s the Christmas Confetti Pancakes ($10.99) to be washed down with an eggnog milkshake ($8.99). Not a bad way to feel like you’re home for the holidays.

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
(702) 693-5592
www.hardrockhotel.com

— Grace Bascos, Brand Publishing Writer