Out on the Town for Christmas Feasting

The living room looks like a battlefield of gift wrap and boxes. The coffeepot is drained, so are the hosts; the elves are restless and the guests, hungry. Before the harried breakfast cook throws in the towel, give that poor creature a reprieve: Eat out for Christmas.

Most restaurants are closed on the 25th. But a few, especially those in hotels, keep the doors open. Phone well ahead: Unless noted, reservations are a must.

Here’s a sampler of what’s cooking Christmas Day:

Lutfisk (dried salted cod, steamed and served with white sauce and potatoes) is among the 100 items on Gustaf Anders’ lavish Swedish holiday smorgasbord. So are smoked reindeer, meatballs, gravlax, ham, herring and marzipan Princess Cake. The holiday buffet is available through Christmas Day. Christmas hours are 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Gustaf Anders Restaurant, South Coast Plaza Village, Bear Street at Sunflower Street, Santa Ana. (714) 668-1737. $29 adults; $14.50 children.

The spirit of “A Christmas Carol” permeates Bernard’s at the Biltmore, where a five-course Dickensian feast includes roast goose with lingonberry sauce or braised loin of venison with wine sauce, and English plum pudding or apricot bread pudding for dessert. From 5:30 p.m. Bernard’s, Regal Biltmore Hotel, 506 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 612-1580. $45 adults; $25 children.

Jazz guitar, not sleigh bells, heralds the day at Californias, where a three-course menu includes roast leg of lamb, prime rib, roast duck, medallions of stuffed chicken or salmon en crou^te for entrees and mincemeat pie, Christmas trifle or bread pudding for dessert. 4 to 10:30 p.m. Californias, Sheraton Universal Hotel, 333 Universal Terrace Parkway, Universal City. (818) 509-2777. $28 adults; $14 children.

Italian tradition dictates the specials at the new Coco Pazzo, with stuffed Christmas dumplings, braised beef and panettone at lunch and dinner. Christmas Day hours: 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Coco Pazzo at the Mondrian Hotel, 8440 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. (213) 848-6000. Prices vary.

A seven-course dinner at the Dynasty Room in the Westwood Marquis Hotel and Gardens offers crab cannelloni with crayfish sauce, maple glazed roast turkey, tournedos of beef or lobster tail, and apple cranberry bread pudding with vanilla sauce. 5 to 10:30 p.m. Westwood Marquis Hotel and Gardens, 930 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles. (310) 208-8765. $65 adults; $32.50 children; children under 5, free.

Chef Paolo Rosi goes home to Rome in spirit for Il Casale’s Christmas fare: veal chop in Marsala and fig sauce, fried artichokes and a Roman version of zuppa inglese. From 5:30 p.m. Il Casale, 17970 Ventura Blvd., Encino. (818) 344-5788. Prices vary.

Roast goose, venison and Yule log highlight the menu at 72 Market Street Oyster Bar & Grill. 3 to 9 p.m. 72 Market Street Oyster Bar & Grill, 72 Market St., Venice. (310) 392-8720. $55 adults; children $19.

The Grand Ballroom of the Disneyland Hotel becomes a winter wonderland with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and other characters strolling through the room. Buffet includes roast turkey, glazed ham, roast beef, salads, pastries and desserts; children’s menu available. Noon to 7 p.m. Disneyland Hotel, 1150 W. Cerritos Ave., Anaheim. (714) 956-6413. $39.75 adults; children 3-11 years old, $13.50; children under 3, free.

Gaze through the window at a fleet of boats trimmed in holiday lights as you feast at the Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey. Four-course menu includes turkey with foie gras and crab apple dressing and filet mignon with Yorkshire pudding. 6 to 10 p.m. The Ritz-Carlton, 4375 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey. (310) 823-1700, Ext. 5121. $51 to $61 adults, $6.50 to $8 children, depending on entree.

Hot, cold, cooked and carved cover the categories of the holiday buffet at Park Grill. 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Park Grill, Park Hyatt Los Angeles at Century City, 2151 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles. (310) 277-1234. $37 adults; $17 children; children under 5, free.

It’s the regular menu at Geoffrey’s/Malibu plus festive specials such as braised Chilean sea bass with pomegranate sauce and beef Wellington with fresh vegetables and grainy mustard sauce. Noon to 10 p.m. Geoffrey’s/Malibu, 27400 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. (310) 457-1519. Prices vary.

Let the mind sail away to a snow-covered hamlet while dining at the Chelsea on the Queen Mary. Choice of five entrees includes roast turkey, salmon macadamia, cioppino, chicken or filet mignon. 5 to 9 p.m. The Chelsea, Queen Mary Seaport, 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach. (310) 435-3511. $24 adults; $9.95 children under 11.

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Bagels for Books: People who donate new or almost new children’s books in good condition can get a bagel free, now through Jan. 1, at any of Noah’s Bagels’ 27 locations. Books will be donated to the Southern California Library Literacy Network.