Christmas Dining in Sarasota County

One of the best parts of the holiday season is eating delicious food. If you burn the turkey or just prefer not to cook this year, make a reservation at one of Sarasota's  restaurants offering Christmas Eve and Christmas Day specials.

Mattison's 41

Beyond traditional Christmas favorites and the regular menu on Christmas Eve, Mattison's 41 offers the classic Feast of Seven Fishes.

Savor clam and mussel soup, lobster ravioli with lobster cream and topped with rock shrimp or seared sea bass with crab risotto and an oyster fritter from 4:30 p.m. until close. 

Veg Restaurant

Veg Restaurant offers a prix fixe Christmas Eve dinner menu perfect for vegetarian and vegans. For $49.99 seafood option or $44.99 for the vegetarian option, guest will enjoy beet tartar, soup, or salad and the choice of seafood or a stuffed roasted red pepper. Dessert and sangria are included. 

Columbia Restaurant

For one of the best deals for the price and the view is Columbia Restaurant on the ritzy St. Armands Circle. Choose a traditional Cuban  favorite Lechon Asado--slow roasted pork marinated in a signature sour orange juice, garlic, oregano and bay leaves mixture-- or the honey-glazed baked Virginia ham with classic American sides.  Christmas features include a cup of soup or a Caesar Salad. Adult dinners are $22.95, children's dinners are $5.95. 

Euphemia Haye

At 3 p.m. Chef Ray of Euphemia Haye on Longboat Key will begin seating guests for his Christmas tradition of German inspired Bavarian roasted goose which includes sliced roasted goose with giblet gravy served with German potato dumpling and sweet and sour red cabbage. Items from the regular menu will also be available. Reservations are suggested and are taken until 9 p.m.