‘Twas the night before Christmas and thru Miami-Dade County

Holiday tables were set,  laden with fine bounty.

 The airports were packed with visitors galore

As holiday revelers arrived, clogging highways, museums and stores

 The restaurants and bars, decked out in holiday decor

Stocked Stone Crabs, Foie Gras, Waygu steaks and oh so much more

 Downtown and Brickell, at Edge, Zuma and La Mar

Prix Fixe gourmet repasts for celebs and reality stars

 Twinkling lights at Midtown’s Sugarcane sets the festive stage

While Bocce, Salumeria 104 and BlackBrick juggled reservations just made.

 Wynwood’s Panther Coffee offered gift ideas for the java aficionado

Edgewater’s Mignonette touted oysters, lobster rolls and fresh crudo

 The Design District, upscale retail still under major construction

Is no deterrent from grabbing a table and dining at Michael’s Genuine or MC Kitchen.

 Across Julia Tuttle and onto Miami Beach

To Scarpetta, The Traymore and ingredient-driven, Tongue & Cheek

 New hotels The Thompson and The EDITION both open for guests

Seagrape and Matador, their new restaurants, both helmed by top chefs.

 On Collins…On Ocean… On Lincoln, and Purdy

Miami’s restaurants and chefs offer holiday fare that is more than worthy

 So take a moment this season, to catch your breath and smile

The Miami Food Scene is at the top of its game and will be for a long while! 

Now that we have your attention, here is sample roundup of places hosting Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve and even New Years Day. 

It is a pretty extensive list and most are offering as a prix fixe menu and specific menu items can be found on restaurant websites.  Please call ahead to confirm details and make reservations and note where there may be more than one seating and different pricing:  All prices quoted are generally not inclusive of tax and gratuity.

The Traymore- Metropolitan by COMO- 2445 Collins Ave. Miami Beach 305 695 3600

This is the first holiday season for The Traymore and they are hosting  both Christmas Eve dinner and New Years Eve with 3-7 course prix fixe menus.  The three course Christmas Eve menu is priced at $75 pp, and for New Years choose between a 5 course prix fixe at $125 or a 7 course at $200 pp.

Tongue & Cheek - 431 Washington Ave. Miami Beach FL 33139  305 704 2900 

New Years Eve is when Tongue & Cheek kicks into high gear, this year hosting a 1920’s Speakeasy complete with vintage cocktails and food. Two seatings at 6:30 priced at $75 and at 9:00 pm for 5 courses for $175 include champagne toast by co-sponsor Krug.  Also T&C is open for New Years Day Brunch.

The Fontainebleau- 4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach 33140 877 326 7412

As expected, each one of the Fontainebleau restaurants are hosting Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners.  StripSteak, Scarpetta , Michael Mina 74 are offering prix fixe menus at $75 pp.  For New Years Eve,  StripSteak, Hakkasan, and Scarpetta are hosting 4 seatings of four to five course prix fixe menus priced from $195-295, and Michael Mina 74 at $150 pp between 6pm and close.

Meat Market- 915 Lincoln Rd. Miami Beach, Fl 33139 305 532 0088

Meat Market, is celebrating New Year’s Eve with a special four course prix-fixe dinnermenu and live DJ entertainment. Early seating (6pm – 8:30pm) is $175 per person Late seating (9pm – close) is $250 per person and includes a midnight champagne toast and party favors.

The Dutch- W South Beach, 2201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. (305) 938-3111 or book online at http://thedutchmiami.com.

The Dutch at W South Beach will offer Christmas Eve & Christmas Day specials. Christmas Eve dinner service is from 6:30PM – 9PM. Christmas Day lunch service runs from noon – 4PM; dinner service from 6:30PM – 11:30PM. Regular dining menu also available.The Dutch will ring in 2015 with a New Year’s Eve five-course prix-fixe. The early seating will take place from 7PM – 7:45PM and will be priced at $165 per. The late seating will take place from 8:30PM – 9:45PM, will be priced at $250 per person  and will include a champagne toast.

Quattro Gastronomia Italiana-1014 Lincoln Road.Miami Beach. 305 531 4833

Quattro Gastronomia Italiana will offer two á la carte seatings in addition to the restaurant’s nightly dinner menu for New Year’s Eve. New Year’s Eve hours will be noon – midnight

The Restaurant at The Setai- 2001 Collins Ave. Miami Beach, FL 844 292 1471

The Restaurant at The Setai is offering special menus for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day Breakfast and Brunch and of course for New Years Eve and New Years Brunch Reservations: 305.520.6402 or dining@thesetaihotel.com

Christmas Eve Dinner- The Restaurant will offer two Christmas Eve menus (one vegetarian menu) at $110 per person

 Christmas Day Breakfast & Brunch Buffet - Christmas- themed buffet and modern jazz trio will be offered from 11: 30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at $95 per person.

December 31- Ring in 2015 and The Setai, Miami Beach’s 10 Year Anniversary with a celebration dinner priced at $625 per adult. 

 January 1- New Year’s Day–themed buffet and SBS Flamenco and Mediterranean Jazz trio will be offered from11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at $110 per person

L'echon Brasserie- 6261 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33141 786 483 1611

The Pubbelly boys have a special NYE prix fixe menu that is priced at $65 for the 7:00 pm seating and $85 pp for the 9:30 seating.  Both Black and White Truffles can be added for a supplemental price. 

Il Mulino New York South Beach- 840 1st Street Miami Beach, FL 33130 305 372 1221

Il Mulino’s New Year's Eve dinner party, will serve as a relaxed evening for those looking to indulge in a more sophisticated atmosphere.. The first seating prix fixe menu is at 7p.m. for $150 per person and includes a champagne toast at the end of the night. The second seating at 9:30p.m. is $300 per person and will feature live entertainment, party favors and a celebratory champagne toast at midnight to ring in 2015. 

SUSHISAMBA- 600 Lincoln Rd. Miami Beach and Coral Gables,FL. 305 673 5337  SUSHISAMBA will be serving The Holiday Hog in Miami Beach and a Crisped Confit Pork in Coral Gables.

On top of this nod to “Noche Buena,” the holiday menu can also be enjoyed on Christmas Day.  The dinner is $169 per group (5 person max) and $150 additional for the beverage package which includes a Magnum bottle of Dewatsuru Kimoto Junmai Sake and unlimited Cusquena beer.

For NYE, SUSHISAMBA (both locations) will be paying homage to the traditional white party of Brazil with their Réveillon Party, fully decked out with a live DJ spinning all night, Carnaval-style samba dancers and drummers, festive party favors and a live broadcast of the countdown.

SUGARCANE Raw Bar Grill- 3252 Northeast 1st Avenue, Miami 786 369 0353

Chef Timon Balloo has created a special a la carte menu to get you ready for the new year. Menu will include dishes like: Duck leg confit & foie gras “pot pie” $18 Sweet-and-sour Maine lobster with bok choy and garlic chives $42. Call for reservations.

Bocce- 3250 NE 1st Ave #107, Miami, FL 33137  786 245 6211 

Bocce is offering a traditional Italian Christmas Eve “Feast of the Seven Fishes” For $75 per adult.

Azul at Mandarin Oriental, Miami- 500 Brickell Key Dr, Miami, FL 33131  305 913 8358 

Azul is hosting on Christmas Eve- $120 per person for five-course prix-fixe dinner. And for New Years Eve a First seating from 6:30-8:30 pm of $95 per person for 3 course prix-fixe & one glass of Piper-Heidsieck champagne and  a Second seating, starting at 9:00 pm for $395 per person for 8 course meal & one bottle of Charles Heidsieck champagne for every two guests + admission to MO Bar + Lounge Celebration

La Mar by Gaston Acurio at Mandarin Oriental, Miami- 500 Brickell Key Dr, Miami, FL 33131  305 913 8358

La Mar is offering for Christmas Eve a dinner priced at $70 per adult, $35 per child (ages 6-12), complimentary under 6 years old, * Open to parties of 6 or more

On Christmas Day- Brunch- $85 per adult, $35 per child (ages 6-12), complimentary under 6 years old. *Adult pricing includes champagne, Bloody Mary’s, and Pisco Sours

New Years Eve- $125 per person for four course prix-fixe and includes Chicha Morada, champagne, or cocktail

db Bistro Moderne Miami at the JW Marriott Marquis Downtown- 305.421.8800 | www.dbbistro.com/miami

Enjoy an early three-course menu from 5:30-7 pm for $75 with additional options of Share & Taste Seafood and Charcuterie Platters, or ring in the New Year with Executive Chef Jason Pringle’s five-course gala dinner starting at 8:30pm for $195 and stay till 3 am in the Lounge ( no cover).

Seasalt & Pepper- 422 NW North River Dr. Miami, FL.  786 863-4000

New Years Eve - At $750 per person, the evening offers an "over the top" way to ring in 2015. It features an Amuse Bouche of Kusshi Oysters followed by a decadent four- course dinner. With entertainment by Raul Paz, guests will ring in the New Year with a bottle of Dom Perignon or Krug for two. 

Many other of our MIAbites favorites including MC Kitchen, The Cypress Room and Michael's Genuine welcome diners for New Years with their regular menu and perhaps a little less of a “hyped up” evening. 

( Information provided by various sources and subject to change )

And in wishing you all peace, good health and a Happy Holiday...

consider visiting @BurgerBeast and casting a vote for Best Blog MIAbites way! 

http://burgerbeast.com/2014/10/22/6th-annual-burgie-awards-voting/