Dine out at Boise restaurants for Christmas

Why not leave the cooking to someone else this holiday season? Here’s a roundup of eateries around the Treasure Valley that are offering special menus Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

▪  The dual-purpose restaurants Bacon and Berryhill, 121 N. 9th St., are open on Dec. 24.

Bacon will be serving its regular menu from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Stop by for breakfast or lunch. The menu includes Southern-style biscuit sandwiches, bacon in various flavors, omelets and other hearty egg dishes ($6-$11).

At night, Berryhill is offering a special a la carte menu (5 to 10 p.m.) that includes starters such as bacon-cheese dip ($11), bacon hush puppy croquetas ($11) and grilled shrimp cocktail ($14).

Entrées will come in the form of roasted tomato ravioli ($27), pan-roasted Idaho catfish ($31), bacon-Kurobuta pork etouffée ($35), three-herb chicken ($31) and a teres major-cut of Kobe beef ($41) with Kobe beef jus, string beans and salt-and-pepper fries.

Soup or salad is included in the price of the entrée.

For reservations, go to berryhillbacon.com or call (208) 387-3553.

▪  Angell’s Bar and Grill Renato, 999 W. Main St., is giving diners the option of ordering a two-course ($39 per person) or four-course dinner ($49 per person) on Christmas Eve from 5 to 9 p.m.

The two-course dinner comes with soup or salad, followed by a choice of entrées that includes herb-crusted prime rib, grilled rack of lamb, seared ahi tuna, seafood bouillabaisse or Cornish game hen a l’orange.

Those who pick the four-course option will receive soup or salad, an entrée (chosen from the aforementioned list), an appetizer and a sweet conclusion chosen from the roving dessert tray.

Appetizer choices include flaming Greek cheese saganaki, baked escargot or oysters on the half shell.

Reservations required. Call (208) 342-4900.

▪  The Owyhee Tavern, 1109 Main St., is serving its regular lunch and dinner menus on Dec. 24 in concert with some specials.

The upscale steak and seafood restaurant, the sister establishment to the Tavern at Bown Crossing, will have plenty of hand-cut steaks dished up with a fully loaded baked potato and sautéed veggies. Or go really big and order a luxurious Seafood Tower ($100) for everyone at the table.

The specials include beef Wellington ($40) and smoked prime rib with a 5-ounce lobster tail ($50).

Lunch runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dinner starts at 4 p.m. and the last seating is at 9 p.m.

Reservations recommended. Make them at opentable.com or call (208) 639-0440.

▪  Tavern at Bown Crossing, 3111 S. Bown Way, also will be running its regular lunch and dinner menus on Dec. 24, in addition to the same specials offered at the Owyhee Tavern.

Lunch goes from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by dinner from 4 to 8 p.m.

Reservations recommended. Call (208) 345-2277.

▪  On Dec. 24, Chateau des Fleurs, 176 S. Rosebud Lane, in Eagle is offering a Christmas Eve Tea service ($39 per person) from noon to 3 p.m.

The afternoon tea menu will boast a selection of hand-blended teas and a multi-tiered selection of house-baked goodies such as scones, quiche, muffins, cookies and more.

Make reservations at chateaueagle.com.

▪  Chandlers, 981 W. Grove St., at Hotel 43 will be offering its regular a la carte menu and a special prix fixe menu on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (5:30 to 10 p.m. Dec. 24, 3 to 8 p.m. Dec. 25).

The three-course Christmas menu ($47 per person) starts things off with a choice of lobster bisque or a steakhouse wedge salad. Then you get to choose an entrée from a list that includes prime rib, duck two ways, trout amandine, veal piccata or pan-seared lamb chops with apple-mint chutney.

For dessert, it’s a tossup between seasonal fruit cobbler or The Bomb (Grand Marnier chocolate mousse), or treat the entire family to a puffed-up chocolate soufflé ($12).

Reservations recommended. Call (208) 383-4300.

▪  It’s business as usual on Dec. 24 and 25 at the Modern Hotel and Bar, 1314 W. Grove St., in the Linen District.

Chef Nate Whitley’s small yet nuanced winter menu boasts starters such as smoked trout ($10) and a fun twist of Welsh rarebit ($8), a toasted slice of baguette smothered with a beery mustard-cheese sauce and tapenade.

Larger plates include root veggie ramen ($17) and gnocchi with wild mushrooms, smoked winter squash and greens ($18). Whitley will be supplementing his regular a la carte menu with some special dishes to boot.

The Modern is open 5 to 11 p.m. Dec. 24, 5 to 10 p.m. Dec. 25. No reservations required.

▪  Emilio’s at The Grove Hotel, 245 S. Capitol Blvd., will be open on Christmas Eve. You can get breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m., the lunch menu is offered from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and dinner reservations are being taken from 5 to 9 p.m.

Call (208) 333-8002.

Where to buy holiday goodies

▪  Smoky Davis, 3914 W. State St., is the go-to place for apple-wood-smoked meats. Here you can score bone-in hams, smoked turkeys and ducks, assorted sausages and smoked trout and salmon. The venerable retail shop even sells smoked cheeses such as Gouda, cheddar and Swiss.

Gift baskets are available from $65.95 to $139.95. Smoky Davis also stocks a nice selection of Idaho wines.

Online: smokydavis.com.

▪  Tres Bonne Cuisine, 6555 W. Overland Road, is a good spot to pick up imported Christmas chocolates, marzipan and other treats from Central Europe.

Online: tresbonnecuisine.com.

This story was originally published December 15, 2016 at 3:52 PM with the headline "Dine out at Boise restaurants for Christmas."