Harvard Square restaurants are prepared for the Holidays with plenty of choices for your dining pleasure!  From traditional favorites to vegan options, over one hundred eateries are ready to serve you, your friends and family. 

Celebrate the Holidays

Finale

Finale has some fantastic Holiday Deserts available between now and New Year’s Day, such as Eggnog Cheesecake, Pumpkin Cheesecake & Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie.  They are also running a promotion:

"Buy a $50 Gift Card, Receive a $10 Appreciation Card"

Finale, 30 Dunster Street, (617) 441-9797, www.finaledesserts.com

Lizzy’s Ice Cream

Celebrate your holidays with our seasonal flavors, Pumpkin pie, Apple pie, and Cinnamon, as well as other delicious flavors like French Vanilla, and Ginger.  Celebrate your x-mas with our delicious Peppermint Stick Ice cream. We also offer custom ice cream cakes in any flavor, for your celebrations.  Rushing to get you dinners ready? Come in and pick up our ready to go quarts.  

Lizzy’s Ice Cream, 29 Church Street, (617) 354-2911, www.lizzysicecream.com

UpStairs on the Square

Holiday Dinner

In Celebration of Goose & Chestnuts December 20 -22

Amuse Bouche

 *****

Roasted Radicchio & Goose Confit
Goats Milk Cheese & Fuyu Persimmon

*****

Roasted Chestnut Soup
Black Truffle, Orange & Sage

*****

Brandy Basted & Sliced Goose Breast
Whipped Chestnut Purée & Pomegranate Seeds

*****

 
Glace aux Marrons Glacés
(Candied Chestnuts in Syrup over Vanilla Ice Cream)

UpStairs on the Square, 91 Winthrop Street, (617) 864-1933, www.upstairsonthesquare.com,

Celebrate the Winter Solstice

Om Restaurant and Lounge

We are doing a special 5 course vegetarian "Winter Solstice" dinner for $55 on December 21st.

Winter Solstice Dinner

(five course vegetarian/vegan menu)

Spicy Kaboche Squash & Sweet Potato Soup, Coconut Cream

***

Edamame Potstickers, Ponzu

***

Tofu Three Ways: Steamed, Miso Glazed & Fried

***

Wild Mushroom & Leek Chow Fun

***

Guiness & Ginger Bread,  Poached Pears

Om Restaurant and Lounge, 92 Winthrop Street, (617) 576-2800, www.omrestaurant.com

Celebrate Christmas Eve

Sandrine’s

Christmas Eve Menu

served from 5 to 9pm

Appetizers

*Chestnut & Mushroom Veloute 10

 *Onion Soupe Gratinee 8

 *Simple Green Salade 9

Mesclun greens, black truffle vinaigrette

 *Red Beet Salade 13

White anchovies, red onions, Betzy’s organic boiled egg,

white balsamic vinaigrette

 *Cauliflower Crème Brulee 11

 Traditional Baked Alsatian Escargots

*1/2 dozen  10     ¨      1 dozen  16

 *Smoked Salmon 14

Warm fingerling potatoes, horseradish crème, watercress salade

Scallop & Foie Gras Crepe 22

Caviar champagne beurre blanc 

Foie Gras Farandole 20

Terrine de Foie Gras, Foie Gras mousse,

pate Perigourdine with truffles

 Terrine de Foie Gras Maison Mi-cuit, sur Brioche 18

Hudson Valley foie gras, seasonally inspired by Chef Ost

ENTREES

 *Grilled 14oz Ribeye 28

Gratin dauphinois, sauteed broccolini, green peppercorn sauce

add gorgonzola crust  with veal jus 3

add truffle butter with veal jus 5

add poellee de champignons 4

add two pan seared diver scallops 7

 *Poisson du Jour Market Price

 *Marinated Portabello au Poivre 20

Sauteed spaghetti squash, tomato beurre blanc 

* Pan Seared Maple Leaf Farm Duck Magret 28

Shiitake risotto, Gewurztraminer cranberry reduction

Pan Seared Diver Scallops 30

Choucroute mashed potatoes, caviar champagne beurre blanc

 Roasted Venison Loin 40

Celeriac puree, red cabbage ragout, juniper chocolate sauce

 Grilled Veal T Bone 29

Crushed Yukon gold potatoes,  sauteed artichokes,

Madeira reduction

 Lobster Risotto 30

Winter vegetables, Cognac lobster sauce

Christmas Eve  Prix fixe menu

Choose from select

*select appetizers,

*select entrees

and our full dessert menu

****excludes additions to the ribeye

 50 per person

Sandrine’s, 8 Holyoke Street, (617) 497-5300, www.sandrines.com

the red house

Will be open for cocktails & oysters at 3PM and serving our dinner menu from 5-9PM with festive specials featuring confit of goose with red cabbage and cinnamon sauce, prime rib with horseradish cream sauce, homemade oyster stew, carpaccio of tuna & more.  For more information or to make a reservation call 617-576-0605 or visit us online at www.theredhouse.com

the red house, 98 Winthrop St., www.theredhouse.com, 617-576-0605

UpStairs on the Square

A Delicious & Merry Christmas Eve

UpStairs on the Square, known for its celebratory holiday spirit, will open its collective arms and light its fireplaces for a warm and welcoming Christmas Eve feast.  After we have delighted tired last minute shoppers with our a la carte lunch  menu, at 5 pm, we will open our doors for one of the nicest menus and loveliest nights of the year.

The prix fixe menu will be served in both dining rooms, for $85 (half- price for guests under 12). Reservations will be taken from 5 pm to 8:30. All size parties (including groups who might like a private space for a celebration) can be accommodated.

Chefs Steven Brand and Susan Regis have created a wonderful four course menu:

MENU

Amuse Bouche of Crispy Goose Croquette

Robiola Due Latte & Lingonberry Jam

*****

Salad of Hearty Winter Greens

Pomegranate, Candied Walnuts & Queso Azul

Roasted Chestnut Soup

Christmas Spiced Beignet

Duck Confit Salad
Winter Citrus, Frisée, Slivered Almonds & Drunken Cherries

Lobster & Baby Maine Shrimp Ravioli
Whole Milk Ricotta & French Tarragon

*****

Porcini Mushroom Pappardelle

Hand-Rolled Pasta, Sautéed Foraged Mushrooms, Picked Thyme

Caramelized Leek, Quail Egg & Parmigiano-Reggiano

Cod & Clams

Sautéed New England Cod, Pat Woodbury’s Littlenecks

Creamy Fennel, Smokey Bacon & Pastis

Sage Rubbed Pork Crown Roast
Bourbon & Maple Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Red Cabbage & Scrumpy’s Cider Pan Sauce

Duck Cassoulet
House-Made Sausage, Delicate White Beans & Roasted Carrots 

Classic Prime Rib
Brussels Sprouts, Baby Round Carrots & Truffade Potatoes

*****

Büche de Nöel

Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Buttercream

Chocolate Ganache & Meringue Mushroom

Peppermint Stick Ice Cream Sundae
Hot Fudge & Whipped Cream

Steamed Spiced Christmas Pudding

Dates, Currants, Sultanas & Sticky Rum Caramel

Perfect Cheeses with Seasonal Accompaniments (supp. $8)

Valet parking is available daily at the corner beginning at 5 pm.

Discounted parking at three nearby lots.

 UpStairs on the Square, 91 Winthrop Street, (617) 864-1933, www.upstairsonthesquare.com

Celebrate Christmas Day

Nubar

Holiday Buffet 2011

special holiday buffet from 12PM-4PM– kitchen closes at 4PM/bar closes at 7PM

Spiced Pumpkin Bisque with Brioche Croutons

-Carving-

Glazed Ham

Roasted Prime rib of beef

Horseradish Cream

Grain Mustard

-Entrees-

Coq au vin with Red wine, mushrooms, pearl onions and bacon

Roasted Salmon with lentils du puy and dill

-Sides-

Braised Red Cabbage

Roasted fingerling potatoes

Brussels Sprouts with Pine nuts and garlic

Whipped Potatoes

Glazed Root Vegetables

Haricot Beans with Slivered Almonds

-Salads-

Mixed Greens with Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Carrots and Sunflower seeds

Traditional Caesar Salad

Spinach Salad with Roasted Beets, Great Hill Blue Cheese and Toasted Hazelnuts

-Desserts-

Yule Logs

Holiday Pies- Apple, Pumpkin, Pecan. -Mini pastries, Tortes, Cakes, and Eggnog

Also at Nubar this holiday season:

Christmas Eve  regular dinner menu – last seating at 9PM – bar closes at 10PM

Christmas Day special holiday buffet from 12PM-4PM– kitchen closes at 4PM/bar closes at 7PM

New Year’s Eve regular dinner menu with some incredible specials – regular hours

New Year’s Day Sunday brunch from 11:30-3PM – regular dinner menu and bar hours thereafter

Nubar, 16 Garden Street, (617) 234-1365, www.nubarcambridge.com

For updates on holiday dining in Harvard Square, please visit

www.harvardsquare.com