Find the perfect holiday eats and treats at local restaurants: Jasmine Mangalaseril | CBC News
Whether you’re looking for a bit of festive cheer or a break from year-end deadlines, you’ll find menus and drinks to help keep things merry and bright.
There’s everything from celebratory sips to family-friendly events to that once-a-year splurge. Here’s a sample of what’s available until the new year at local restaurants, pubs and restaurants.
Kid-friendly festivities
After your favourite go-to dishes at Jack’s Family Restaurant in Waterloo, you can end your meal with a candy cane-inspired latte or hot chocolate or have a slice of caramel-drizzled eggnog cheesecake.
Meanwhile, Kitchener’s Moose Winooski’s is adding a couple of turkey favourites to their menu.
“We have our turkey sandwich, which is always delicious,” said Joe Siaset, manager at Moose Winooski’s. “We also have our turkey dinner, consisting of hand-cut turkey breast on a bed of mashed potatoes with some veggies, cranberries, and you cannot forget the gravy.”
And if your young ones want to ring in an (early) New Year on the 31st, the Moose is hosting a balloon drop.
You can also find a kids’ countdown with a ginger ale toast at Borealis in Kitchener and Guelph, and at Guelph’s The Wooly Pub.
Holiday spirits and cocktails
At The Charcoal Group’s Del’s, Martini’s and Charcoal Steakhouse in Kitchener, you can sip a By The Fire Old Fashioned, which is a smoked cocktail featuring Hennessy’s VS and roasted marshmallow syrup. For a non-alcoholic option, try their Cookies and Cream Cold Brew.
At Guelph’s Atmosphere Café, the Terry’s Old Fashioned will have you think of the classic chocolate orange treat. Their Atmosphere Hot Toddy, made with whiskey, cognac, house-made cinnamon-pear syrup, and (importantly) butter will help you ward off the chill.
Uptown Waterloo’s Babylon Sisters will have a Cranberry Cinnamon Sparkling Wine Punchbowl, and the Baby it’s Cold Outside, a cinnamon tequila cocktail. If you’d rather go zero-proof, there’s the Cranberry Cinnamon Spritz.
No turkey talk
Downtown Kitchener’s Odd Duck will have tamari-marinated sablefish and the Partridge, Pear, and a Tree (pan-roasted partridge, pear, and birch salt), as well as a Trust Us tasting menu.
Del’s is offering confit duck ravioli on pureed butternut squash, rosso risotto, with braised beef, and a holiday porchetta with pan seared gnocchi.
Meanwhile, the Charcoal Steakhouse’s Blue Moon Menu includes confit double duck leg, sea bass in a warm tomato broth, and Beef Wellington.
To go with their Crangria, you’ll find candied cranberry and praline topped Festive Fries as well as pot roast at the Scran and Dram in New Hamburg.
If you’re looking for holiday baking, you’ll find housemade kringle, and kransekage (a cake made of stacked, baked marzipan rings) at The Danish Place in Puslinch.
Christmas dinner
If you plan to let the chefs do the cooking, be sure to check the restaurant’s website and socials for hours, cutoff dates, and dining options.
At Guelph’s Park Eatery, you can have their pick-up Christmas Eve Turkey Dinner Special packaged to heat at home or “hot and ready.”
The Danish Place’s family catering offers turkey and flæskesteg (roast pork with crackling) dinners available for pick-up until the 24th.
Meanwhile, if you want a dine-in option on Christmas Day, Waterloo’s Proof Kitchen and Lounge offers a traditional dinner with all the trimmings, featuring either turkey or falafel.
“The plate literally substitutes your turkey for falafel,” explained Proof’s executive chef, Ryan Reid. “You’re still getting the exact same dinner. And you don’t look out of place having that as your dinner.”
Ring in the New Year
To mark the winter solstice, The Danish Place is planning a buffet-style dinner, featuring flæskesteg, with an assortment of Danishes for dessert.
If you want to ring in 2025, Miijidaa in Guelph and both Borealis locations will offer their regular menu with some chef-curated features.
Odd Duck will have two seatings, with a four-course prix fixe menu with optional wine, cocktail or mocktail pairings.
And Golf’s Steakhouse in Kitchener will continue their 30-year-old tradition of a New Year’s eve dinner and dance, with a full course Prime Rib meal, late night buffet, and champagne service.
