Holiday Dining Specials
As December brings plenty of holiday cheer, plenty of bars and restaurants throughout the county are bringing you irresistible holiday dining specials.
Barrio Star's menu of classic, elevated Mexican comfort food (think hand-pressed corn tortillas, homemade tortilla chips, hearty chicken pozole, savory chile rellenos, tantalizing tamales and freshly-made churros) will warm bellies on even the chilliest December days. Stop by and try their December specials, including their Tequilas of the Month (all $10) and their Cocktail of the Month, the Flor de Pomelo. All specials are only available during the month of December. Looking for a gift for the taco-lover in your life? Through Dec. 24, buy a $100 Barrio Star gift card and get a $25 gift card free. Buy a $200 gift card and get a $50 gift card free. Available for purchase in-restaurant or by calling 619-501-7827. They’ll even ship them for $5.
Enjoy a festive rooftop brunch in Little Italy this weekend in Coco Maya's Winter Wonderland. Coco Maya, which opens at 10:00 a.m. on Christmas Eve and 12:00 noon on Christmas Day, will be running some seriously sweet drink specials this holiday season including their Coquito, a staple holiday cocktail in the Caribbean made with a house run blend, coquito mix, and coconut water. Their Hot Toddy will also warm things up quite nicely for you, made with Smooth Ambler Contradiction Bourbon, honey, lemon, hot water, garnished with a muddled ginger slice.
Duck Dive has created their own unique interpretation of the classic Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol through a series of six themed cocktails. Try the Christmas Present, comprised of Absolut Vodka, Mr. black cold brew Liqueur, cold brew, vanilla, crème de cacao, Coco Lopez, and whipped top. Are you a tequila fan? Mr. Cratchit will not disappoint, with Herradura Tequila, Ilegal Mezcal, chartreuse, pineapple, fresh line, and agave. If it’s a refreshing whiskey drink that you’re interested in, the Great Dickens is comprised of Starward Two-Fold Whisky, amontillado sherry, maple, cinnamon, nutmeg, and egg. And Fezziwig’s Ball is made with duck fat washed Buffalo Trace Bourbon, fresh lemon, chai syrup, cardamom, and egg white, with a butter cookie on the side. Rest assured that Duck Dive has all your tastes covered in this series of holiday cocktails. This specialty cocktail menu is available all-day Wednesday – Friday, and Saturday and Sunday after 4pm, and may only be ordered inside.
Another Grind & Prosper concept, Park 101 is a North County favorite! Situated in an 8,000 square foot multi-use plaza style complex, Park 101 includes spots for barbecue, cocktails, beachside deli bites, coffee, and plenty of other goodies. Park 101 will be open Christmas Eve from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm but will be closed Christmas Day. Their wide-open outdoor seating area is the perfect spot to host large gatherings for brunch, lunch, or dinner, so check them out this holiday season.
New to the scene in Downtown Oceanside, Q&A Restaurant & Oyster Bar is the go-to spot for anyone looking for the freshest oysters on this side of the Pacific Ocean! Open Christmas Eve from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm, Q&A is the perfect spot to spend the evening with friends and family before the big day, especially if you have guests and limited space. Be sure to get there early, as the kitchen closes at 5:00 pm on Christmas Eve. Have you been dreaming of Christmas on the beach? Just a few blocks from the Oceanside Pier, stop into Q&A on Christmas Day from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm for the beachy holiday you’ve been dreaming about!
Also located within the brick hotel, Cococabana is the rooftop paradise that will change the game for your holiday experience this year. The rooftop will be open on both Christmas Eve from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm (the kitchen will also close at 5:00 p.m.) and on Christmas Day from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm! What better way to celebrate Christmas than with bottomless mimosas? If you’re in the charitable mood this holiday season, then try their holiday special cocktail, the Shanghai Sally, made with grapefruit infused gin, plum, sake, lychee, lemon, agave, and bitters. Proceeds from this cocktail will be donated to It’s All About the Kids, a charity organization that aims to eliminate food insecurity for kids.
If you happen to find yourself in Oceanside at either Cococabana or Q&A and you’re in need of hotel accommodations for the evening, then The Brick Hotel has a lovely special rate to take advantage of this holiday season. Valid through Dec. 25, 2022, book your next stay at The Brick and receive $50 off your rate by using promo code HAPPYHOLIDAYS at checkout. This special offer cannot be retroactively applied to existing bookings or combined with any other offer.
The next Grind & Prosper spot on this list to host your holiday festivities this year: Miss B’s Coconut Club. Open both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 10:00 am until close, this Mission Beach favorite has all you need for a specialty cocktail-filled holiday. Kick back, relax, and enjoy one of Miss B’s festive holiday cocktails as you get yourself into the spirit, like Santa’s Festive Island, made with Zaya Rum, a house rum blend, guava, strawberry, citrus, ginger, and almond.
Looking to spend Christmas Eve with the flare of NOLA? Louisiana Purchase heavily draws from the charm of New Orleans and puts a southern Creole on your holidays this year. Open Christmas Eve from 2:00 – 8:00 p.m., the interior of this North Park favorite will transport you to a Candy Shoppe and a Gingerbread house with themed décor and menu items. Louisiana Purchase’s cocktail list also features a few seasonal choices such as their Hot Tamales Margarita, with hot tamales infused blanco tequila, fresh lime, with a cinnamon sugar rim and a hot tamale garnish. For something even sweeter, check out the Now & Later Apple Old Fashioned, made with apple infused cognac, apple, maple, and orange bitters.
For those looking to skip the cooking for Christmas this year, look no further than La Mesa’s Smokey & The Brisket. The family-friendly barbecue restaurant will be serving to-go specials for Sunday, December 25th. Select from 4-6 or 8-12 person meals, both of which include smoked turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce. Pre-orders and payment are required by Sunday, December 18th , and can be ordered by calling Smokey & The Brisket at (619) 439-6544.
The Holding Company, Ocean Beach’s three-story restaurant, bar and music venue, offers festive holiday cocktails available all throughout December. The Holding Company’s Holiday Cocktails include: I’ll Be Home for Christmas: Peppermint espresso martini with homemade coffee liqueur + cream Silent Night: Spiced hot apple cider spiked with Skrewball Skrew, and The Nog: Boozy homemade eggnog with cinnamon + Skrewball.
This holiday season, Buca di Beppo and Brio Italian Grille will be providing full holiday parties — both in-restaurant and TO GO — for any size group, budget and occasion. These restaurants will also be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining, offering everyone's favorite Italian specialties. Please see below for links to the various catering packages and details on how to book your holiday party at the restaurants.
