WHERE TO CELEBRATE EVE & CHRISTMAS DAY IN NEW ORLEANS

Commons Club at Virgin Hotels New Orleans
Let Commons Club (pictured above) be your destination for a memorable & festive holiday brunch and dinner this Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Enjoy a spectacular feast featuring seasonal flavors prepared by Executive Chef Chris Borges that will warm your heart and delight your taste buds. In addition to the regular a la carte menu, holiday specials include:
 
Christmas Eve Brunch:  11 AM - 2 PM 
Enjoy brunch and bottomless bubbles at Commons Club on Sunday, December 24th. From seasonal flavors and festive decor to live entertainment by Teena May, you won't want to miss it. Dishes include Sweet Potato Buttermilk Drop Doughnut with marshmallow fluff brulee and toasted pecan maple glaze; Avocado Toast with sunflower seed tahini, shaved vegetable salad, sprouts and seeds, and toasted sourdough; Gulf Shrimp and Bayou Cora Grits with New Orleans style BBQ gulf shrimp, andouille, Bayou Cora heirloom grits, corn and Worcestershire sauce; and Blackened Gulf Fish with Bayou Cora grits, and succotash to name a few. Bottomless Bubbles start at $35. Reservations can be made on OpenTable. 
 
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Specials: 5 PM - 9 PM 

• Kabocha Squash Bisque with spinach flan, apples, and cognac crème fraiche.
• Duck Meatballs with fennel, black olive, and pomegranate syrah demi. 
• Rack of Lamb with cauliflower gratin, chestnuts, Tuscan kale, and spiced winter jus. 
• Rigatoni with Wild mushrooms, black ruffle ragu, broccoli, leeks, pecorino

 
Tujague’s 
Celebrate Christmas at New Orleans’ second oldest restaurant on Monday, December 25th, from 11 AM - 8:30 PM. Guests can indulge in a  three-course Christmas Day menu prepared by Executive Chef Gus Martin, priced at $65 per person (plus tax and gratuity). First course options include Chicken and Andouille Gumbo with Louisiana popcorn rice and Brussels Sprouts and Mixed Green Salad with shaved red onion, Tabasco pecans, and spiced pomegranate vinaigrette. Second-course dishes include the choice of Gulf Fish Almandine with haricot verts, toasted almonds, and citrus butter sauce; Roasted Maple Leaf Duck Leg with white bean cassoulet, lamb, smoked sausage, and French breadcrumbs; Grilled Filet Mignon with bleu cheese mashed potatoes, asparagus, and chasseur sauce; and Pan Seared Pork Tournedos with smoked sausage cornbread dressing, corn-fried oysters, and rosemary demi-glace. The featured dessert is Traditional Bread Pudding. Tujague’s is located at 429 Decatur Street. www.tujaguesrestaurant.com 
 
Compère Lapin
James Beard award-winning chef and St. Lucian native Nina Compton invites guests to her flagship restaurant to feast on a delectable three-course Christmas menu from 12 - 3 PM on Monday, December 25th. Priced at $95 per person, the prix-fixe menu includes Crispy Brussels Sprouts with coconut dressing; Jerk Roasted Pork, Coconut Rice and Peas, Christmas Dressing Croquettes, and Rum Cake with hibiscus sorbet. Vegan and vegetarian substitutions are available. Compère Lapin is located at 535 Tchoupitoulas Street. www.comperelapin.com 
 
Mister Mao 
This Christmas Eve, join Chef/Owner Sophina Uong for a delightful brunch experience, as well as a decadent dinner. On Sunday, December 24th, from 11 AM to 2 PM diners can dive  into the creative a la carte brunch offerings from the famed "Here Comes the Chuck Wagon'' roving cart. Highlights include Kashmiri Chile Fried Chicken with ancho, arbol, Szechuan, cumin, black salt lime cream, and poor man’s pink pineapple; Fairy Bread with condensed milk, unicorn sprinkles, and fruity pebbles; Bacon Scramble with scallion, ginger, Colby jack and basil; Coffee Smothered Chickpeas with ginger, cumin, and black cardamom, and more. Bottomless mimosas are also available for $35. 
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Mister Mao will also be serving dinner from 5 PM to 9 PM. Treat yourself to dishes such as Grilled Beef Short Rib with sweet potato, salsa verde, pickled onion, and Mawi corn tortilla; Smoked Oyster Mushrooms with smothered corn and 7th ward green curry, and squash fritter; and Wood Fired Puppy Drum with almonds, brown butter cauliflower. Harissa and pepper nage, and crispy kale. Don’t forget to try the killer cocktails with your meal!  
Christmas Eve hours are from 11 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 9 PM. The restaurant will be closed on Christmas Day. Mister Mao is located at 4501 Tchoupitoulas Street. www.mistermaonola.com 
 
Birdy’s Behind the Bower
The charming Instagram-worthy spot perched in the back of New Orleans’ Framework building invites guests to indulge in brunch on Sunday, December 24th, from 8 AM - 2 PM. Egg lovers can enjoy Huevos Rancheros with two eggs any style, black beans, slow-simmered chicken in adobo, pico de gallo, cilantro, avocado, and lime crema; Pulled Pork Benedict and Fried Chicken Biscuit with crispy chicken thigh, chicken sausage, country gravy, and sunny side egg. Their Brunch Board offers everything you could ever dream of, including donuts, granola, slab bacon, hot coppa, bubble waffle, fruit, seasonal jam, mini cookies, mini pancakes, house syrup, triple crème brie, and soft-boiled eggs. A plethora of brunch cocktails is also available, including Bottomless Mimosas. Birdy’s is located at 1320 Magazine Street. www.birdysnola.com 
 
The Pool Club at Virgin Hotels New Orleans 
Immerse yourself in the magic of the season at Virgin Hotel's Pool Club, now transformed into a festive wonderland for the holidays. On Sunday, December 24th, from 10 AM to 10 PM, enjoy the enchanting winter pop-up, Red Hot Holiday. Drawing inspiration from Virgin's signature red, the rooftop pop-up will transport guests into a crimson-themed wonderland, featuring a winter red rose installation, sparkling holiday lights, a selection of festive cocktails, red-themed food menu items, rooftop fireside igloo on The Pool Club terrace, and tableside s'mores. The Pool Club is located on the rooftop of Virgin Hotels New Orleans at 550 Baronne Street. www.virginhotels.com/the-pool-club