Denver-area restaurants are busy prepping festive dine-in options for Christmas meals.

Eating out gives families and friends opportunities to come together and enjoy delicious feasts without the hassle of cooking. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, restaurants serve special holiday meal options, including seafood, prime rib, pozole and spiral-cut ham.

There’s something to delight every palate, so make your holiday reservation today. (Note: This is not a comprehensive list, so check other restaurants in your area. Listed in alphabetical order.)

Ajax Downtown

Address: 1899 16th St. in Denver. Website: ajaxrestaurant.com. Hours: 5-8 p.m. on Christmas Eve and noon to 8 p.m. on Christmas Day. Menu: Christmas Eve regular dinner menu plus specials. Christmas Day dinner menu is $115 per adult and $35 per child under 12. Starter options include coal-fired oysters, bibb salad, ember-roasted wild mushrooms, coal-baked sourdough, and grilled shrimp; main dish opinions include black cod, truffle chicken ballotine, carrot cannelloni, braised lamb shank, and filet mignon; and dessert options of butternut squash pie, white chocolate cheesecake, and pear tatin. Reservations encouraged.

Chez Maggy

Address: 1616 Market St. in Denver. Website: chezmaggydenver.com/event/chez-maggy-christmas-eve-dinner. Hours: 5-9 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Menu: Caviar, endive salad or tuna Niçoises; lobster bisque or French onion soup; herb-roasted New York strip or crab-stuffed Petrale sole; and key lime pie or chocolate torte. A la carte kids menu available for children under 12. Vegetarian options available. Reservations encouraged.

Common Good

Address: 13025 E. Montview Blvd. in Aurora. Website: eatatthecommongood.com. Hours: Seatings at 5 and 7:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day. Brunch 7-11 a.m., and Christmas Day Dinner noon-5 p.m. Menu: This Italian-style six-course seafood-centric Christmas Eve meal includes anchovy butter with sourdough, lobster bisque, scallop ceviche tart, brown butter halibut, diablo shrimp, and more. The price is $115 per person, with an optional wine pairing for an additional $65 per person. Christmas Day specials include beef carpaccio, beef filet and lobster tail, duck al orange, and flourless chocolate cake. Reservations required for Christmas Eve.

Coperta

Address: 400 E. 20th Ave. in Denver. Website: copertadenver.com. Hours: Dec. 22-24. Menu: The Feast of the Seven Fishes menu includes potato croquettes, hamachi crudo, smoked trout, swordfish sausage, bay scallops spaghetti, and salt cod potato gnocchi. Regular menu dining is also available. Reservations encouraged.

Corinne

Address: 1455 California St. Website: corinnedenver.com/happenings. Hours: 5-10 p.m. on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Menu: The family-style menu includes three entree options: prime rib, glazed ham, or gnocchi. Reservations encouraged.

Corrida

Address: 1023 Walnut St. #400 in Boulder. Website: corridaboulder.com. Hours: 4-9 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Menu: Regular a la carte dining with specials, including prawns with caviar and scallops, Waguy beef carpaccio, and Santa Barbara uni. Reservations encouraged.

The Cruise Room

Address: 1600 17th St. in Denver. Website: theoxfordhotel.com/eat-drink/the-cruise-room. Hours: 5-10 p.m. on Christmas Day. Menu: Prime rib dinner includes roasted root vegetables, smashed red potatoes, oven-roasted yams, and Brussels sprouts for $65. Spiral-cut ham dinner includes roasted root vegetables, smashed red potatoes, oven-roasted yams, and Brussels sprouts for $55. Pumpkin pie or chocolate cake is $14. No reservations. Walk-ins welcome.

Elway’s Downtown

Address: 1881 Curtis St. in Denver. Website: elways.com/downtown-home/downtown-news-and-events/. Hours: Dinner service on Christmas Eve and 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Christmas Day. Menu: The holiday menu includes mixed greens salad, lobster bisque, bread dumplings, duck breast, prime rib, sea bass, eggnog cheesecake, and black forest Christmas tree cake. Reservations encouraged.

Gattara Denver

Address: 1776 Grant St. in Denver. Website: gattararestaurant.com Hours: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Menu: The restaurant inside the Warwick Hotel offers two holiday a la carte dinner menus. Christmas in the U.S. includes pumpkin soup, baked salmon, and New York-style cheesecake. Christmas in Italy includes minestrone, shrimp scampi, and lava cake. Diners can mix and match items. Reservations encouraged.

Kachina Cantina

Address: 1890 Wazee St. Website: kachinadenver.com/event/christmas-at-kachina Hours: 2-8 p.m. on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Brunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Christmas Day. Menu: The holiday meal includes prime rib, truffle parmesan mashed potatoes, bacon Brussels sprouts, and maple syrup glazed carrots for $55 per person. On Christmas Day, the regular menu of Kachina staples such as chicken pozole blanco, vegetarian pozole rojo, and beef birria is also available for brunch and dinner. The seasonal cocktail for Christmas Day is Holly & Jolly with Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Old Forester Rye, and house-made spiced cranberry juice. Reservations encouraged.

Local Jones

Address: 249 Columbine St. in Denver. Website: halcyonhotelcherrycreek.com/event/holiday-dining-at-local-jones. Hours: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Menu: House-made fettuccine with lobster, sherry cream, seared scallops, breadcrumbs, confit tomato, and a chocolate mocha gateau ornament. Reservations encouraged.

OAK at Fourteenth

Address: 1400 Pearl St. in Boulder. Website: https://www.oakatfourteenth.com. Hours: 4-8 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Menu: Belgium endive salad or spiced butternut soup, tortellini in brodo or lobster arancini, braised short rib or Colorado striped bass, bananas foster or choice of sorbet (menu subject to change) for $105 per person. Online reservations are available for parties of up to four guests. For larger parties, call (303) 444-3622.

Toro Latin Kitchen & Lounge

Address: Inside Hotel Clio at 150 Clayton Lane in Denver. Website: https://www.torodenver.com/. Hours: 2-6 p.m. on Dec. 23-25. Menu: Highlights include butternut squash soup, honey-glazed crispy pork belly with creamy mashed potatoes, and a hibiscus corn cake. Price: $79 per person plus tax and service fee. Reservations encouraged.

Urban Farmer

Address: 1659 Wazee St. in Denver. Website: urbanfarmersteakhouse.com/event/special-christmas-fare. Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Christmas Day. Menu: Charcuterie for the table, choice of local greens, seafood chowder or short rib gnocchi; spiral cut ham, prime rib, 6 oz. filet, stuffed delicata squash or salmon; and pumpkin pie or chocolate cake. The table will share sides, including roasted root vegetables, smashed red potatoes, oven-roasted yams, and Brussels Sprouts. Price: $85 for adults and $44 for kids under 12. Reservations encouraged.

Wildflower

Address: 3638 Navajo St. in Denver. Website: lifehousehotels.com/hotels/denver/lower-highlands/restaurant/wildflower. Hours: 5-8:30 p.m. on Dec. 23 and 24. Menu: Two multi-course tasting menu options for $92 and $115 per person. Reservations encouraged.

Sara B. Hansen is a Denver-based freelance writer.