#DishHitList: Christmas Specials, New Brunch Menus, and More

December is upon us, and while other parts of the country are rushing indoors to enjoy their meals heater-side, we, Miamians, are flocking outside to bask in the brief South Florida chill and using every excuse we can (see: dinner around the town) to throw on our cute winter boots. 

With Christmas just around the corner, we’ve rounded up an abundance of Christmas specials, but also a plethora of other promos to check out this month. 

Chotto Matte Unveils Jungle Brunch

From the shores of Miami Beach to the rainforests of Peru, Chotto Matte’s new brunch promises to transport guests to the wild side with its global Nikkei cuisine and its newest immersive Jungle Brunch, available every Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Guests can enjoy live entertainment, free-flowing champagne, jungle-themed cocktails, and much more. 

Chotto Matte is located at 1666 Lenox Ave. #1664, Miami Beach, FL 33139. For more information, visit their official website. 

The Deck at Island Gardens Kicks off New Weekend Brunch

Miami’s super-yacht marina outdoor lounge has launched a new weekend brunch this winter, available Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Arrive by land or by sea, and enjoy waterfront views and live music alongside chilled selections from the sea and savory dishes. Highlights from the menu include The Deck benedict with Maine lobster, hollandaise sauce, two poached eggs, and toasted English muffin; the smoked salmon and avocado with marinated cucumber, toasted artisan sourdough, whipped feta cheese, and pickled onion; and Belgian waffle with macerated seasonal berries, chantilly mascarpone, and warm maple syrup.

The Deck at Island Gardens is located at 888 MacArthur Causeway, Miami, FL 33132. For more information, visit their official website. 

Orno Launches Sunday Brunch 

Orno’s newly launched Sunday brunch features an abundance of new brunch-inspired menu items curated by four-time James Beard Award nominee Chef Niven Patel. With dishes heavily focused on high-quality ingredients, oftentimes sourced directly from Chef’s backyard Rancho Patel, Orno’s new brunch offerings will be no different. Expect innovative twists on traditional fare such as the Belgian waffle served with honeycrisp apple and maple crème fraiche; the ricotta pancake topped with Nutella and hazelnut praline; grilled wagyu steak served with wood-roasted farm eggs, heirloom tomato, and chimichurri; Maine lobster toast, topped with avocado, farm egg, everything spice, and chili oil; and so much more. 

Accompany the meal with bottomless Moet Brut and Rose champagne for $75 per person for up to two hours. Orange juice and peach puree will be available for guests to make their own mimosas and bellinis. 

Orno is located at THesis Hotel at 1350 S Dixie Hwy, Coral Gables, FL 33146. For more information, visit their official website. 

Christmas Specials in Miami

It’s beginning to look a lot like… you guessed it! This Christmas, there’s no shortage of Miami eateries both old and new that are open for Christmas Eve and Day serving up special holiday prix-fixe menus or saving the Magic city from hours of cooking with catering menus. We’ve rounded up nine spots that’ll make the festive holiday easier and yummier. 

Café La Trova 

Café La Trova is celebrating Nochebuena on Saturday, December 24 with a family-style, three-course menu priced at $95 per person and packed with contemporary Latin and Cuban-style dishes. Children 12 and under are $30 per person. Do keep in mind that on this evening, Café La Trova’s a la carte menu will not be available 

Café La Trova is located at 971 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33130. For more information, visit their official website. 

Contessa Miami

Head over to Major Food Group’s latest venture, Contessa Miami, for a four-course Italian meal in the heart of the Design District, featuring meatballs aldo, ricotta grudi, roasted turkey, spicy lobster rigatoni, and more. The prix-fixe menu is available Christmas Day between the hours of 2 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. 

Contessa Miami is located at 111 NE 41st St, Miami, FL 33137. For more information, visit their official website. 

COTE Miami 

Bump up your Christmas Eve celebration with COTE Miami’s Feast of Seven Steaks prix-fixe menu ($195 per person) that features seven selected cuts of COTE’s most notable USDA Prime tenderloin, venison loin, lamb chop, 45-day-aged USDA prime ribeye, American wagyu COTE steak, A5 Ribeye, and Galbi. On the side, guests can enjoy Gogi Cha Butcher’s Tea, a consommé from American wagyu brisket; roasted sweet potatoes with truffle butter; and much more. Don’t feel up to their prix-fixe dinner? COTE will also be offering their full a la carte menu. Seatings are available from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

COTE is located at 3900 NE 2nd Ave. Miami, FL 33137. For more information, visit their official website. 

Dirty French Steakhouse

This Christmas, Dirty French Steakhouse will be offering a decadent prix-fixe menu featuring house classics and a few special additions. Think hors d’oeuvres like mushroom millefeuille or beef carpaccio; mains such as prime filet mignon or blackened snapper and desserts like their opera cake or crème brulee. The menu will be available from 2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. 

Dirty French is located at 1200 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131. For more information, visit their official website. 

The Key Club

On Friday, December 23 and Saturday, December 24, The Key Club will be offering their Christmas in the Grove dinner menu featuring an a la carte starter, main and dessert specials, including black truffle agnolotti, herb-crusted prime rib, Dover sole, and more. The eatery will be open between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 

The Key Club is located at 3015 Grand Ave, Coconut Grove, FL 33133. For more information, visit their official website. 

Le Zoo

Le Zoo will be open on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day serving up multiple holiday specials, including grilled oysters au pastis, lobster bearnaise, and crepes suzette. Le Zoo will be open between 11:30 a.m. and 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and 11:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Christmas Day. 

Le Zoo is located at 9700 Collins Ave #135, Miami Beach, FL 33154. For more information, visit their official website. 

Mi’talia Kitchen & Bar

Celebrate Christmas Eve with Mi’talia’s special holiday brunch and dinner menu, featuring items like duck and waffle and truffle-crusted filet mignon, respectively. The prix-fixe dinner is priced at $85 and those who book in advance receive a complimentary round of prosecco. 

Mi’talia Kitchen & Bar is located at 5958 S Dixie Hwy, South Miami, FL 33143. For more information, visit their official website. 

Steak 954

If you’re opting for Christmas up north (and by that we mean the Fort Lauderdale area), check out Steak 954’s special Christmas Eve dinner, for which they’ve added limited-time menu items such as beef wellington, crispy brussels sprouts, and bouche de noel. They’ll also be open for brunch on Christmas Day and will feature holiday specials like Gingerbread Pancakes, Pork Belly Hash, Root Vegetables, and holiday pastries. 

Steak 954 is located at 401 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. For more information, visit their official website. 

Pura Vida

Those who’d rather let someone else do the holiday cooking for them might enjoy Pura Vida’s catering platters, featuring a plethora of options such as Avocado Smashers, assorted bagels, salads and proteins, mini bowls, wraps, and more. Check out their full catering list here.

Pura Vida has multiple locations. For more information, visit their official website.