Wine dinner: Tango Contemporary Cafe at the Hokua building, 1288 Ala Moana Blvd., continues its “Third Tuesday at Tango” wine gatherings in the coming week. A 7:30 p.m. seating is already booked, but a 5:30 p.m. seating is still open. Tuesday’s dinner features Pahlmeyer wines and chef Goran Streng’s four-course menu of smoked salmon, duck and foie gras tart, Gorgonzola-crusted beef tenderloin, a lilikoi mousse and a chocolate espresso panna cotta. Cost: $93. Tango is in Suite 120. Reserve at 593-7288.
Hawaii Prince Hotel: The Christmas Concert and Brunch takes place 10 a.m. Sunday in the Mauna Kea Ballroom. Enjoy a buffet of pastries, French toast, breakfast meats, beef ribs, mochiko salmon, chicken Oscar and more while being serenaded by Aidan James, Jay Larrin, Melveen Leed, Streetlight Cadence and Chad Takatsugi. Cost: $68. Parking with validation is $4 and valet parking is $5.50. Reserve at 952-4789.
Join Santa for breakfast: Santa appears for a breakfast buffet, along with balloon twisting and face painting, at the Outrigger Reef’s Kani Ka Pila Grille, 8 to 10 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Cost: $30; $15 for kids ages 5 to 11. Reservations required: 924-4990.
Afternoon tea: MW, 1538 Kapiolani Blvd., has afternoon tea from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 20. Cost: $35. Reserve at 955-6505.Holiday Dining
Dreaming of a Christmas that doesn’t require planning a dinner? Here’s a list of restaurant options. (Look for New Year’s ideas next week.)
>> Odori-ko: A “Best of Odori-ko” Christmas set dinner will be available from 4:30 p.m. to midnight Dec. 21-25. The $49.95 meal consists of salad; seafood sampler with palm heart tempura; miso soup; choice of wafu steak, miso butterfish or teriyaki or shio chicken; and chocolate or lilikoi panna cotta. With sake pairings the price is $69.95. Also, from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 22-25, guests can enjoy live entertainment with their meal. The lineup includes Benny Chong, Dec. 22; “Little Albert” Maligmat, Dec. 23; Tommy James, Dec. 24; and Jim Howard, Dec. 25. Odori-ko is at 1680 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite F-8. Reserve at 955-6555.
>> Chef Chai: On Christmas Eve enjoy a $69 ($95 with wine pairings) four-course meal of chicken sate, cucumber salad and flatbread; baked, seafood-stuffed Cherrystone clams; caprese salad with crispy prosciutto stick; choice of venison, duck or vegetable Wellington; and dessert. Reserve for the early bird seating at 4:30 p.m. and pay only $60. Chef Chai is at 1009 Kapiolani Blvd. Call 585-0011 or go to chefchai.com.
>> Prince Court: On Christmas Eve and Day, the Prince Court offers a dinner buffet of prime rib, dim sum, a variety of seafood dishes, sushi and more from 5 to 9 p.m. Cost is $65; $32.50 for youth ages 6 to 10. Or, try Hakone’s eve and day buffets of Japanese favorites such as nigiri sushi, sashimi, cold snow crab legs, steamed king crab legs, lamb, sukiyaki, prime rib and more from 5 to 9 p.m. Cost is $75; $37.50 for youth ages 11 to 14; $25 for kids ages 6 to 10. Reserve at 944-4494.
>> Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort: Japengo’s executive chef, Sven Ulrich, is offering a four-course Christmas celebration Dec. 24 and 25 that includes a “jewel bako” of maguro, hamachi, ikura and spicy Alaska crab; Kona lobster; sous vide beef filet; and a dessert extravaganza featuring 11 options. Cost is $85 with limited seating available. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Reserve at opentable.com or call 237-6166.
>> Kahala Hotel & Resort: The Plumeria Beach House will have a seafood dinner buffet with holiday offerings from 5:30 to 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve and Day, and a Christmas Day Brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The buffets cost $80 each. Looking for something fancier? Hoku’s is offering its Christmas dinner special from 5:30 to 10 p.m. from Dec. 24 to 26. It includes a five-course meal paired with premium wines. The restaurant’s a la carte menu will also be available during this time. Cost: $150. Or, for earlier eaters, Hoku’s Christmas Day Brunch will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 25 only. Highlights include a fresh seafood bar and special dishes with a “global island twist.” Cost: $90. Reserve at 739-8760 or restaurants@ kahalaresort.com.
>> Royal Hawaiian Resort: At Azure Restaurant, 2259 Kalakaua Ave., guests can enjoy chef Shaymus Alwin’s four-course dinner on Christmas Eve and Day. The menu includes a Kona lobster salad; shrimp bisque; a choice of fish and scallop, rack of lamb, or duck; and Mont-Blanc island fruitcake with warm ginger torte. The three-course children’s menu includes fruit; choice of steak, fish or turkey; and a flourless cake with vanilla gelato and raspberry sauce. Seatings are available between 5:30 and 9 p.m. Cost: $150 adults (with wine, $195); and $45 children ages 5 to 12.
There is also a Christmas Day buffet available from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Monarch Room. Highlights of executive chef Colin Hazama’s menu include eggs Benedict, “Pink Palace Pancakes,” a sushi station, carving and action stations, crab and more. Cost: $110 adults; $55 children between ages 5 and 12. Reserve at 921-4600.
>> Sheraton Princess Kaiulani: A gingerbread display paying tribute to Kawaiaha‘o Church, Aloha Tower and the ‘Ainahau Estate and grounds will greet guests as they enter Pikake Terrace on Christmas Day. Then, dine on chef Chris Kirksey’s holiday feast, which includes crab bisque, salmon tataki with shichimi crust, yuzu avocado mousse, duck rillettes, rainbow poke, a variety of salads, moini beef Wellingtons, turkey, misoyaki steamship of beef, onaga with crab meat, lilikoi glazed ham, steamed crab legs and more. Cost: $59.95 adults; $29.95 children from ages 5 to 12. Seating available between 2:30 and 9:30 p.m. The hotel is at 120 Kaiulani Ave. Reserve at 921-4600.
>> Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa: At d.k Steak House, two special appetizers and three entrees will be available in addition to the regular menu on Christmas Eve and Day. Appetizers include Kulana short rib ravioli and oyster sliders, $14 each. Entrees include rib eye ($44), Kiawe-smoked duck breast ($33) and prosciutto-wrapped snapper ($32). Reserve at 931-6280.
Adjacent to d.k Steak House is Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar, which is also offering specials on Christmas Eve and Day. They are rainbow carpaccio ($17), fresh salmon tartare ($14.50), caprese flatbread ($9.95), pork belly ($27.95) and vongole fettuccine ($26.95). Hours are 5:30 to 10 p.m. The restaurant will also be open for its Friday-Saturday late-night dining from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Christmas Day, but the specials will not be available during those hours. Reserve at 931-6286.
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Send restaurant news, openings and closings, new chefs, mixologists and menu changes at least two weeks in advance to mramos@staradvertiser.com.