The Main Course — Muriel Stevens: Ho-Ho-hurry to make Christmas dining reservations

Friday, Dec. 10, 1999 | 9:59 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' dining column appears Fridays. Her shopping column appears Wednesdays. Reach her at muriel@vegas.com or 259-4080.

If you're planning to dine out Christmas Eve or Christmas Day make reservations now. No longer is Christmas week part of the "quiet" season. Visitors will fill our restaurants as they do on most holidays, so be prepared.

Most hotel restaurants will offer festive meals. Buffets will be dressed up in their holiday garb and offer special dishes.

Some off-the-Strip restaurants will close for Christmas, but will be open Christmas Eve. Most buffets and coffee shops do not accept reservations. To avoid long waits, dine early. If you are unable to keep a reservation, please call and cancel. Restaurants appreciate patrons who do the right thing.

Caesars Palace: Cafe Roma will offer a Christmas Eve dinner buffet ($19.95) from 3-10 p.m. in addition to serving the regular menu. Included are lobster bisque, assorted salads and fresh fruits, chilled shrimp and North Shore crab legs, smoked Scottish salmon, imported and domestic cheeses and cold cuts, a variety of seasonal vegetables, whipped potatoes, osso buco, risotto, Chilean sea bass and, from the carving board -- prime rib, baked ham, roast leg of lamb, Chinese spareribs and other Chinese specialties and a selection of holiday desserts, pies and cakes. Children 4-12 eat for half price; 3 years and under eat for free. Christmas Day Cafe Roma will feature a brunch buffet from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. for $13.95. Included are a wide variety of breakfast specialties, including eggs and omelets, Belgian waffles, pancakes and French toast. Additional dishes will b e added at noon -- prime rib, Chinese dishes and more. A dinner buffet ($19.95) will be offered from 3-10 p.m. The breakfast buffet will be in place throug hout the holiday week.

An elaborate Christmas Day buffet will be featured at the Palatium from 8:30 a.m-10 p.m. ($18). Breakfast items are available from opening to noon. At 4 p.m. whole steamed lobsters will be available for an additional $12 per lobster. Seafood, a carving station with breast of turkey, prime rib and Carolina ham are just a few of the many, many food offerings.

Desert Inn: A special Christmas menu will be available in the award-winning Portofino Italian Steakhouse on Christmas Eve from 6-10 p.m. and on Christmas Day from 6-11 p.m. Both meals are priced at $70 per person. Included are meat tortellini in broth, a salad of baby mache with endive and fennel, a cheese basket, homemade potato dumplings (gnocchi), veal medallions, Chilean seabass with clams, mussels and scallops and dessert. For reservations call 733-4444.

Terrace Pointe restaurant will offer a special Christmas Day buffet, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., for $25 per person; $12 for children 4-12. Among the many selections are tournedos of beef, rack of lamb, coq au vin, rotisserie duck, sauteed shrimp and scallops in lobster sauce, a large number of side dishes and holiday desserts. Reservations are accepted. Call 733-4444.

Riviera: The Riviera hotel will offer a traditional Christmas turkey dinner in Kristofer's ($21.95) that may be ordered family style for parties of eight or more. Included are eggnog, a crock of cheese with crackers, Caesar salad, turkey with all the trimmings, holiday desserts, Kristofer's signature smoky bonbons and a beverage. Service, 5:30-11 p.m. For reservations, call 794-9433.

Christmas dinner at Kady's includes eggnog, corn chowder or salad, turkey or baked ham, side dishes and a choice of dessert and beverage ($11.95). The special menu is available from 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Riviera's Christmas Day buffet ($10.95) will be offered from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Roast turkey, roast pork and prime rib are among the many features.

Mayflower Cuisinier: A fabulous Christmas Eve menu ($50) has been created by chef/owner Ming See Woo. Included are an appetizer sampler plate, roasted pumpkin soup, a choice of roasted chicken or Peking duck or sesame-crusted ahi and tiny bay scallops. Dessert is a flaky puff pastry apple creation with cranberries and walnuts. Chef Woo is a master at fusing traditional Asian cuisines with those of other countries. Christmas Eve dinner service is from 5-9:30 p.m. Call 870-8432 for reservations.

Andre's French Restaurant: Andre's will offer a Christmas Eve dinner ($75) at the original location at 401 S. 6th Street from 6 p.m. The elaborate six-course menu includes a choice of duck foie gras terrine or truffle and bisque en croute; grilled jumbo smoked shrimp or spinach and ricotta-filled pasta, blood orange sorbet; a choice of entree -- seared ahi tuna or Cervena loin of venison or stuffed baby pheasant or pumpkin souffle with Gruyere sauce; a mesclun salad with pumpkin seed vinaigrette and phyllo-wrapped baked pear and Roquefort cheese and a choice of dessert. Coffee or tea included. For reservations call 385-5016.

Andre's at the Monte Carlo will serve dinner Christmas Day and Christmas Eve ($85). Service Christmas Eve is from 6 p.m.; Christmas Day, 4-9 p.m. The same menu is offered both days: Spicy crayfish bisque or Norwegian smoked salmon and California farm raised sturgeon; a scallop and shrimp vol au vent or crispy veal sweetbreads with hazelnut butter; blood orange sorbet; a choice of poached Dover sole with lobster mousse or roasted New York strip loin or sauteed pheasant breast and Muscovy duck breast or honey-glazed rack of lamb; mesclun salad with dried fruit marinated in Grand Marnier, Roquefort cheese and raspberry vinaigrette; a selection from the holiday pastry cart or a souffle and coffee or tea. Call 798-7151 or 730-7955. Dinner prices do not include sales tax or gratuity.

The Resort at Summerlin: The Resort at Summerlin will offer a five-course prix fixe dinner at Ceres for $45 per person. Ceres is the resort's all-natural restaurant, but is not vegetarian. For reservations or information call 869-7381.

Holiday dining will be continued next week.

Roasting Mayor Goodman: Sunday, at the Four Seasons, Temple Beth Sholom will honor Carolyn and Mayor Oscar Goodman at a "Tribute" dinner that includes many celebrities and friendly "roasters." Among the celebrity roasters expected to attend are Mike Wallace, Robert DeNiro, Don Rickles, Breck Wall and Wayne Newton. Sounds like a lively, interesting event.

Interesting too was the dinner tasting I attended at the Four Seasons for it had to fit the dietary requirements of Temple Beth Sholom members. This was the first time I'd participated in a tasting dinner that had to be meatless, but Four Seasons Executive Chef Wolfgang Von Weiser and his staff were up to the task. The dinner committee and I tasted six different fishes, numerous salads and desserts and chose: a composed salad of endive, radicchio and Boston Bibb lettuce with artichokes, grilled yellow and red peppers, portobello and shiitake mushrooms with an aged balsamic dressing; lemon-seared halibut and grilled John Dory with a wild rice pancake and fresh vegetables; and a terrific apple tarte tatin with vanilla ice cream and a Calvados creme Anglaise. All this and a chance to mingle with celebrities can be yours for $200 per person. There's much more. Call 804-1333 for tickets or additional dinner gala information.