Area restaurants and bars are having Christmas specials to make the season merrier. More details are available online. (Meadow Neighborhood Eatery + Bar, Bakery Lorraine, Krause’s Café, Supper at Hotel Emma, Esquire Tavern, 2018)

MEADOW NEIGHBORHOOD EATERY + BAR
This Sunday December 23 from 10a.m. to 2p.m. is the final Santa Brunch. It will feature holiday cocktails including hot toddies, bourbon eggnog, peppermint Irish coffee and cranberry mimosas that pair perfectly with brunch staples at Meadow. Parents can enjoy brunch while the kids enjoy a special visit from Santa Claus for pictures. There will also be sugar cookies for the kids to decorate while they wait. All images will be sent by email and can be used for holiday cards, printing and more. Images with Santa are free with a brunch reservation.

Meadow Neighborhood Eatery and Bar will host a pre-fixe Christmas Eve Dinner on Monday, December 24 from 5p.m. to 8p.m. Reservations will be required for Christmas Eve Dinner with pricing at $39 per person plus tax and gratuity. The dinner menu will have several options that include Fried Chicken with braised greens, chow chow and hot sauce honey, Striped Bass with hoppin’ John, grilled bok choy and radish, Eight Layer Chocolate Cake with candied orange and Montenegro and more. There will also be a children’s menu available.

Meadow will have a full Christmas meal available for order. The meal feeds 10 people for $135 and includes a honey baked ham dinner, roasted Brussel sprouts with dried cherries and pecans, mashed potatoes, roasted root vegetables, Texas mushroom gratin and Bread Box dinner rolls. Orders can be placed now until Thursday, December 20. Pick up will be Monday, December 24. Meadow will be closed on Christmas Day.

BAKERY LORRAINE
Will have pies, Buche de Noels and limited-edition holiday-themed macaron boxes available for order at all of their locations across the city and in Austin. Inside the Buche de Noels are a vanilla mousse, cherry compote and a chocolate sponge soaked with kirsch syrup. This is by special order only for $45 and are now available for pickup. The pies will be $26 each and customers are able to place orders now through Thursday, December 20. Pick up day will be Sunday, December 24, Christmas Eve. There will be additional pies for sale that Wednesday on a first come first serve basis. Bakery Lorraine will also have newly released, house-made jams that make excellent stocking stuffers. They are priced at $6 each and flavors include Raspberry Hibiscus and Spiced Mango and Guava.

KRAUSE’S CAFE
Jolly ‘Krause Klaus’ will visit Krause’s Café throughout the month of December and prices for getting a picture taken with Santa are $10 and $5 for reprints. Bring the family and enjoy a German platter while getting Christmas photos done. Families can enjoy a taste of Germany with the Munich Platter which features pork belly, pork shank, chicken schnitzel, assorted sausages, sauerkraut, red cabbage and dunkel reduction (serves up to six, $70). For a German-Texan twist, groups can try the Solms Platter of grilled quail, tenderloin skewers, kartoffel poppers, assorted sausages, barbecue shrimp and brussels sprouts (serves up to six, $85). Krause’s Café also recently launched hot winter drinks for adults including a Hot Toddy, German Glühwein (mulled wine), Salted Caramel and Cream, Spiked Hot Chocolate and more. Homemade hot chocolate for the children is now available too.

SUPPER AT HOTEL EMMA
Will host a Christmas Eve dinner featuring a whole bronzino special, available from 5p.m. to 10p.m. Chef John Brand has curated an exclusive menu that highlights the silver-skinned, European fish. Holiday inspired sides will accompany the Bronzino, creating a unique Christmas Eve dish.

ESQUIRE TAVERN/DOWNSTAIRS AT ESQUIRE
Guests can experience a very traditional Egg Nog whipped up by the folks behind The Esquire in San Antonio based upon a recipe which dates to the 1700s. It was common to prepare Egg Nog well in advance of consumption of holiday libations and this year’s Egg Nog was made in November. Esquire’s Egg Nog will have rested for a little over a month developing complexity before guests can get their hands on it, beginning on December 18 while supplies last and available at both The Esquire Tavern and Downstairs at The Esquire. This classic Egg Nog uses Paul Beau VS Cognac, Four Roses Bourbon, El Dorado Demerara Rum, milk, cream, sugar and eggs and it is spiced with cinnamon, star anise and nutmeg.

Esquire Tavern’s cocktail menu features other festive cocktail choices like a traditional Hot Toddy. A staple for cold weather and the holidays, Esquire’s Hot Toddy is $9; cozy up with the spirit of choice: apple brandy, bourbon whiskey, or esquire rum blend no. 9 with honey, lemon, allspice; served warm.