Need a break? Let someone else prepare your Christmas meal

Don't feel like cooking for Christmas? Here are some holiday dining options in the area.

Christmas dining

Birch River Grill, 75 W. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, offers a special three-course plated Christmas Day meal from 5 to 10 p.m. The cost is $45 per person. The regular menus are also available on Christmas from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and for normal hours on Christmas Eve. (847) 427-4242.

Dine, 733 W. Madison St., Chicago, serves a special three-course Christmas dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. at $34.99 per person, along with the regular dinner menu. Dine is also open during regular hours on Christmas Eve. (312) 602-2100.

D.O.C. Wine Bar & Bistro, 326 Yorktown Center, Lombard, is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve with holiday drink specials on sale. (630) 627-6666.

Karma, an Asian restaurant at 510 E. Route 83, Mundelein, is open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 6:30 to 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 to 9 p.m. (847) 910-6900.

Powerhouse Restaurant and Bar, 215 N. Clinton St., Chicago, is open during regular hours on Christmas Eve and from noon to 8 p.m. on Christmas Day with a special four-course meal featuring roast goose. (312) 928-0800.

Prairie Grass Cafe, 601 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, is closed Christmas Day, but offers specials on pork chop with squash polenta and actual roasted chestnuts with a special adults-only hot cider. (847) 205-4433.

Regina's Ristorante, at 27 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights, (847) 394-2728, and Regina's Via Trent Uno, 629 S. Eighth St., West Dundee, (847) 836-0078, are both open from 4 to 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve with to-be-revealed dinner specials.

Shor, in the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, 2233 S. Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago, offers a special prix-fixe menu for $38 prepared by chef Anthony DeLaRosa on Christmas Day. Call (312) 528-4140.

The Smoke Daddy, 1804 W. Division St., Chicago, is closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day but is taking orders through today for smoked turkey and homemade stuffing. Turkeys are smoked for 3 to 4 hours in apple cherry and hickory wood and are $5 per pound. Last day for order pickup is Sunday. Call (773) 772-6656.

Wine event

Cabernet house: Shaw's Crab House, 1900 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, will hold a special holiday tasting of all its wine list of Cabernet Sauvignon from 5 to 7 p.m. today. The cost is $25 and includes hors d'oeurves and live music. (847) 517-2722.

Restaurant news

Last chance: Meritage, an award-winning fine-dining restaurant at 2118 N. Damen Ave., in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood, is closing down on Jan. 1. (773) 235-6434.

Bubbles aplenty: Gejas's Café, a fondue restaurant at 340 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, continues its 28th annual Champagne Festival through Jan. 31. Call (773) 281-9101 for more information on specials and events.

Charitable sushi: RA Sushi is donating $3 from the sale of every "RAVU Roll" through the end of December to ACTIVE Chicago, a charity providing underprivileged children the chance to perform in organized athletics. RA Sushi is located at 1139 N. State St., Chicago, (312) 274-0011; 2601 Aviator Lane, Glenview, (847) 510-1100; and 310 Yorktown Center, Lombard, (630) 627-6800.

New restaurants

Maya Del Sol, a new Mexican restaurant at 144 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, recently joined the city's dining scene and added a Sunday brunch. Call (708) 358-9800 for more information.

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant, 4999 Old Orchard Center, Skokie, recently opened at the Westfield Old Orchard shopping center. Call (312) 397-9500.