With the busy holiday season here, finding ways to enjoy festive meals without the stress of cooking is essential. Denver offers a variety of restaurants providing delicious ready-to-eat options, from elegant multi-course dinners to cozy brunch boxes.
(Note: This is not a comprehensive list, so check other restaurants in your area. Listed in alphabetical order. Order soon so you don’t miss out.)
Ambler
Address: 1801 Wewatta St. in Denver
To order: Call Ambler at 720-544-6105 at least 24 hours in advance.
Menu: The $50 Brunch & Be Merry Boxes include a ready-to-bake cinnamon brioche French toast casserole, your choice of house-made quiche or frittata, candy or regular bacon, assorted mini pastries, and fresh fruit. Add a mimosa kit for $20 or a Bloody Mary kit for $15.
Bonano Concepts
Mizuna
Address: 225 E. Seventh Ave. in Denver
Pick up: Dec. 23
Menu: Beef Wellington, fingerling potatoes with root vegetables, Mizuna lobster mac & cheese, rolls with whipped butter, caramel apple tart with rosemary meringue, and caramelized white chocolate crumble.
Price: $120 per person
Luca
Address: 711 Grant St. in Denver
Pick up: Dec. 23
Menu: Frutti di Mare with calamari, scallops, shrimp, and fennel, Baccala Manteca with fried polenta cake, whipped cod and tomato conserva, rigatoni puttanesca with San Marzano Tomatoes, capers, olives, and anchovies, baked branzino with rosemary, honey parsnips, and brood di disci, panettone with whipped mascarpone and chocolate ganache.
Price: $90 per person
Osteria Marco
Address: 1453 Larimer St. in Denver
Pick up: Dec. 23.
Menu: Meat and cheese combo platter, pomegranate salad with mustard greens, candied walnuts, shaved parmesan, shrimp agnolotti with winter squash cream sauce and lemon gremolata, prime rib with risotto and garlic green beans, NY cheesecake with vanilla and Luxardo cherries.
Price: $70 per person
To order from any of the three restaurants: bonannoconcepts.com/christmas-to-go-2024/
Guard and Grace
Address: 1801 California St. in Denver
Pick up: Dec. 24
Menu: Main course options include soy miso-glazed black cod, prime rib, and prime beef tenderloin. Sides include oak-grilled heirloom carrots, potato gratin, whipped honey nut squash, braised winter greens, winter Waldorf salad, truffle mac n’ cheese, and potato rolls. Yule logs, cocktail kits, and wine are also available.
Price: $395 to $449, depending on main course, serves six.
To order: visit opentable.com/guard-and-grace
Next Level Veggie Grill
Address: 1605 E. Evans Ave. in Denver
To order: Visit nextlevelvg.com/feast/ to order meals 72 hours in advance.
Pickup: Dec. 18-24
Menu: This meal serves four to six people and includes the Holiday Harvest Wellington (also available gluten-free), five sides — spiced cranberry sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, citrus-glazed carrots, green bean almondine, and baked mac and cheese — as well as savory sage and onion stuffing. Dessert options include vegan choices like gluten-free holiday apple crumble, classic carrot cake, and Belgian chocolate cake.
Price: $149 serves four to six.
Olive & Finch
Address: Uptown location at 1552 E 17th Ave. in Denver.
To order: Order by Dec. 20 at oliveandfinch.com/orderonline
Pick up: Dec. 23 and 24.
Menu: Herb-roasted boneless turkey, brown sugar–glazed spiral ham, mushroom gravy, orange cranberry sauce, two sides (choice of stuffing, whipped Yukon potatoes, bacon-roasted Brussels sprouts, and root vegetable medley), kale or roasted beet salad, rolls, and dessert. Individual dishes, wine, and hand-crafted pies available à la carte.
Price: $225 serves six to eight.
Cookie kits: Available in both Christmas and Hanukkah themes, each $45 kit includes 12 baked sugar cookies in Christmas or Hanukkah shapes, six colored icing bags, six decorations/sprinkles, and a decorating guide and care instructions. Available through Dec. 22, kits can be ordered at oliveandfinch.com/orderonline for pickup from Olive & Finch Uptown.
Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille
Address: 8433 Park Meadows Center Drive, Lone Tree
To order: Visit perryssteakhouse.com/specials/christmas-eve/
Pick up: Dec. 23 and 24
Menu: Main course choices of salmon, pork chop, prime rib, and more, plus appetizers, soups, and salads. Desserts include pumpkin cheesecake and a chocolate crunch tower.
Price: $69 to $125 per person, depending on menu choice.
Toro
Address: Inside Hotel Clio at 150 Clayton Lane in Denver
To order: Visit torodenver.com/store/events/
Pick up: Dec. 23 and 24
Menu: Three-course meal includes roasted beet salad with goat cheese and a candied pistachio and balsamic vinaigrette, braised short rib served with fig demi-glace, and red wine-poached pear with cinnamon horchata ice cream.
Price: $75 per person
Sweet treats
Moon Raccoon
To order: Visit moonraccoonbakingcompany.com by Dec. 20.
Address: 2839 E. 49th, Suite 103, in Denver
Pick up: Dec. 24
Menu: Salted Bjorn Honey Pie ($37), Colorado Honey Pie ($39), Baker Dozen Cookie Tin (sprinkle spritz, eggnog snickerdoodles, peppermint faux oreos, double ginger cookies) ($22), Christmas Morning Breakfast Box (Two of each cinnamon rolls, classic croissants, ham and cheese croissants) ($35), Honey Plum Gingerbread ($18, Bacon, caramelized onions and provolone quiche ($39), Bolognese Lasagna ($29), Fontina + Pancetta Lasagna with Pear and Fig Mostarda ($33).
Sara B. Hansen is a Denver-based freelance writer.