It's not fancy, but this is where folks in Glendale go for seafood. And, there's no way that you can argue with the family-oriented restaurant's decade-old Christmas Eve tradition of giving customers a gift certificate for the exact amount of their food bill..

Jax is also run by Clancy's owner Jeff Williams. It too is offering gift certificates to customers totaling the amount of their food bill. It's hard to beat that kind of incentive.

Celebrate Christmas Eve with Italian spirit during Valentino's "La Vigilia Natale" dinner. The evening begins with a welcome taste from the kitchen, before moving on Sicilian-style stuffed swordfish; Italian salted cod; black vermicelli with mixed seafood; and a choice of fresh fish of the day or the Italian holiday favorite, cotechino and lentils. The price is $90; add an additional $60 for wine pairings. This is a good idea because Wine Spectator once declared Valentino's 2,500-labels-long wine list “the greatest wine cellar of them all."

Miso marinated Chilean sea bass and escargot bourguignon share space on Akira Hirose's fusion menu, which showcases Miso marinated Chilean sea bass and escargot bourguignon share space on Akira Hirose's fusion menu, which showcases the best of his Japanese heritage and French training. On Christmas Eve from 5:30 to 9 p.m., the restaurant will serve a five-course dinner with champagne and wine pairings for $120. A vegetarian menu is also available.

With a 30-foot-high trellised glass ceiling, French doors dressed with lace curtains, and flower boxes flush with hydrangeas, the Bistro Garden creates a kind of French Continental garden patio indoors. Beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve the Bistro Garden will offer a $78 three-course menu including coffee or tea, and dishes such as peppered ahi carpaccio with soy ginger vinaigrette, roasted Long Island duckling with peach brandy sauce, and chocolate soufflé.

This contemporary French bistro in Costa Mesa's South Coast Plaza was voted Orange County's second most popular restaurant in "Zagat's Orange County Restaurants 2009." On Christmas Eve you'll find a $75 five-course menu with two seatings. Enjoy risotto of assorted fresh crab, white miso-crusted black cod, and roasted duck breast.

House specialties revolve around Lake Como, the big blue body of water near Italy's northern border with Switzerland. During its Christmas Eve "Cena di Natale" celebration the restaurant will offer three ($69) and four-course ($86) prix-fixe menus paired with special wines ($25 more). 4 to 10:30 p.m.

Cal-French fare in Santa Monica's luxurious Le Merigot Hotel. Elegant indoor dining is offered as well as alfresco dining on a shady terrace overlooking the pool. You can sup on holiday fare on both Christmas and Christmas Eve when the restaurant offers roast free-range turkey with sage bread stuffing ($30), prime rib eye dusted with black trumpet mushrooms ($32), and pan-roasted milk-fed veal ($32). 5 to 9 p.m.

Authentic Spanish food is hard to come by, but new tapas restaurant Tinto comes pretty close. On Christmas Eve $58 will get you a five-course tasting menu featuring Spanish delights including sauteed shrimp in white wine with garlic, pork tenderloin cooked in apple cider, and churros with house-made hot chocolate.

An upbeat, pro-party traditional sushi chain that provides competent, fun sushi to California exurbs and elsewhere across the country. Ra specializes in particularly rockin' happy hours with rock-bottom prices: $3 California rolls, $4 coconut shrimp tempura, $3 Coronas and $4 sake sangria. For the holidays Ra has created a special menu item called "the Salvation Roll," made with crab, fresh water eel and cucumber, and topped with red tempura bits and sweet eel sauce. From now through Christmas Eve $2 from every roll sold will go to the Salvation Army.

This sleek, steakhouse and lounge was recently remodeled and added a live piano bar in its cozy dark-wood bar. There is also a lovely patio where you can smell the ocean breezes drifting in from the beach a few blocks away. On Christmas Eve the restaurant is holding its annual Christmas Eve Spirits party featuring juicy steaks, a DJ and lots of dancing.

This popular hotel refers to itself as "the Hotel of the Stars," and its newly renovated Californias Restaurant is offering a four-course Christmas day dinner for $59 ($29.50 for children under 10; noon to 8 p.m.). Before or after your Maine lobster and sweet corn salad and baked Lake Superior whitefish you can skip off to Universal Studios Hollywood Theme Park, which is open on Christmas day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

This famous Italian wine bar and restaurant is getting cozy and relaxed on Christmas Eve by offering a Ferrari champagne tasting. Three flutes will be served with crispy thin-crust pizzas and appetizers. $25 per person, 5 to 11 p.m.

Join in Joe's Christmas Eve tradition, affectionately called "the Feast of the Seven Fishes," when chef Joe Miller serves a fish and loaves a la carte menu featuring fresh-caught choices from around the world. 6 to 9 p.m.

This Patina Group eatery hosts power lunches by day and romance by night. On Christmas Eve you can choose a three ($45) or five-course ($55) prix-fixe menu.