Many people consider holidays and homemade meals synonymous. But a surprising number of restaurants are open on Christmas, and do a pretty good business, too. Let's face it: Not everyone cares to spend the day chopping and broiling and measuring.

This is just a sampling of the Prague restaurants offering special holiday menus. Many are set-price deals for three, four or more courses. And, yes, most places have their own take on the traditional dinner of fried carp.

Ada Restaurant

Pod Bruskou 7 (Hotel Hoffmeister), Prague 1-Malá Strana

Tel. 251 017 111

Highlights: French cheeses, potato galette with caviar, foie gras terrine interlaced with figs and tomato jam along with more typical dishes

Carp: Marinated carp with herbs, fried carp with potato salad, fish soup

Cost: 2,500 Kč ($119)

Allegro

Veleslavínova 2a (Four Seasons), Prague 1-Old Town

Tel. 221 427 000

Highlights: A Mediterranean and international holiday meal, from venison and foie gras

terrine with pear mustard to cannelloni and Sardinian ricotta

Carp: Traditional fried carp with potato salad

Cost: Not available at press time; call for further information

Coda Restaurant

Tržiště 9 (Aria Hotel), Prague 1-Malá Strana

Tel. 225 334 761

Highlights: Old-fashioned Czech holiday dinner, dressed up for a fine-dining crowd. Options include plum ravioli and marinated trout fillet

Carp: Fried fillet with potato salad, fish soup

Cost: 1,450 Kč. Six-course international tasting menu available Dec. 24 and 25 for 2,950 Kč (includes wine)

CzecHouse

Pobřežní 1 (Hilton), Prague 8-Karlín

Tel. 224 841 111

Highlights: Dinner Christmas Eve, brunch the next day. Choose from Atlantic lobster, caramelized duck, fresh oysters, the works

Carp: None announced at press time

Cost: Dinner approximately 2,000 Kč; brunch approximately 1,100 Kč. Children under 3, free; Children 3-12, half-price. Call for more details

Hotel Diplomat

Evropská 15, Prague 6-Dejvice

Tel. 296 559 111

Highlights: Five courses on Christmas Eve. Fill up on duck liver parfait and roasted apples, turkey-breast rolls, tomato soup spiked with mussels

Carp: Steamed fillet with beer sauce and julienned vegetables

Cost: 850 Kč

Il Conte Deminka

Škretova 1, Prague 2-New Town

Tel. 224 224 915

Highlights: A selection of escargot (garlic, Parmesan and wrapped in pancetta), along with fried veal chop and roast duck, served Dec. 24-26

Carp: Fried and served with potato salad

Cost: Priced per item

Il Giardino

Mozartova 1, Prague 5-Smíchov

Tel. 257 154 262

Highlights: Special menu served Dec. 24-26 includes such favorites as duck confit, grilled veal tenderloin, salmon carpaccio and a lot of fancy trimmings

Carp: Cod, mullet and salmon, but no carp

Cost: Approximately 1,500 Kč. Call to confirm

La Rotonde

Štěpánská 40 (Radisson SAS), Prague 1-New Town

Tel. 222 820 000

Highlights: Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas Day brunch buffet. On the 24th, dine on traditional Czech favorites with upscale flair. Brunch includes a kids' corner and a visit from Santa

Carp: Fried carp and potato salad on Christmas Eve

Cost: Approximately 1,200 Kč. Call to confirm

Le Papillon

U Zvonařky 1 (Le Palais Hotel), Prague 2-New Town

Tel. 234 634 111

Highlights: An eclectic menu with dishes like goat cheese baked in rice paper or a Czech menu offering sesame pancakes with caramel apples and other goodies

Carp: The Czech option starts with fish soup and also lists fried carp and potato salad

Cost: 1,350 Kč

Les Moules

Pařížská 19, Prague 1-Old Town

Tel. 222 315 022

Highlights: Plenty of seafood, including tiger shrimp with saffron risotto and red snapper. Start off with a steaming mulled wine

Carp: Red snapper is served with the potato salad, so you'll have to settle for carp soup

Cost: 595 Kč

Pálffy Palác

Valdštejnská 14, Prague 1-Malá Strana

Tel. 257 530 522

Highlights: Serving Dec. 25 and 26. Entrees include fish, chicken, turkey and beef. Dessert options include chocolate soufflé with marinated pears

Carp: Nope

Cost: 1,350 Kč

Rhapsody

Dukelských hrdinů 46, Prague 7-Holešovice

Tel. 220 806 768

Highlights: Start off with kir royal, then move on to lentil soup, smoked fish, turkey stuffed with chestnuts and fruit pies, all to live music

Carp: A carp-free menu

Cost: 1,200 Kč

Sovovy Mlyny

U Sovových Mlýnů 2, Prague 1-Malá Strana

Tel. 257 535 900

Highlights: Straightforward Czech buffet menu, with a few exceptions, like two types of escargot on the list of starters

Carp: Fried carp with potato salad, fish soup

Cost: 590 Kč

U Malířů

Maltézské nám. 11, Prague 1-Malá Strana

Tel. 257 530 000

Highlights: A seafood-heavy meal featuring homemade crab ravioli and rolled halibut fillet with salmon mousse. The single non-fish entrée is turkey with chestnut dressing

Carp: None

Cost: 3,900 Kč

U Zlaté studně

U Zlaté studně 4, Prague 1-Malá Strana

Tel. 257 533 322

Highlights: The Christmas Eve menu ranges from veal tournedos in almond plum sauce to roast chicken breast, and ends with cookies

Carp: The creamy fish soup with dumplings may have some carp in it

Cost: 2,900 Kč

Vltava

Nám. Curieových 100 (Hotel President), Prague 1-Old Town

Tel. 234 614 138

Highlights: Three separate menu options, from standard Czech Christmas fare to upscale fillet of sole, truffle tagliatelle and scallops carpaccio-style

Carp: Roasted, not fried, with bacon and potato salad

Cost: Czech menu 600 Kč;

others 900 Kč and 1,200 Kč

Other deals

Brasserie M shuts down for the holidays (lights out Dec. 24-

26), but will make platters available for take-away. Call 224 054 070 for more information.

Pizza Marzano on Wenceslas Square opts for a "festive menu," available from Dec. 5 through Jan. 7. You get three hearty Italian courses plus a cocktail selection for 389 Kč. Call 224 032 300 to find out more.