The Ultimate Christmas Dining Guide 2014
Most of us get a few vacation days during the holidays. But restaurants? They actually end up working harder than ever before, devising extra celebratory menus for Christmas Eve, and often, even Christmas Day! So if you’re staying in New York this season, consider giving one of these industrious eateries a call, in order to make a reservation for the Ugly Sweater Christmas Party at Louro, the Christmas Eve Menu at the hot, new Chefs Club, or the Feast of the Seven Fishes at The Clam!
Chefs Club
This brand new, Food & Wine-owned dining club showcases an ever-changing roster of visiting chefs. And they’ve invited Gabriel Rucker (of Le Pigeon) and Erik Anderson (The Catbird Seat) to devise their special Christmas Eve menu, featuring five high-end courses for $98 a person. Start with an elegant amuse of Oysters & Caviar, followed by Foie Gras Terrine with pickled Asian pear and cranberries, a Butter-Poached Maine Lobster with black truffle and grapefruit, Smoked and Roasted Venison with chestnuts and buckwheat crepes, and that ultimate French holiday dessert, the Buche de Noel, flavored with chocolate and passion fruit.
Read MoreThe Clam
Needless to say, Mike Price and Joey Campanaro’s The Clam is all about seafood — so if you’re looking for a place to celebrate the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve, his West Village charmer is a pretty safe bet. For $90 per person, the shellfish extravaganza includes five courses, many of them featuring a duo of dishes, such as Tomahawk Oysters with chili mignonette and Venetian Seafood Salad, Peekytoe Crab Arancini and Lobster Chowder, and a family-style platter of Baked Clams, delivered alongside Spaghetti with mussels and rock shrimp.
Read MoreJean-Georges
If you’re going to spend Christmas Day in a restaurant, why not go all out? Jean-George Vongerichten’s three Michelin-starred flagship is offering a $158 prixe fixe menu during lunch and dinner, along with a $238 special Christmas tasting menu. Expect Hamachi Sashimi with sherry vinaigrette and toasted pecans, Sautéed Black Bass with sweet potato wontons, and Roasted Maine Lobster with romanesco cauliflower, romesco sauce and lime, followed by an extravagant dessert tasting.
Read MoreCorkbuzz Wine Studio
What could make the Feast of the Seven Fishes meal even better? What if each course was paired with wines carefully chosen by one of the worlds youngest, female Master Sommeliers, Laura Maniec? You’ll be treated to just that if you spend Christmas Eve at Corkbuzz, which, for $125 per person, is offering under-the-sea delights such as Calamari Fritto Misto accompanied by Cremant de Limoux Brut Cuvee, Cured Tuna Salad with blood orange and fennel, with Bodegas Bernabeleva Navaherreros Macabeo Blend, and Crab Linguine with shellfish brodo and tarragon breadcrumbs, accompanied by glasses of Calabretta Etna Rosso ’04.
Read MoreLouro
Get a head start on your holiday festivities by stopping by Louro on December 22nd, for a $55 dinner inspired by the classic holiday film, “A Christmas Story.” Chef David Santos is whipping up fun dishes such as “Bumpus’ Turkey Pot Pie,” “Meatloaf, Smeatloaf, Double-Beatloaf,” and the “Fa Ra Ra Ra Ra” — duck tartare served with pancakes, puffed rice and ponzu gel. And don’t forget your pink bunny suit — the first three patrons dressed as Ralphie in the final, famous scene (as well as the person wearing the ugliest Christmas sweater!) will get to dine for free!
Read MoreScarpetta
Meatpacking’s Scarpetta is featuring an opulent Black and White Truffle Festival Menu every Monday throughout December — just the thing for impressing visiting in-laws (or perhaps, in-laws to be)! For $125 per person, you’ll be treated to one dessert and five savory, seriously luxurious dishes, including Tagliatelle with White Truffles, Diver Scallops with Chestnuts, Black Trumpets and Burgundy Black Truffles, and Seared Turbot with Porcini, Parsnip and Perigourdine Black Truffles.
Read MoreCafé el Presidente
Who says you need to eat goose, ham, or some sort of roast with Yorkshire puddings on Christmas? Add a jolt of spice to your holiday meal by booking a Christmas Eve table at Café el Presidente, which is serving a traditional Mexican Christmas menu from Chef Jason DeBriere. Think Salt Cod prepared with capers, olives, raisins and tomato, Beef Picadillo Tacos topped with an almond and goat cheese salsa, a hearty Pork Pozole, and Champurrado – a warm drink made with masa, milk, cinnamon, anise, and rich Mexican chocolate.
Read MoreRedFarm
It’s a popular tradition for Jews to go out for Chinese food on Christmas, but you don’t need a member of the tribe in order to make the custom your own. Celebrants of any faith will love the holiday offerings at RedFarm, which will be open for dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. In addition to their regular menu of PacMan Dumplings and Pastrami Egg Rolls, both branches of the modern Asian eatery will serve delectable specials, such as BBQ’d Duck with Dried Japanese Plum Sauce, Black Truffle & Chicken Soup Dumplings, and seven different seafood dishes, in honor of the Feast of the Seven Fishes!
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