It's the most wonderful time of the year—unless you're stuck slaving away in a cramped apartment kitchen every Christmas. Thankfully, New York has plenty of restaurants that will be open and offering special holiday dinners for Kris Kringle et al. Here are ten merry options.
Christmas Eve
Salinas
Salinas: Have a very San Sebastian Christmas with Salinas, whose chef will be whipping up an authentic Basque holiday food tasting in honor of his hometown. A gastronomic paradise with a high concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants, it's almost like spending Christmas on Spain's Culinary Coast for way less cash. For $85 a person, you'll be able to try a six-course spread of everything from Basque-style risotto to grilled beef with sweetbreads to walnut pudding, so save space and remember to pace.
136 9th Ave., Manhattan; for reservations call 212-776-1990; seatings available from 6 to 10 p.m.
Le Fond: For a low-key, French-tinged Christmas Eve dinner, head over to Greenpoint's Le Fond, which is offering a cozy family-style meal. Choose between goose a l'orange ($36pp), cider-brined Berkshire pork loin ($34pp) and salt-crusted monkfish tail ($32pp), which all come with a set of complementary vegetable sides for the table.
105 Norman Ave., Brooklyn; for reservations call 718-389-6859; seatings available from 5 to 10 p.m.
Rosemary's: Who needs a regular old roast when you can do it right at Rosemary's. Hosting their first Christmas Eve pig roast, prepare your stomach for stations upon stations of food. Because in addition to some oink, diners will also have the option of grazing from a pasta bar, smoked hot sausage station, mozzarella pulling bar, seafood station and more for just $80 per person. It'll get you 10 tickets to use at all the stations, which means you get to pick and choose from a plethora of options (and potentially just eat dessert for dinner).
18 Greenwich Ave., Manhattan; reservations can be made by emailing holidays@rosemarysnyc.com; seatings are available at noon, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Queens Kickshaw: Before you gorge your goose at another multi-course feast, kick off Christmas right with Queens Kickshaw's annual Asian-Jewish brunch. The food menu is still being finalized, but to give you an idea of what they'll be offering, last year's menu featured a kimchi shakshouka, ramen noodle kugel and a Szechuan egg in a potato latke basket. There will also be an egg cream bubble tea and Szechuan Matza Beer courtesy of Woks and Lox, TQK and Singlecut Beersmiths.
40-17 Broadway, Queens; no reservations accepted ; seatings are available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cafe El Presidente: Who needs Christmas in July when you can enjoy a Baja beach vibe with Cafe El Presidente's multi-course Mexican dinner? Keeping with Tacombi tradition, they'll be serving a sampling of Yuletide Yucatan specialties like beef picadillo tacos with an almond and goat cheese salsa, pozole rojo con puerco and heart-warming spiced hot chocolate a la carte.
30 W 24th St., Manhattan; for reservations call 212-242-3491; seating from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Burke & Wills: Talk about getting into the Christmas spirit(s) at Upper West Side Australian eatery Burke & Wills' Christmas Eve celebration, which will feature a $60 three-course prix fixe dinner plus happy hour all night long. Choose from items like braised short rib, butter poached lobster and pate grand-mere, plus fancy-pants cocktails like Spiked Eggnog made with Woodford Reserve bourbon infused with cider spice tea. There'll also be a DJ, so ample time to get turnt up with tinsel and a tannenbaum.
226 W 79th St., Manhattan; for reservations call 646-823-9251; seating from 4 p.m.-midnight.
Aquavit: A julbord is a traditional Swedish smorgasborg with a Santa hat, so get ready for a never-ending buffet of smoked, cured and pickled dishes with a festive feel. An event that many cooks will start preparing for a month in advance, Aquavit's impressive $95 per person spread is just as complex and comprehensive as you'd expect, including three different types of salmon, Swedish meatballs, a Christmas ham and twelve different dessert options.
65 E 55th St., Manhattan; for reservations call 212-307-7311; seating from noon-9 p.m.
Corkbuzz Wine Studio: Christmas got your cortisol levels rising? Corkbuzz Wine Studio has you covered. Serving up a traditional Feast of Seven Fishes-style meal that includes (mouth)watering dishes like crab linguine in a shellfish brodo, codfish croquettes and wine-braised octopus for $125 per person. It's on the pricier side, but it's not like you'll be bringing the kids anyway, as all of the courses will be paired with wines chosen by Master Sommelier, Laura Maniec.
13 E 13th St., Manhattan; for reservations call 646-873-6071 or buy tickets online; seating from 7 to 9 p.m.
Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
Blaue Gans
Riverview Restaurant & Lounge: Can't decide between a traditional roast and thai spring rolls? Get both while drinking in the gorgeous view at Riverview Restaurant & Lounge. For $55 a person you can choose from a three-course hodge-podge of options that range from risotto to poulet roti to a rack of lamb.
2-01 50th Ave., Queens; for reservations call 718-392-5000; seating from noon to 10 p.m.
Blaue Gans: Get ready for some gluhwein with Blaue Gans's very Austrian Christmas menus. At $90 per person ($45 for children 10 and under), you'll get three traditional courses of hearty holiday food. Christmas Eve diners also get to help decorate the restaurant's tree with provided ornaments. Between the Christmas goose, their famous schnitzel and all that festive flair, all that's missing is a maß or two.
139 Duane St., Manhattan; for reservations call 212-571-8880; seatings on Christmas Eve from 5 to 10 p.m. and Christmas Day from noon to 9 p.m.
Mile End Delicatessen: Taking the traditional Jewish take-out Christmas feast to a whole new level, Noah Bernamoff is hosting his fifth annual Chinese feast, complete with corned beef & kraut wontons and the insane-sounding smoked meat dan dan noodles. More meaty goodness like the chicken liver dumplings in hot & sour soup and General Tso's chicken will also be available as a part of $65 per person spread, which all you traditionalists can take-out ahead of time. Family/fur-friendly menus are an option for any children/vegetarians.
97A Hoyt St., Brooklyn & 53 Bond St., Manhattan; for reservations call 646-494-9508; seating from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve and December 26th; seatings from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Christmas Day
