Good tidings we bring to you and your kin—you don’t have to make Christmas dinner this year! Because really, you’d much rather spend your holiday reading a good book, binging festive movies or watching your little ones revel in their new toys. Why not leave the cooking to the professionals at these nine restaurants, bakeries and markets instead. Here, our list of the best places to order Christmas dinner and catering in NYC this holiday.
Where to Order Christmas Dinner and Catering in NYC This Year
‘tis the season to sit back and relax
1. Citarella
- Address: Multiple Locations
- Phone: 212-874-0383
- Order By: Wednesday, Dec. 20 for pickup or delivery
This beloved gourmet market has tons of options for you to build your ideal holiday spread, including a “build your own” feast of seven fishes, roasted turkey with all the fixins, caviar, hors d’oeuvres galore and even a roast duck. There are also multiple dessert options to satisfy your sweet tooth.
2. Aquavit
- Address: 66 East 55th St.
- Phone: 212-307-7311
- Order By: There’s no deadline for meal-kit pick-up on Thursday, Dec. 22 (from 2 to 5 pm), but inventory is extremely limited so order ASAP
Order a heat-and-eat Christmas kit from Michelin star restaurant Aquavit and you’ll be treated to a decidedly upscale spread that boasts three types of fennel, shrimp skagen and braised red cabbage, as well as Christmas ham, Swedish meatballs and cheese and potatoes. And, of course, no Aquavit meal would be complete without a selection of Swedish Christmas cookies. Just be prepared to pay a pretty penny for the gourmet fare and perhaps opt for a more intimate celebration, since a holiday feast for four will set you back $595.
- Address: Multiple Locations
- Phone: 212-772-8782 ext. 1
- Order By: at least 48 hours in advance
This Upper East Side gem is renowned for its fine selection of freshly-prepared foods, so it should come as no surprise that their catering department serves up a mean Christmas Eve feast. The holiday packages available include individual dinners, as well as complete and deluxe meals that feed either six or 12 people. As for the menu, you can expect a sophisticated take on traditional dishes, featuring butternut squash bisque, sautéed haricot vert, stuffing, scalloped potatoes, glazed spiral ham, cedar plank roasted salmon and büche de noël for dessert.
- Address: 401 East 76th St.
- Phone: 212-249-2700
- Order By: Sunday, Dec. 17
This Upper East Side staple is offering a traditional Sunday roast catering box that serves four for $295. It includes three delicious courses—butternut squash ravioli, roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and figgy pudding for dessert—but you can also buy just the roast beef with Yorkshire pudding for $135, if you’d rather whip up your own side dishes.
5. Bklyn Larder
- Address: 228 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn
- Phone: 718-783-1250
- Order By: At least 48 hours in advance for pick-up and local delivery
The neighborhood provisions shop has all the best sides, like haricot vert, mashed potatoes, gem salad and an impressive looking cheese platter, as well as main courses like pork loin Wellington and tea-brined roast duck. Local delivery in Brooklyn and Queens is free for orders over $50, and costs $40 for other boroughs, or you can swing by and pick up your order.
6. Eli Zabar
- Address: 1415 3rd Avenue
- Phone: (212) 860-1340
- Order By: at least 48 hours in advance for delivery by December 24
Ideal for those who like to build their own unique dinner menu, Eli Zabar’s has tons of delectable dishes on its catering menu, and even more in the Upper East Side market. Crown roast of lamb, poached salmon, potato gratin, cramelized Brussels sprouts, Cornish hen—these are just a few of the delicious options you can add to your order. You can even tack on flowers and wine to really round out the whole event.
7. Pig Beach
- Address: 35-37 36th St., Astoria
- Phone: 718-362-6111
- Order By: at least 48 hours in advance for pickup only
Bring a taste of summer to your Christmas dinner with a barbecue spread from this Queens favorite. There is the obvious (yet always delicious) selection of ribs, pulled pork, wings and sliders, as well as classic sides like corn bread, caesar salad and baked beans. But you can also order a whole smoked heritage turkey, meatballs and smoked veggies stuffed mushrooms if you want something more traditional
8. Bubby’s
- Address: 120 Hudson Street
- Phone: 212-219-0666
- Order By: for pick-up by 2 pm on Christmas eve place your order at least 24 hours in advance, or while supplies last
You can never have too much pie. Particularly when there are choices like pumpkin caramel praline, Michigan sour cherry and local apple whiskey crumble. (We’ll gladly break from tradition in this case).
9. Kreuther Handcrafted Chocolate
- Address: 43 W. 42nd St.
- Phone: 212-201-1985
- Order By: at least 48 hours ahead for shipping, local delivery and pick-up
So, you’ve got dinner covered, but what about dessert? Kreuther’s artisanal holiday offerings include chocolate babka, assorted caramels cinnamon spice cake and all the chocolate treats a gal could hope for. Starting December 15, you can also order a special Buche de Noel, a rich chocolate cake in the shape of a Yule log, for pick-up or delivery.
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