Where to Eat Christmas Dinner in NYC This Year

Can you believe the holidays are almost here? Well, it’s true and that means it’s time to start getting those Christmas plans in order. If you’re not in the mood to cook this year, we’ve got you covered. Here are 20 excellent options for eating Christmas dinner in NYC this holiday season. (Because you deserve a break.)

This creative Japanese-Italian fusion spot may not serve a traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes, but based on our previous meals here, it’s bound to be a real treat. This family-style feast is $120 a person, and it will feature shareable, pescatarian-focused dishes like Japanese-inspired fritto misto, grilled hamachi collar with salsa verde and saffron pasta with seafood, nduja and shiso. Make sure to pay close attention to the exciting cocktail list (chamomile negroni, anyone?). Reservations are available on Resy.

40 Kenmare St, New York, NY 10012; kimikanyc.com

If you’re really looking to splurge this holiday season then we suggest you consider Jungsik, the modern Korean restaurant with two Michelin stars. This high-end spot is serving an indulgent 11-course tasting menu for $395 per person on both December 24 and 25. Expect lavish plates like Spanish Carabinero prawns with caviar, Alaskan black cod and seared Iberico de Bellota. Depending on how extravagant you want to get, there are also optional wine and Champagne pairings.

2 Harrison St, New York, NY 10013; jungsik.com

On both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, newcomer to the NoMad restaurant scene LittleMad is offering a special four-course menu for $155 per person, complete with caviar, truffles and all of life’s greatest luxuries. The menu boasts plates like yellowtail with Asian pear and sesame dressing, wagyu tartare, tiger prawns and noodles with crispy duck skin. There’s also an optional wine pairing for an additional $95.

110 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016; littlemadnyc.com

This ultra-cozy Tribeca locale housed in an adorable townhouse is offering a special holiday menu on Christmas Eve. For $85 per person, it’s a three-course menu with a handful of tasty options like lobster tortellini, pan roasted halibut with Romanesco and filet mignon with potato gratin. There’s also an optional wine pairing and a more affordable $25 kids’ menu so even the little ones can join in on the festivities.

135 W Broadway, New York, NY 10013; tinysnyc.com

This neighborhood restaurant in Ridgewood, Queens comes from four Gramercy Tavern alums, so you know it’s going to be good. A great option for those who aren’t quite ready to dine indoors yet but don’t feel like cooking, Rolo’s is offering a special à la carte menu for pick-up on December 23, perfect for your Christmas Eve celebration. Choose from items like a whole maple glazed ham, brown butter pretzel parker house rolls, tomato garlic focaccia and cherry mascarpone chocolate almond cake. Yum.

853 Onderdonk Ave, Queens, NY 11385; rolosnyc.com

This Korean eatery in the East Village will be open on December 24 and 25 featuring a special holiday menu: six courses for $158 per person, which includes dishes like tuna tartare with Kaluga caviar, gougères with foie gras mousse, gochujang-crusted scallops and beef Wellington with mushrooms. There are also some optional add-ons like a wine pairing and an uni and caviar course. Reservations for both heated outdoor and indoor dining are available on Resy.

108 E 4th St, New York, NY 10003; soogil.com

This West Village newcomer by Chef Ed Cotton will be open on Christmas Eve serving its regular à la carte menu in addition to some holiday specials (think: wild mushroom soup with truffle whipped cream, red wine braised goose with chestnuts and dover sole meunière). Of course, you’ll find all the regular New American dishes from this popular eatery like oysters, housemade pastas, herb roasted chicken and Tomahawk steak.

118 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10011; jackandcharlies118.com

This Italian-inspired spot in the West Village has only been open for a few months, but it’s already one of the most coveted tables in town. On Christmas Eve, Chef Ashley Rath (formerly of The Grill, Santina and Dirty French) will be offering guests a take on a Feast of the Seven Fishes: a $205 tasting menu featuring coastal Italian-inspired specials such as grilled sardines with lemon gremolata, caviar soup, branzino, and for dessert, grilled panettone with mascarpone.

340 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014; sainttheos.com

This upscale Korean steakhouse in Flatiron is preparing a Christmas Eve menu with plenty of exciting options. The highlight is the “feast of the seven meats,” a family-style spread for $145 per person that includes steak, wagyu beef and lamb served with lots of sides like ban chan and savory egg soufflé. Of course, you could still take your pick from Cote’s lengthy à la carte menu which boasts a raw bar and caviar service, shareable appetizers like Korean Bacon and steak tartare, Kimchi wagyu paella and, of course, all of the meats.

16 W 22nd St, New York, NY 10010; cotenyc.com

If there’s any day to splurge on an elaborate meal, it’s Christmas, which brings us to The Grill, the buzzy restaurant by Major Food Group set in the Seagram Building. They’re open on Christmas Day serving a special set menu for $195 per person. It’s a family-style spread of festive starters like American ham and chestnut soup followed by black truffle ravioli, spit roasted prime rib and sides and finally, grasshopper bouche de noel. It’s guaranteed to be a glitzy affair worth getting dressed up for.

99 E 52nd St, New York, NY 10022; thegrillnewyork.com

Another Major Food Group restaurant, this classic eatery needs no introduction. The Soho hotspot is hosting a special Christmas Day event for $195 per person that includes some of your favorite Carbone classics, plus some seasonal specials. Think: burrata and caviar, roasted veal rack and, of course, the famous spicy rigatoni vodka. Book your reservation on Resy or grab a spot on the waitlist, because these tables are bound to book fast.

181 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012; carbonenewyork.com

This neighborhood bistro in Crown Heights (just a stone’s throw from Prospect Park) is one of our favorite places for a special occasion, thanks to a reasonably priced, constantly changing and inventive tasting menu. On Christmas Eve they’ll be serving a $160 eight-course meal featuring local duck, which can be rounded out with an optional beverage pairing.

791 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238; oxalisnyc.com

Chef Jonathan Waxman’s beloved and newly reopened West Village restaurant will be open on Christmas Eve serving a $125 menu of both Barbuto classics plus some festive holiday additions. The menu is still TBD, but we can only hope to see the iconic roast chicken with salsa verde, renowned kale salad with Pecorino and breadcrumbs and some delicious seasonal pastas.

113 Horatio St, New York, NY 10014; barbutonyc.com

Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s long-standing flatiron favorite ABC Kitchen will be serving a three-course prix fixe menu for $168 per person. The menu will offer some of ABC’s most beloved seasonally-inspired, farm-to-table fare in addition to some holiday specials. Take your pick from plates like Stracciatella with black truffle and pizza bianca, peekytoe crab toast, poppy seed crusted Faroe Island salmon, wagyu beef tenderloin with potato gnocchi and gingerbread cake.

35 E 18th St, New York, NY 10003; jean-georges.com

This Prospect Heights Italian-inspired eatery is open on Christmas Eve with a special Christmas four-course prix-fixe menu for $125 per person with an optional wine pairing for an additional $45. There are plenty of options to satisfy every kind of palate, but some highlights include onion soup with house-made focaccia toast and gruyere, spaghetti with lobster, fennel and fresno chile, and duck breast in mole amarillo.

606 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238; faun.nyc

This coastal Italian restaurant in Flatiron is celebrating Christmas Eve with a unique take on the Feast of the Seven Fishes. The meal is offered family style for $95 per person and it will be a spread consisting of tuna acqua pazza with tomato and calabrian chiles, mafaldini scampi with shrimp, garlic butter, breadcrumbs, and octopus "fried rice" with farro, bomba and pancetta, just to point out a few of the highlights.

30 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011; scampinyc.com

Chef Bryce Shuman’s newcomer in the Park South Hotel is already gaining quite the reputation for his seasonal, New American menu and “live fire” cooking, which relies on charcoal, wood and smoke. Reservations are available at Sweetbriar for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for a three-course prix-fixe menu with shareable sides that includes butternut soup, applewood smoked ham, salmon mi cuit with horseradish cream, rosemary roasted potatoes and more.

127 E 27th St, New York, NY 10016; sweetbriarnyc.com

This Park Slope mainstay is teaming up with sister-restaurant Maison Yak to prepare a take-out Christmas feast all weekend for those who want the luxury of a restaurant meal in the comfort of home. The family-style package (which feeds four) is $500, but it packs a big punch. The Asian-inspired spread will include honey mustard glazed duck terrine, Christmas papaya salad with freshly baked sourdough and yuzu kosho butter and black truffle short rib pot pie. And that’s just the start of it. Place your order by December 21 for pick-up on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

659 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238; olmstednyc.com

This Michelin-starred American eatery in Williamsburg will be dishing out an $85 three-course menu on Christmas Eve. Meadowsweet’s holiday menu includes plenty of options to satisfy any kind of appetite, but some highlights include seared bay scallops with savoy cabbage and black trumpet mushrooms, chestnut pappardelle with braised duck and ricotta, duck breast with mole poblano, and roasted heritage pork. For those with dietary restrictions, a vegan or vegetarian menu can be prepared upon request.

149 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211; meadowsweetnyc.com