25 of our favorite restaurants cooking for you this holiday season.
We’ve had a LONG year. 2020 will soon be in the rear view mirror, and all of the pain, grief, stress, shock, anger, and frustration of this pandemic year will be behind us. We are at the finish line, and it’s time to celebrate, whether that's at home with your kids , on zoom with your extended tribe, or just with your fine self.
A nice way to finish the year is to send some love to the hospitality industry. I’ve put together a fairly long list of spots doing special holiday heat and eat menus, of varying cuisines and price points. Pizza and cookies? Paella and tapas? Ribeye and caviar? We've got you covered. Have a look and pick one. Cheers!
Chef Akhtar is doing Christmas Eve ($65pp) and NYE ($85pp) multi course menus for pick up or delivery. If you're feeling extra fancy you can add shaved black truffles to either menu for $35pp, and to help our guests ring in 2021 in style they're offering a special Instant Party Kit add-on for New Year's Eve orders, which includes a piñata, festive wear/decor and noisemakers, assorted jello shots and champagne!
To order online, please visit Toast and be sure to write-in your desired pick-up time in the notes of your order on Toast. Pickup windows & order cutoffs are as follows:
Christmas Eve: Between 11am-3pm on 12/24 (place orders by 5pm on 12/22)
New Year's Eve: Between 11am-5pm on 12/31 (place orders by 5pm on 12/28)
Christmas Eve Menu
Choice of:
ROASTED DUCK BREAST duck confit chili relleno en nogada, walnuts, pomegranate seeds
ROASTED STRIPED BASS pea shoots, meyer lemon, salsa guajillo
BEEF RIBEYE A LA PLANCHA (+$15) sunchokes, cranberry mole
Plus: Tamale Masa, Sweet Plantains, Delicata Squash Winter Navidena, Homemade Corn Tortillas, Cajeta Flan
New Year's Eve Menu
Choice of:
SHIITAKE-DUSTED RIBEYE kabocha squash, salsa guajillo
BLACK SEA BASS celery root, endive, blood orange
Plus: Pastelitos, Black Truffle Quesadilla, Chocolate De Olla
Instant Party Kit Add-On: Includes piñata, festive wear, decor, noisemakers, assorted jello shots, & champagne.
I love paella on the holidays and who better to make it than Socarrat? They are offering a choice of paella: Lobster ($78 per person) with scallops, shrimp, calamari, peppers, and rice cooked in tomato sofrito; or Lamb Truffle ($68 per person) with lamb chops, truffle puree, asparagus, saffron aioli, and rice cooked in mushroom sofrito. Each paella is served with shareable tapas such as The Campero Board with serrano ham, chorizo-Iberico, Manchego, crostini toast; Croquetas de Hongo featuring crispy and creamy mushroom croquettes; Gambas al Ajillo (garlic shrimp); and Datiles which includes bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with Valdeon cheese, almonds, and roasted apple puree. For dessert, both Churros with Hot Chocolate and Crema Catalana will be served. The special will be available throughout the holidays beginning December 18th through December 31st. Reservations can be made via OpenTable and take out orders can be placed by emailing athome@socarratnyc.com.
The Paella Dinner at Socarrat
I love a good pizza, and the ones that chef Hillary Sterling makes at Vic’s are among the best in the city. For a low-key holiday dinner, one that the kids will love, order one of her pizza kits through Caviar—it includes fresh dough, sauce, mozzarella, basil and step-by-step instructions. For dessert, order Cookshop’s Holiday Cookie Decorating Kit, a creative and delicious way to engage the kids of all ages this holiday season! This cookie kit comes with one dozen soft vanilla sugar cookies, 3 colored icing bags, 1 packet of sprinkles, and a simple instruction card to follow.
Pizza Moto
If you have not been to Red Hook's Pizza Moto, well, it's good to have goals for post-vaccine life. For now, they've got a special special bake-at-home lasagna meal ready to be picked up or delivered to your doorstep on Christmas Eveve (Dec 23rd.) Chef Joe Bliffen (aka: @joeypickelz) one of their original opening staff is back in the saddle and doing his thing in the kitchen nightly these days.
What's in the Bake-At-Home-Lasagna Christmas Dinner Box:
A half-tray of heritage pig ragu lasagna layered with fresh ricotta, pecorino, meaty sauce, pecorino and plenty of noodles (We can do this vegetarian also! Just leave a note in the order notes field)
A half-tray of wintry citrus and chicory salad, with candied walnuts, pecorino, dressed with more citrus and fruity olive oil
Buttermilk dinner rolls and cultured butter
Fill yer own cannoli (12 minis) with candied orange peel ricotta filling
And an OPTIONAL bottle of wine for a little extra $$
The whole meal feeds four grown-ups with plenty of lasagna and cannoli for breakfast and costs $100 smackers. Toss in a bottle of the house Red for another $20
Follow this link to their online store and you can follow the prompts to select "pick-up or delivery", choose "later" and then find Dec 23 in the date wheel and select. It's in the Christmas Dinner menu and you can purchase it there.
For Christmas Eve / Day, Olmsted is offering a special package, Christmas at Home ($250). Guests can pre-order Christmas at Home until Sunday 12/20 at 10pm for pick up on the 23rd (link) or 24th (link). Dishes include Mini Harbison Wheel with Seasonal Jam; Einkorn Bread with Truffle Honey Butter; Braised Short Ribs with Juniper and Pink Peppercorn; Pommes Duchesse with Heirloom Sweet Potatoes; Viennese Holiday Cookies with Amarena Cherry Rum Ball and Vanilla Crescent; and many others. The Christmas at Home package is prepared family-style, and is ready to heat as you begin to prepare for dinner. A beverage pairing is also available ($75).
Chef Daniel Humm’s beloved roast duck is the centerpiece to their holiday EMP To Go menu. For every dinner purchased, Eleven Madison Park donates 20 meals to New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity through their ongoing partnership with Rethink Food. The limited-run Roast Duck dinner ($475), which serves four, features duck prepared two ways along with sides, salad and a dessert. You can opt for a variety of add-ons, such as truffles, beverages (large-format cocktails, wine pairings) and for the first time, a packaged trio of EMP’s insanely good granola ($60/box). Orders are live now on Tock, and must be placed by 5pm two days prior to the selected pickup date.
Marco Canora's Hearth for Home now presents The Holidays at Home! Tons of festive holiday fare on offer for takeout, including their traditional Christmas Eve Feast of the Seven Fishes ($75 pp), packed up nice for you to heat and enjoy at home. There’s also lasagna bolognese, prime rib, and lots more. Order now directly through their website for pickup on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve.
Cedric & Ochi Vongerichten’s Wayan offers a Christmas Feast To-Go with an Indonesian-inspired menu and festive holiday decor available for pickup or delivery on Dec 24. Menu includes caviar, fresh king crab legs with a sweet chili sauce, braised short ribs rawon with sambal terasi, seasonal vegetables & sides, and housemade Makrut lime pie for dessert. Beverage pairings included: large-format Slim-n-Slam cocktail, bottle of red wine and Wayan’s signature (V)eggnog as a nightcap; serves 4-6ppl, $688/each. To place orders, email info@wayan-nyc.com by Dec 17.
For NYE, Cedric & Ochi Vongerichten’s Wayan is offering celebratory holiday dinner and beverage boxes available for pickup/delivery on Dec 30; serves 2-3ppl or 4-5ppl, prices vary per kit. To place orders, email info@wayan-nyc.com by Dec 28.
The Polo Bar is offering prepared holiday dinners for intimate Xmas and NYE celebrations at home with a menu of festive American classics, including TPB’s signature popovers, peppercorn crusted prime beef tenderloin and raspberry-truffle chocolate tart for dessert, paired with their curated holiday music playlist to bring The Polo Bar home for the holidays. Serves up to 4ppl, $495/each. Optional add-ons (caviar, seafood tower, desserts), wine and cocktail pairings available. Orders can be placed via phone at 212-207-8562 with pickup to be arranged from TPB: Dec 17-19, Dec 22-24, and Dec 29-31. Full menu here.
Lobster, crab, mussels, shrimp, and more are part of the Festivus Dinner for Two at Red Hook Lobster ($160 for two people). Order Online or call during our operating hours: 718-858-7650 ext. 1.
Looking to make Christmas dinner a little easier? Order from Carib Diva! Meals will be delivered on Christmas Eve, with reheat instructions, so you can enjoy your meal whenever you are ready. Choices include roasted Cornish hens, pepper crusted tenderloin, lamb, and more, plus sides all made with love.
Portale Restaurant is offering special meals to go for both Christmas and New Year’s as part of their newly launched “Cena a Casa” curated meal program (designed to offer you a more formal at-home dining experience) which provides a truly special selection of Portale’s modern Italian flavors. All meals consist of fully cooked dishes that can easily be reheated. Cocktails and wine pairings from the restaurant’s extensive beverage list are available as an add-on, as are additional side dishes and seasonal sweets (see more below). Note that meals need to be pre-ordered at least 48 hours in advance and picked up at the restaurant during specific windows (selected upon purchase). Christmas Eve x Cena a Casa Menu ($150, serves 2) Includes:
Insalata di Cavolo Nero: baby kale, currants, dried apricots, sicilian pistachio, pecorino pepato
Chitarra Nero: jumbo lump crab, tomato-crab sugo, calabrian breadcrumbs
Costolette: beef short ribs, truffled polenta, baby spinach, barolo sauce
Focaccia Budino di Pane: maple-pecan bread pudding, rum-toffee sauce
Biscotti
New Year’s Eve x Cena a Casa Menu ($190, serves 2) Includes:
Aragosta: poached maine lobster, celery root, green apple., quail egg, golden trout roe
Ravioli: sheep’s milk ricotta, black truffle, parmigiano reggiano
Agnello: roast lamb loin, braised escarole, white gigante beans, black truffle, barolo sauce
Torta al Cioccolato: “the chocolate cake” *
Biscotti
Bakery Additions
Portale has expanded their bakery program for the holidays! Executive pastry chef Kaity Mitchell is churning out a number of new seasonal sweet treats, plus loaves of her beloved sourdough bread, all as an add-on to any Cena a Casa meal:
Pies
Gingerbread Custard Pie
Peppermint Mocha Pie
Cookies (sold in packs of 6 or 12)
Gingersnap cookies*
Oatmeal-Dried Cherry cookies*
Chocolate-chocolate chip cookies*
Olive oil cake
Cinnamon rolls - sold baked and unbaked (perfect addition to the Xmas and NYE boxes for the mornings after!)
Michelin-starred steakhouse COTE is offering holiday feast boxes for local delivery/pick up, including a bottle of 2009 vintage of Dom Pérignon, a 10lb roasted rack of prime rib with sides like sticky rice stuffing, Glass Noodle Japchae and maple bacon brussels sprouts for up to 6ppl. Includes re-heating and service instructions, as well as a recipe from Chef David Shim for leftovers. Order via SevenRooms. For Christmas Eve, the restaurant’s beloved Feast of the Seven Fishes is available for national delivery, order here.
Tasca's Holiday Menu (photo by Liz Clayman)
UWS newcomer Tasca is offering a number of family-style menu packages this holiday season. Selections reflect Tasca’s Spanish and Latin-Caribbean fare, from plantain croquettes and cassava-crusted diver scallops, to (with 72 hours notice) stand-out centerpieces such as prime rib roast with yuca mash, sofrito goat cheese and Catalan kale, and suckling pig with yuca fries, coconut pigeon pea rice and tostones. Orders are accepted through December 22 for pick-up and delivery on Christmas Eve, and the same menus are available to order through December 28 for New Year’s Eve.
Extra Virgin is offering a four-course Christmas Day prix-fixe menu ($65 pp) with sides and beverages are available for a la carte pricing. Full menu linked here. Orders for takeout must be placed on delivery platforms by Tuesday, December 22nd for pickup on Thursday, 12/24 from 12-4pm or Friday, 12/25 from 11am-1pm.
Tannat Wine & Cheese, Northern Manhattan’s destination for natural wine and genuinely seasonal dining, will offer a to-go menu ($75 pp) featuring Clementines & Bocconcini with cinnamon, sage, fresh chili, cold pressed sunflower oil, Roasted Chestnuts with chestnut-honey-butter puree, Cranberry-Cardamom Cornbread with candied pistachio, Braised Red Cabbage & Leekswith red wine, maple, guanciale, nutmeg, Tannat's Famous Chicken Liver Paté with caramelized onions, applejack, crostini, Mashed Roots made with potato, parsnip, rutabaga, celeriac, garlic, ginger, Smoked Moulard Duck Drumettes with preserved lemon, turmeric, fenugreek, honey and for dessert, Peppermint Fudge and Homemade Eggnog. Order by emailing tannat.coop@gmail.com by December 20 and to be picked up on December 24.
Tannat's Christmas Dinner
Have the ultimate ultra-luxe Christmas dinner at home with a little help from L’Avenue at Saks and their meal kits – a great at-home activity to get everyone into the holiday spirit. Each meal kit option features ingredients and recipes to make a multi-course French-inspired menu from appetizers, entrees and sides, and for dessert, includes sweets from Pierre Hermé. The decadent “Champagne & Caviar” package ($600) includes Caviar Oscietre Royal, Duck Foie Gras, and L’Avenue classics such as the Filet de Boeuf Rossini. Other options include the L’Avenue “Holiday Lunch” ($200) and “Dinner at L’Avenue” ($400) kits (with alcoholic beverage options) which include dishes like Aubergine Grilleé Burrata and Spicy Lobster. Full menu details can be found here.
Katz’s Deli will be open for takeout, and delivery on Christmas Day serving its regular menu. Katz’s Deli offers various packages via its own nationwide shipping platform such as the Complete 3-Course Dinner for 4. The package includes 1lb each of hand-sliced pastrami and corned beef (2 lb total), New York deli rye and mustard, house made matzo ball soup, tangy full sour pickles, and rich old-world cinnamon babka ($125 + taxes, free shipping); Hours of Operations: 8:00 AM – 9:45 PM
Celebrate this holiday with a festive feast fit for a Spaniard! This Christmas, chef Nico Lopez is sharing the traditions of his native Spain with three separate limited-time Feasts: Holiday Canelones ($275), Holiday Cordero ($275) & Holiday Pollo de Navidad ($210), each perfect for parties of 6 to celebrate at home. Add Spanish sips, including the sparkling Cuvée José Trio available exclusively during the holiday season.
All three packages are available for order here: https://www.exploretock.com/mercadolittlespain/
Holiday Cordero & Holiday Canelones Feast Menu ($275)
& Holiday Pollo de Navidad Feast ($210)
Tapas Course
Jamón Ibérico – cured iberico ham (2oz)
Queso Manchego Curado – 12 month cured Manchego cheese
Pan con Tomate – toasted slices of crispy bread brushed with fresh tomato and olive oil
Gamba Roja Cocida con Mahonesa – boiled Mediterranean red shrimp with mayonnaise
Terrina de Morcilla con Higo al Pedro Ximénez – spreadable Spanish pork sausage with fig cream
Main Course
Cordero Lechal al Horno de Leña – roasted baby lamb *for Cordero Feast only
Canelones de San Esteve con Trufa Negra – Canelon pasta stuffed with pork, chicken and foie gras baked with black truffle béchamel and cheese *Canelones Feast only
Pollo de Navidad – roasted chicken, chicken glaze, and stuffing with bread and nuts *Pollo de Navidad Feast only
Puré de Patatas y Piquillo Julian de Tolosa – mashed potatoes and confit piquillo peppers
Ensalada Verde – green salad
Sweets
Tarta de Queso – Basque style “burnt” cheesecake
Surtido de Turrones – Spanish Christmas Traditional Sweets
Available for Christmas and New Year’s, pickup windows December 23, 24, 27, 30 & 31 from 11am to 8pm.
The Smith's Christmas Dinner is available for pick up on 12/23 & 12/24, or delivery 12/23 &12/24. Available for Two $120, or for Four $240
Includes:
• Shrimp Cocktail
• Cauliflower Flatbread, fontina, marinated tomatoes, parmesan
• Apple & Goat Cheese Salad, honeycrisp apples, goat cheese, candied walnuts, radicchio, apple cider vinaigrette
• Roasted Beef Filet, green peppercorn sauce
• Seared Scallops, truffle vinaigrette
• Mushroom Farro, cremini mushrooms, mascarpone, parmesan
• Roasted Carrots
• Glazed Shallots
• Eggnog crème brûlée
• Ginger Cookies
New Year’s Eve Heat & Eat: Available for pick up 12/30 &12/3, or delivery in NY/NJ/CT 12/30 &12/31. Available for Two $130, or for Four $260
Includes:
• Chicken Wontons, ginger yuzu hoisin
• Tuna Tartare, caesar aioli, spiced lavash crackers
• Kale & Quinoa Salad, dried cranberries, ricotta salata, toasted almonds, dijon vinaigrette
• Braised Short Ribs, red wine glaze
• Lobster Risotto
• Potato & Sunchoke Gratin
• Sicilian Roasted Cauliflower, lemon, capers, currants
• Hazelnut Layer Cake
• Party hats!
“Best of The Smith” Gift Boxes: Available for pick up all month or delivery in NYC/NJ/CT all month long. Includes The Smith favorites like Potato Chips & Blue Cheese Fondue and S'mores in a Jar available with or without drinks like The Gatsby (gin, pomegranate, hibiscus, and lemon, with a bottle of prosecco to top off the cocktail).
Hole in the Wall is offering a Christmas Bundle, including everything you’ll need for Christmas lunch delivered to your door and ready to be placed in the oven for easy preparation. The bundle includes Roast Lamb Leg with rosemary garlic and mint jelly, Shrimp on the Barbie featuring chili and garlic shrimp BBQ skewers, a Potato Bake with creamed potato and bacon scallions or Potato Salad, Mac n’ Cheese, Green Beans with caramelized onions and almonds, Damper Rolls, Roast Pumpkin with honey and thyme and Pavola. Customers can also opt to have Turkey, Ham or Lamb. With every bundle purchased, a meal will be provided to the homeless over the holidays.
Amali is offering a Christmas Dinner To-Go Package for $115 per person. Mezze includes Winter Chicories and Burrata with Grilled Bread, the Pasta Course includes both Tortellini in Brodo and Tagliatelle Bolognese, a choice of protein of either Milk-Fed Suckling Pig Porchetta or Grilled Spanish Bronzino for an additional $15 per person. Sides include Crispy Fingerling Potatoes and broccoli with breadcrumbs and Salmoriglio. All packages are available for pickup and delivery December 24th and Christmas Day. Delivery is an additional charge of $60.
Nuhma NYC boasts a Christmas menu available for delivery. Appetizers can come in 6 or 12 pieces and include Baked Brie Puff Pastries, Devils on Horseback, Mushroom Arancini, Jumbo Shrimp Cocktails and Maryland Lump Crab Cakes with old bay aioli. For the first course, enjoy Butternut & Kabocha Squash Soup or Lobster Bisque Soup, Salads include Local Apple Salad with kale, cranberry cheese, candied pecan, pomegranate and apple-balsamic dressing or an Iceberg Wedge Salad. The Main Course includes Apple Cider-honey Glazed Ham, Nuhma’s Surf & Turf with Maine lobster tail thermidor, pastrami picanha steak and housemade steak sauce, Braised Five Spice Short Ribs, Maine Lobster Pot Pie and Cedar Plank Grilled Salmon with dill, lemon, parsley and pomegranate syrup-yoghurt sauce. Sides feature Lobster Ravioli, Potato Gratin, Creamy mashed Potatoes, Cream of Spinach, Haricot Vert and Cauliflower Gratin. There’s an array of desserts as well which includes Nuhma’s Chocolate Cake and a Surprise Christmas Cookie Box. Orders can be made by visiting https://nuhmanyc.com.
Starting December 22nd through December 31st, J-Spec offers a special grill-at-home Wagyu Holiday dinner set for two for pickup and delivery. The menu includes popular dishes like Wagyu Tataki, an assortment of Sushi, Washugyu Roast Beef, and Wagyu Steak to grill-at-home including vegetable sides, and dessert. The to-go menu for two features two different steak options: $168 featuring a 16 ounce Wagyu Striploin and $198 for a premium 14 ounces of Wagyu Chateaubriand. Orders can be placed by calling the restaurant directly or via Seamless, Caviar or DeliverZero. (pre-order is recommended but not necessary)
This year, Nice Matin will be offering a special Christmas at Home three-course prix-fixe menu ($48 pp). Celebrate the holiday with a menu by Chef Eric Starkman that features appetizers such as Spiced Chestnut and Apple Soup, Goat Ravioli, and Tuna Tartare. Entrees include a Christmas Turkey served with dried fruit & sausage dressing, cranberry chutney, potato puree, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts; Venison Osso Bucco Bourguignon with celery root puree and pearl onions; or a NY Prime Strip Steak with pommes puree, sauteed spinach, and au poivre sauce, and more. For dessert, guests can indulge in several sweet temptations such as Apple Streusel Pie, Chocolate Mousse with peppermint marshmallow, Toffee Gingerbread Pudding, and more. Place your orders by 12/19 for delivery or takeout from 2 pm - 8 pm. For any orders made through the website, a 25% discount on Wines by the Bottle plus free delivery will be offered. Orders can be made via phone (212) 873 -6423 or online.
This Christmas, bring home a French feast from midtown brasserie Bouillon Marseille. The three-course prix-fixe ($48pp) menu by Chef Daniel Drexler includes appetizers such as French Onion Soup, Lobster Bisque, Pate Forestieres, Winter Salad, and more. Entrees include Christmas Turkey served with dried fruit & sausage dressing, cranberry chutney, potato puree, and brussels sprouts; Angus Beef Rib Eye Roast with a creamy potato gratin, buttered asparagus, red wine jus; or a Honey Glazed Duck Breast served with oyster mushrooms, wild rice, and red wine- apple butter. For dessert, Buche de Noel, Chocolate Mousse, or Toffee-Gingerbread Pudding. Orders by 12/19 for delivery or takeout from 2 pm - 8 pm. For any orders made through the website, there will be a 25% discount on Wines by the Bottle plus free delivery. Orders can be made via phone at 212-333-2323 or website.
Aquavit's Christmas Feast
The Upper West Side location of Carmine’s is celebrating the holidays with special dishes on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. In addition to the regular family-style menu and available to enjoy at the restaurant’s tented outdoor space or at home, Carmine’s is serving Capellini Marechiara ($55) with scallops, shrimp, clams, mussels, red clam sauce, hot Italian peppers and arugula, Stuffed Salmon ($65) with spinach, crab meat, scallops, shrimp, celery, red peppers, seasoned breadcrumbs, white wine and lemon juice and Prime Rib ($110) served with contadina potatoes, portobello mushrooms and broccoli rabe. Carmine’s is open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 11:30am to 9pm.
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