Don’t want to spend the holiday in the kitchen? Let these local eateries do the cooking!
NORTH JERSEY
1776 Morristown, Morristown
There will be a three-course prix-fixe feast on Christmas Day ($95 per adult), serving holiday offerings like dry-aged New York strip steak, potato leek soup, duck breast, and almond ricotta cake. Additional sharables include a Charcuterie board, oysters, and the restaurant’s signature clothesline bacon. Reservations are recommended.
67 East Park Place; 973-829-1776
87 Sussex, Jersey City
Chef Brian Walter is putting together a three-course menu for Christmas Eve with optional wine pairings per meal option. This includes an appetizer, main course, and dessert, with choices ranging from steak tartar to Arctic halibut and pumpkin spiral ravioli. Reservations can be made through OpenTable.
87 Sussex Street; 551-256-7864
Benares, Wyckoff
Benares is open on Christmas Eve for dine-in meals and takeout orders. Vegan and vegetarian options abound.
327 Franklin Avenue; 201-904-2222
Blu on the Hudson, Weehawken
Enjoy a lovely Christmas meal with a view of the glittering New York City skyline. Christmas Eve dinner will be served from 3 to 9 pm; Christmas Day dinner will be served from noon to 9 pm.
1200 Harbor Boulevard; 201-636-1200
Brothers Smokehouse BBQ & Soul, Ramsey
Celebrate Christmas early with Santa Claus at Brothers Smokehouse’s Santa Dinner in Ramsey. Southern dinner, cookies and hot chocolate will be served on December 14 from 5 to 8 pm, plus a chance to take pictures with St. Nicholas himself. Reservations can be made over the phone.
900 NJ-17 suite 2; 551-264-9073
Felina, Ridgewood
Enjoy a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner this Christmas Eve at Felina for $115. This holiday menu includes six courses, including oysters, linguine alle vongole, pan-roasted branzino, and more. Additionally, select menu items will be served à la carte on Christmas Eve between $16-29. Reservations can be made online.
18 Prospect Street; 551-276-5454
Moghul, Edison
Moghul, which serves fine Indian cuisine, is open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for lunch and dinner.
1655 Oak Tree Road; 732-549-5050
Mohawk House, Sparta
Mohawk House is serving its winter menu a la carte on Christmas Eve from 3-8 pm and Christmas Day from 1-6 pm. Reservations can be made online.
1 Mohawk Lane; 973-729-6464
Redwoods, Chester
The Christmas Dinner Express at Redwoods features two entrée meal options of Black Forest ham ($225) and prime rib ($360), with the option to add on several appetizers and desserts. Orders must be placed by December 17 at 4 pm, and can be picked up on Christmas Eve between noon-5 pm.
459 Main Street; 908-879-7909
Samba, Montclair
Samba is open on Christmas Eve for brunch (noon-3 pm) and dinner all day, offering its regular Brazilian-inspired menu items such as skirt steak, a Caprese salad appetizer and grilled octopus.
7 Park Street; 973-744-6764
Sátis Bistro, Jersey City
Located near the Jersey City waterfront, Sátis Bistro will be cooking up several delectable specials for families to enjoy on Christmas Eve, courtesy of chef Alex Diaz. Appetizers include oysters Rockefeller and steak tartare, while main dishes range from lobster tagliatelle to prime New York strip, available between 5 and 8 pm.
212 Washington Street; 201-435-5151
Sofia, Englewood
Named after the Oscar-winning Italian actress Sophia Loren, this restaurant is open Christmas Day, serving Christmas brunch alongside its all-day menu from 11:30 am to 3 pm.
36 Engle Street; 201-541-8530
Spring House, Tenafly
Spring House has multiple specials prepared for Christmas Eve dinner alongside its standard a la carte menu. The restaurant will open for the holiday between 2 and 8 pm.
Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas, Clifton
In the Italian American culinary tradition, Spuntino is offering a Feast of the Seven Fishes from now until Christmas Eve. Enjoy offerings such as smoked salmon bruschetta, crispy octopus, garlic shrimp and red snapper.
70 Kingsland Road, Clifton; 973-661-2435
Summit House, Summit
Summit House is offering an a la carte menu and holiday specials on Christmas Eve like poached seafood salad and herb-crusted prime rib. Reservations can be made online.
395 Springfield Avenue; 908-273-6000
Ventanas, Fort Lee
This Latin-Asian fusion restaurant, located right by the George Washington Bridge, is offering an a la carte Christmas Day dinner menu from 4:30-10:30 pm. Reservations can be made here.
200 Park Avenue; 201-583-4777
CENTRAL JERSEY
Drifthouse, Sea Bright
Drifthouse is offering a prix-fixe ($60 for adults and $30 for kids) brunch with Santa on December 21 from 10 am to 2 pm. The menu features breakfast favorites like French toast as well as vodka rigatoni and salmon for lunch.
1485 Ocean Avenue; 732-530-9760
Eno Terra, Kingston
This homey, rustic restaurant is offering a Christmas Eve menu featuring seared octopus, braised short ribs, tagliatelle bolognese and more.
4484 NJ-27; 609-497-1777
Orchard Park by David Burke, East Brunswick
On Christmas Eve, this restaurant is offering an a la carte menu with specials from 3 to 9 pm. On Christmas Day, there will be a three-course prix-fixe feast ($98 per adult; $55 for children 12 and under) from 11 am to 8 pm. Reservations are suggested.
670 Cranbury Road; 732-554-5714
The Pluckemin Inn, Bedminster
A special Christmas Eve prix-fixe menu ($94 per person) will offer customers a choice of three courses, featuring items such as Scottish salmon, duck confit, black cod and baked Alaska. The dinner will be offered from 4-8 pm.
359 Route 206 South & Pluckemin Way; 908-658-9292
Red Horse by David Burke, Rumson
The restaurant is offering an a la carte menu on Christmas Eve from 4 to 9 pm, and a three-course prix-fixe feast on Christmas Day from noon to 8 pm. The latter is $95 per adult and $45 for children 12 and under.
26 Ridge Road; 732-576-3400
Red Horse by David Burke at the Bernards Inn, Bernardsville
On Christmas Eve, the restaurant will be serving an a la carte dinner menu from 5 to 9 pm. On Christmas Day, there will be a three-course prix-fixe meal ($95 per person) from noon to 8 pm.
27 Minebrook Road; 908-766-0002
Ryland Inn, Whitehouse Station
Situated on a former country estate built in 1796, Ryland Inn is hosting a prix-fixe Christmas Eve dinner at its Landmark Tavern. Treat yourself to local burrata, roasted Amish chicken or filet mignon. End the night with an apple strudel or bread pudding. The cost is $85+ for adults and $30+ for children 12 and under.
115 Old Highway 28; 908-534-4011
SOUTH JERSEY
Cardinal, Atlantic City
This eatery is offering a breakfast with Santa on December 21, including pictures with Saint Nick from 11 am to 3 pm. Alongside the brunch menu, kids get an order of silver dollar pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon, or French toast for just $5.
201 South New York Avenue; 609-246-6670
Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, Atlantic City
Council Oak will be serving multiple dinner specials throughout Christmas Day. Confirmed dishes include a 20-ounce prime rib with sides for $100, as well as a pistachio-crusted branzino for $70.
1000 Boardwalk; 609-449-1000
Il Mulino New York, Atlantic City
Located at the Hard Rock, Il Mulino is offering a three-course, prix-fixe Feast of the Seven Fishes this Christmas Eve ($140 per person). Dishes include frittura di pesce, paccheri, black linguine, and red snapper livornese, plus panettone for dessert.
1000 Boardwalk; 609-449-6006
Il Verdi, Atlantic City
Head to AC’s Tropicana for Christmas Eve for an Italian American Feast of the Seven Fishes, featuring fried calamari, rigatoni Bolognese and more. The five-course prix-fixe meal is $84.99 per person.
2831 Boardwalk; 609-340-4000
Linguini by the Sea, Atlantic City
The restaurant’s Winter Wonderland event at Ocean Casino Resort is serving up holiday dishes and cocktails this Christmas Eve. Menu items include rigatoni al pomodoro, arancini, short rib Milanese, and chicken saltimbocca, plus either panettone bread pudding or tiramisu for dessert. Additionally, a children’s menu will be available for $35, featuring dishes like North Pole Parmigiana and The Elves’ Spaghetti & Meatballs. This seasonal menu will be available through January 3, sans New Year’s Eve.
Nunzio by Chef Michael DeLone, Collingswood
Nunzio is serving two Christmas dinner options this year, including a multi-course Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. The Seven Fishes menu includes salt cod fritter, strozzapreti and cioppino; the non-fish option includes rigatoni and veal Milanese.
706 Haddon Avenue; 856-858-9840
