Don’t want to spend the holiday in the kitchen? Let these local eateries do the cooking!
NORTH JERSEY
1776 by David Burke, Morristown
Consider dining at celebrity chef David Burke’s Morristown restaurant, which received a rave review from New Jersey Monthly last year. There will be an a la carte menu on Christmas Eve (11 am-9 pm), and a three-course prix-fixe feast on Christmas Day (1-10 pm; $85 per person). Enjoy such offerings as duck confit, maple-glazed salmon and black forest cake. Reservations are recommended.
67 East Park Place, Morristown; 973-829-1776
Benares, Wyckoff
Benares is open on Christmas Eve for dine-in meals and takeout orders. Vegan and vegetarian options abound.
327 Franklin Avenue, Wyckoff; 201-904-2222
Blu on the Hudson, Weehawken
Enjoy a Christmas Eve meal with a view of the glittering New York City skyline. Blu on the Hudson is offering a four-course Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner for two ($150 per person), along with an all-day a la carte menu. Reservations are required.
1200 Harbor Boulevard, Weehawken; 201-636-1200
Felina, Ridgewood
Enjoy a taste of Sicily this Christmas Eve with a three-course meal at Felina. Their holiday menu includes an antipasti starter followed by a main course and dessert. Reservations between 1 and 8 pm can be made online. Dinner is $85+ for adults; there’s a separate $30+ menu for children 12 and under.
18 Prospect Street, Ridgewood; 551-276-5454
Faubourg, Montclair
Faubourg—one of New Jersey Monthly’s 30 Best Restaurants in the state, is open regular hours on Christmas Eve, offering its delicious French cuisine.
544 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair; 973-642-7700
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The Fox & Falcon by David Burke, South Orange
This restaurant, which celebrity chef David Burke took over earlier this year, is serving a three-course prix-fixe Christmas Day feast for $65 per person, which will be offered from noon-6 pm. Reservations are suggested.
19 Valley Street, South Orange; 973-419-6773
Jarana, East Rutherford
Jarana, located in the American Dream mall, offers a Peruvian-themed to-go package featuring traditional Christmas feast items with a Latin twist. The $220 package serves four people. Pre-ordering closes Thursday, December 21; pickups can be made on Christmas Eve from 10 am-5 pm.
1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford; 551-777-8020
Moghul, Edison
Moghul, which serves fine Indian cuisine, is open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for lunch and dinner.
1655 Oak Tree Road, Edison; 732-549-5050
The Mohawk House, Sparta
Enjoy a holiday feast next to an ornate fireplace at a grand country estate. The Mohawk House has a prix-fixe menu ($85 per person) with such offerings as winter harvest salad, Christmas duck, Atlantic salmon, steak, a rustic apple tart and other festive additions ($21-$36). This offer is available on Christmas Eve from 3-8 pm, and on Christmas Day from 1-6 pm. Reservations can be made online or over the phone.
1 Mohawk Lane, Sparta Township; 973-729-6464
Samba, Montclair
Samba is open on Christmas Eve for brunch (noon-3 pm) and dinner (5-8 pm), offering its regular Brazilian-inspired menu items such as skirt steak, a Caprese salad appetizer, and pulled pork sliders.
7 Park Street, Montclair; 973-744-6764
Sofia, Englewood
Named after the Oscar-winning Italian actress Sophia Loren, this restaurant is open both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, serving its regular brunch menu, as well as some specials, until 2:30 pm.
36 Engle Street, Englewood; 201-541-8530
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. If you have a hankering for seafood this holiday season, enjoy offerings such as frutti di mare, cod fritters, buttered poached lobster and smoked salmon bruschetta.
70 Kingsland Road, Clifton; 973-661-2435
Summit House, Summit
On Christmas Eve, a four-course prix-fixe meal ($95 per person) includes scallop crudo, potato gnocchi, braised short rib, apple cobbler and more, with an optional wine pairing for $55 per person. Seating is available from 2 to 7 pm.
395 Springfield Avenue, Summit; 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 Eve menu from 1-9 pm, and a Christmas Day a la carte brunch and dinner menu from noon-9 pm.
200 Park Avenue, Fort Lee; 201-583-4777
CENTRAL JERSEY
Drifthouse by David Burke, Sea Bright
Drifthouse is offering a Christmas Eve prix-fixe dinner from noon to 8 pm. It’s three courses for adults ($95) and two courses ($35) for children.
1485 Ocean Avenue, Sea Bright; 732-530-9760
Eno Terra, Kingston
This homey, rustic restaurant is offering an a la carte Christmas Eve menu featuring clam chowder, Italian beef meatballs, short-rib creste di gallo, roasted salmon and more.
4484 NJ-27, Kingston; 609-497-1777
The GOAT by David Burke, Union Beach
The GOAT, which earned a three-star review from New Jersey Monthly earlier this year, is offering a Christmas Eve a la carte menu with Italian holiday specials. And on Christmas Day, there will be a three-course prix-fixe menu ($58 per adult; $25 for children 12 and under) from noon to 8 pm. Reservations are suggested.
1411 Route 36, Union Beach; 732-264-5222
The Loaded Spoon, Freehold
This restaurant—transformed into a holiday-themed pop-up bar for the season—is offering a la carte brunch and dinner menus on Christmas Eve from 11 am-8:45 pm.
108 Schanck Road, Freehold; 732-813-8700
Orchard Park by David Burke, East Brunswick
On Christmas Eve, this restaurant is offering an a la carte menu from 3-9 pm. On Christmas Day, there will be a three-course prix-fixe feast ($95 per adult; $50 for children 12 and under) from 11 am to 8 pm. Reservations are suggested.
670 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick; 732-554-5714
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The Pluckemin Inn, Bedminster
Executive chef Jason Ramos is preparing a special Christmas Eve prix-fixe menu ($89 per person) with three courses, featuring such items as wild mushroom risotto, suckling pig and a gingerbread latte cinnamon roll. The dinner will be offered from 4-8 pm.
359 Route 206 South & Pluckemin Way, Bedminster; 908-658-9292
Red Horse by David Burke, Rumson
The restaurant is offering an a la carte menu on Christmas Eve, and a three-course prix-fixe feast on Christmas Day. The latter is $95 per adult or $45 for children 12 and under, and takes place from noon to 8 pm.
26 Ridge Road, Rumson; 732-576-3400
Red Horse by David Burke at the Bernards Inn, Bernardsville
Earlier this year, chef David Burke took over operations at the classic Bernards Inn. On Christmas Eve, the restaurant will be serving an a la carte menu. On Christmas Day, there will be a three-course prix-fixe meal ($85 per person; noon to 7 pm).
27 Minebrook Road, Bernardsville; 908-766-0002
Ryland Inn, Whitehouse Station
Situated on a former country estate built in 1796, this regal restaurant is offering a seven-course prix-fixe Christmas Eve feast from 3:30-5:30 pm. Dig into Italian cured meats, wild boar Bolognese, tea-brined duck breast and much more. The cost is $95+ for adults and $45+ for children 12 and under; Landmark Club members receive discounts ($76+ and $36+, respectively).
115 Old Highway 28, Whitehouse Station; 908-534-4011
SOUTH JERSEY
The Ebbitt Room at Virginia Hotel, Cape May
Luxurious dining awaits at one of NJM’s favorite restaurants in Cape May. On Christmas Eve and Day, an a la carte menu will be served from 5-10 pm. Feast on char-grilled oysters, braised lamb shank, filet mignon, a chocolate s’mores tart and much more—all while sipping a fancy cocktail or two.
25 Jackson Street, Cape May; 609-884-5700
Il Verdi, Atlantic City
Head to AC’s Tropicana for Christmas Eve to devour a traditional 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, Atlantic City; 609-340-4000
Iron Hill Brewery, Voorhees & Maple Shade
Limited-time holiday menus—running from Saturday, December 23 through Tuesday, January 2—feature such items as lobster arancini, prime rib and dark-chocolate cheesecake.
13107 Town Center Boulevard, Voorhees; 856-545-9009
124 East Kings Highway Route 41, Maple Shade; 856-273-0300
Nunzio by Chef Michael DeLone, Collingswood
Nunzio will be serving a Feast of the Seven Fishes from Wednesday, December 20 to Saturday, December 30. Menu items will include salt cod fritters, frutti di mare and cioppino.
706 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood; 856-858-9840
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