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10 Christmas Eve Dinners Worth Your While

by Alex Tewfik Updated
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by Alex Tewfik Updated

This year, instead of slaving over your stove, take Christmas Eve off. There are plenty of restaurants and bars around the city staying open and putting together festive and delicious feasts for your family and friends, so whether you like the idea of going full-Italian with a traditional seven fish dinner, or opting for something new, like an all-you-can-eat pie buffet, Christmas Eve in Philly is full of options for every palate. Below, you'll find nine spots to get you on your way to a full belly and a happy heart (without any of the stress).

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Red Owl Tavern

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433 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 923-2267
(215) 923-2267
Visit Website
Red Owl Tavern’s new executive chef Caitlin Mateo is cooking up a Chinatown Pop Up dinner, inspired by the classic holiday movie, A Christmas Story. Food-wise, guests will take on a feast of whole Peking duck, General Tso’s chicken, short rib ramen, sweet and sour broccoli with beets, duck steam buns and shrimp dumplings. Drinks will go tiki for the night.
ROT/Facebook

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2. Aldine

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1901 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 454-6529
(215) 454-6529
Stargazy's Sam Jacobson is collaborating with Aldine's George Sabatino for a special Christmas Eve All You Can Eat Pie Buffet. For $45 per person excluding alcohol, tax and gratuity, you can chow down on a pie and fixins buffet. In addition to Stargazy's traditional pies, there will be guest pies by Sabatino, plus a bunch of sides. Dinner's served from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Reservations are suggested and can be made by calling the restaurant or through Aldine's website.

3. Oyster House

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1516 Sansom St
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 567-7683
(215) 567-7683
Visit Website
For the first time in its 40 year history, Oyster House will host a Christmas Eve Feast of the Seven Fishes, Philly-style. Dinner goes from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., the menu is $50 per person, and the menu includes, among other things, fried calamari with grilled long hots, spaghetti and crabs, and tiramisu for dessert.
Photo by Jason Varney

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4. Mission Taqueria

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1516 Sansom St
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 383-1200
(215) 383-1200
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Mission's Andrew Sabin will serve a Mexican-inspired family-style menu for $35 per person. On deck: ceviche, grilled octopus, roasted pork with mole verde and roasted turkey slathered in an Oaxacan-style mole, served with green chili tamales. For dessert, the kitchen's serving "Impossible Cake", a dense chocolate cake topped with flan.
Photo by Hillary Petrozziello

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5. Fine Palate

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231 South 15th Street
Philadelphia, PA
267-318-7971
267-318-7971
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Center City's Fine Palate is putting together a decadent Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner complete with Osetra caviar, salt-roasted oysters, octopus salad, Scungille San Marzano, spaghetti vongole, escabeche and Spanish lobster paella. It's $65 a head, call the restaurant for reservations.
Fine Palate/Facebook

6. The Little Lion

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243 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(267) 273-0688
(267) 273-0688
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Old City's southern-inspired public house will offer a family-style dinner of prime rib, smoked glazed ham, blackened catfish and kale pesto pasta, plus mac 'n 'cheese, charred brussel sprouts, roasted tomato soup, cheddar grits and greens, kale caesar, and more. $40 per person; reservations required.
Photo by Hillary Petrozziello

7. Bridget Foy's

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200 South St
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 922-1813
(215) 922-1813
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Headhouse Square gets especially festive this time of year, so revel in its coziness at the South Street stalwart. This year's Christmas Eve menu includes prime rib, glazed ham, seared swordfish, sticky toffee pudding and spiked hot cocoa. Dinner runs from 4-9 p.m.
Bridget Foy's/Facebook

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8. Davio's Philadelphia

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111 S 17th St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 563-4810
(215) 563-4810
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Davio's is getting in on that Feast of the Seven Fishes game with a four course, prix fixe menu of spicy crab chowder, squid ink spaghettini, monkfish osso buco, and more. Dinner runs you $65 and doesn't include tax or gratuity. Call for reservations.
Davio's/Facebook

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9. The Hungry Pigeon

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743 S 4th St
Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-278-2736
215-278-2736
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Scott Schroeder and Pat O'Malley's all-day cafe will host a surprisingly inexpensive, family-style Christmas Eve dinner. $30 gets you three courses of Italian goodies: antipasti, spaghetti and meatballs or eggplant parm, sides and tartufo for dessert. Call to make a reservation.
Photo by Hillary Petrozziello

10. Fork

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306 Market St
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 625-9425
(215) 625-9425
Visit Website
Fork's John Patterson is putting his own spin on the Feast of the Seven Fishes with an elegant, intensive seafood spread. Highlights of the menu include a dandelion salad with grilled sardines, red wine gnocchetti with braised eel, and a whole branzino prepared simply with lemon and parsley. Dinner is $85, call for a reservation.

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1. Red Owl Tavern

433 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
ROT/Facebook
Red Owl Tavern’s new executive chef Caitlin Mateo is cooking up a Chinatown Pop Up dinner, inspired by the classic holiday movie, A Christmas Story. Food-wise, guests will take on a feast of whole Peking duck, General Tso’s chicken, short rib ramen, sweet and sour broccoli with beets, duck steam buns and shrimp dumplings. Drinks will go tiki for the night.
433 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 923-2267
Visit Website

2. Aldine

1901 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Stargazy's Sam Jacobson is collaborating with Aldine's George Sabatino for a special Christmas Eve All You Can Eat Pie Buffet. For $45 per person excluding alcohol, tax and gratuity, you can chow down on a pie and fixins buffet. In addition to Stargazy's traditional pies, there will be guest pies by Sabatino, plus a bunch of sides. Dinner's served from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Reservations are suggested and can be made by calling the restaurant or through Aldine's website.
1901 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 454-6529

3. Oyster House

1516 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Photo by Jason Varney
For the first time in its 40 year history, Oyster House will host a Christmas Eve Feast of the Seven Fishes, Philly-style. Dinner goes from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., the menu is $50 per person, and the menu includes, among other things, fried calamari with grilled long hots, spaghetti and crabs, and tiramisu for dessert.
1516 Sansom St
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 567-7683
Visit Website

4. Mission Taqueria

1516 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Photo by Hillary Petrozziello
Mission's Andrew Sabin will serve a Mexican-inspired family-style menu for $35 per person. On deck: ceviche, grilled octopus, roasted pork with mole verde and roasted turkey slathered in an Oaxacan-style mole, served with green chili tamales. For dessert, the kitchen's serving "Impossible Cake", a dense chocolate cake topped with flan.
1516 Sansom St
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 383-1200
Visit Website

5. Fine Palate

231 South 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Fine Palate/Facebook
Center City's Fine Palate is putting together a decadent Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner complete with Osetra caviar, salt-roasted oysters, octopus salad, Scungille San Marzano, spaghetti vongole, escabeche and Spanish lobster paella. It's $65 a head, call the restaurant for reservations.
231 South 15th Street
Philadelphia, PA
267-318-7971
Visit Website

6. The Little Lion

243 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Photo by Hillary Petrozziello
Old City's southern-inspired public house will offer a family-style dinner of prime rib, smoked glazed ham, blackened catfish and kale pesto pasta, plus mac 'n 'cheese, charred brussel sprouts, roasted tomato soup, cheddar grits and greens, kale caesar, and more. $40 per person; reservations required.
243 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(267) 273-0688
Visit Website

7. Bridget Foy's

200 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Bridget Foy's/Facebook
Headhouse Square gets especially festive this time of year, so revel in its coziness at the South Street stalwart. This year's Christmas Eve menu includes prime rib, glazed ham, seared swordfish, sticky toffee pudding and spiked hot cocoa. Dinner runs from 4-9 p.m.
200 South St
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 922-1813
Visit Website

8. Davio's Philadelphia

111 S 17th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Davio's/Facebook
Davio's is getting in on that Feast of the Seven Fishes game with a four course, prix fixe menu of spicy crab chowder, squid ink spaghettini, monkfish osso buco, and more. Dinner runs you $65 and doesn't include tax or gratuity. Call for reservations.
111 S 17th St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 563-4810
Visit Website

9. The Hungry Pigeon

743 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Photo by Hillary Petrozziello
Scott Schroeder and Pat O'Malley's all-day cafe will host a surprisingly inexpensive, family-style Christmas Eve dinner. $30 gets you three courses of Italian goodies: antipasti, spaghetti and meatballs or eggplant parm, sides and tartufo for dessert. Call to make a reservation.
743 S 4th St
Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-278-2736
Visit Website

10. Fork

306 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Fork's John Patterson is putting his own spin on the Feast of the Seven Fishes with an elegant, intensive seafood spread. Highlights of the menu include a dandelion salad with grilled sardines, red wine gnocchetti with braised eel, and a whole branzino prepared simply with lemon and parsley. Dinner is $85, call for a reservation.
306 Market St
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 625-9425
Visit Website

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