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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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