The holiday season is flying by, and Christmas is nearly upon us. While everyone loves seeing friends and family and giving and receiving presents, cooking Christmas dinner can make the holiday feel like more of a chore than a celebration. Luckily for New Yorkers, the city that never sleeps provides tons of options when it comes to nixing the cooking and celebrating Christmas out on the town. See our picks for the best restaurants to serve Christmas dinner.
See also: 10 Delicious And Decadent Holiday Dishes You Can Order On GoldBelly Right Now
2 E. 55th St. / 212.339.6857 / Website
Located in one of NYC’s most iconic hotels, the St. Regis New York, Christmas dinner at Astor Court will no doubt bring all the cozy holiday vibes. Expect an incredible three-course pre-fixe dinner with seasonal specials such as butter-poached lobster risotto, prime rib bone-in steak, pan-roasted Pacific seabass and more. End your evening with raspberry tart with light vanilla pastry cream, the classic opera cake with almond sponge or a coffee cream and chocolate ganache for the perfect holiday meal.
60 W. 55th St. / 646.943.7373 / Website
Nobody does Christmas better than Europeans, and the famed french bistro Benoit does not disappoint. Enjoy a delicious three-course menu for $95 per person. Choose from appetizers such as an oyster platter, lightly seared sea bream and cured duck followed by entrees such as filet mignon aux piovres with pommes boulangère and peppercorn sauce or the stuffed guinea fowl with ginger and parsnips. Lastly, sinfully tasty desserts such as dried fruit warm brioche with sabayon ice cream or mont blanc round off the evening.
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75 9th Ave. / 212.989.6699 / Website
In the market for a non-traditional holiday experience? Look no further than Buddakan’s duck feast holiday menu, which includes dishes such as Peking duck salad with poached egg and sherry vinaigrette, duck and Foie Gras spring roll with pomegranate gelee and water chestnut, and duck wonton soup with roasted duck consommé and udon. The feast is $150 and is designed for two people but can be shared amongst other guests. Not a fan of duck? Never fret, Buddakan’s a la carte dinner menu will also be available.
33 Hudson Yards 24th Floor / 212.812.9202 / Website
This beloved seasonal American restaurant’s view is almost as good as the food, so if you’re in the mood for twinkling city lights this Christmas, you’re in luck. Seated on the 24th floor of the Equinox Hotel in Hudson Yards, Electric Lemon will be offering a prix-fixe Christmas menu for $120 per person. Expect to find offerings such as broiled oysters with almond, Brussels and cornbread crumbs, followed by a choice between dishes such as lobster bisque, beef tartare, hamachi and smoked salmon Crudo or heirloom chicories for your first course. Mains include prime rib, fettucini with chanterelles, kale and black truffle, poached halibut, and coffee-roasted beet with pousse pied and "hollandaise."
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Pier 17, 89 S. St, 212.838.1200 / Website
A day as special as Christmas warrants a special meal, an The Fulton always delivers just that. Helmed by Michelin-starred chef Jean Georges, known the world over for his incredible French cuisine, The Fulton is a stunning waterfront restaurant known for its seafood. This Christmas, the restaurant will offer a three-course prix-fixe menu consisting of choices such as yellowfin tuna tartare, warm octopus and fresh mozzarella, black seabass, seared divers scallops, pepper-crusted beef sirloin, za’atar crusted salmon and more.
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Pier 17, 89 S. St, 212.265.3030 / Website
Chances are you’ve seen this hotspot all over TikTok and Instagram, and the hype is well-deserved. Malibu Farm delivers fresh and healthy cuisine thanks to local ingredients prepared to let their flavors shine. Located in Seaport, Malibu Farm’s Christmas offerings include seasonal favorites such as Malibu roasted winter squash, whole roasted Maine lobster and grilled lamb chops.
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25 E. 77th St. / 212.606.3030 / Website
This classic NYC will be offering a three-course prix-fixe meal, during which guests can enjoy delicious comfort food appetizers such as butternut squash soup with black truffle mushrooms and fresh tagliatelle with black truffles, fresh mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Entrees include Maine lobster, roasted duck breast and caramelized beef tenderloin, and dessert classics such as butterscotch pudding with crème fraîche, caramel and sea salt and warm chocolate cake will also be on offer.
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Photo by Louise Palmberg
52 Gansevoort St. / 212.929.4844 / Website
Craving a French take on the classics? Located in the Meatpacking District, Pastis is known for its gorgeous interiors and delicious French cuisine. The restaurant's three-course prix-fixe Christmas dinner delivers a gorgeous meal at $89 per person. Highlights include lobster bisque with creme fraiche, endive salad with blood orange and spiced aloud, prime rib with potato gratin, haricot verts and au jus, and bouche de noel or vanilla creme brûlée for dessert.
photo by Michael Tulipan
108 E. 4th St. / 646.838.5524 / Website
This beloved Korean-French resto tucked away in the East Village promises to wow this Christmas with a delicious holiday tasting menu. Chef and owner Soogil Lim takes inspiration from his classic French culinary training and his time as sous chef at restaurant Daniel combined with his Korean background. Perfect for those seeking an elevated experience this Christmas, the six-course holiday tasting menu comes in at $175 per person and includes traditional French holiday ingredients such as foie gras and black truffles. Expect dishes such as king crab salad, scallop and honeynut squash soup and beef wellington.
25 Cooper Sq. / 212.475.5700 / Website
Dining in a magical rustic winter garden? Sign me up. The Standard East Village will be hosting its prix-fixe menu in its famous winter garden, ensuring maximum holiday cheer. The menu will include a beef wellington perfected with truffles and foie gras and a Dover Sole Grenobloise sprinkled with capers and served atop white asparagus. Additionally, at Café Standard, the above options will be available à la carte, as well as a lobster bisque and profiteroles dolloped with white chocolate mousse and chocolate sauce.
Photo by Lea Cojot
127 E. 27th St. / 212.204.0225 / Website
Michelin-recognized Sweetbriar, located in the Park South Hotel and helmed by executive chef Bryce Shuman, brings the heat this year. Shuman’s three-course Christmas dinner will be $110 per person, and will focus on his live-fire cooking and New York state’s seasonal produce. Highlights from the prix fixe menu include butternut velouté, radish carpaccio, applewood smoked honey glazed ham, black truffle potato gratin and more. Be sure to try a bottle from Sweetbriar’s renowned wine program while you’re there.
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Photo by Louise Palmberg
345 Park Ave. S / 212.686.1006 / Website
For the California cool family, Upland makes the perfect holiday dining destination. Known for its casually chic decor and Californian and Italian-inspired menu, Upland is an NYC staple. This Christmas, the restaurant's three-course prix-fixe menu will include wild mushroom soup with spiced crème Fraiche and sunchoke chips. Mains are a choice between prime rib with root vegetable gratin and au jus or branzino with fennel-leak vinaigrette. Finally, round off your evening with a choice of pecan walnut pie with whipped cream or an apple cinnamon sundae with salted caramel sauce and granola.
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1185 Broadway / 332.249.8160 / Website
Craving an out-of-the-box European Christmas? Zaytinya's three-course prix fixe menu for $125 fits the bill. The first course will be chestnuts roasted on an open fire; house-made pickled winter vegetables; and winter root vegetable salad with baby arugula, celery root puree and mustard vinaigrette. Next up is a potato puree; green bean casserole with caramelized onions, smoked mushrooms, crispy shallots; roast beef with natural jus and horseradish cream; buttered carrots and squash with cumin and chives; and caramelized onion rolls. Finally, an artisanal American cheese plate; gingerbread cake with poached pear and cranberries; and apple coffee cake as a takeaway for breakfast.
Whether you're craving French fare or something a bit more out of the box, these NYC restaurants have you covered with a meal that tastes even better because you didn't cook it.
Photography by: Getty Images/FG Trade; courtesy of St. Regis New York; courtesy of Benoit New York; courtesy of STARR Restaurants; courtesy of STARR Restaurants; by Louise Palmberg; by Michael Tulipan; courtesy of The Standard, East Village; by Lea Cojot; by Louise Palmberg
