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 tons of options when it comes to nixing the cooking and celebrating Christmas at a restaurant in New York City.
See also: 10 Delicious And Decadent Holiday Dishes You Can Order On GoldBelly Right Now
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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 the Drawing Room will no doubt bring all the cozy holiday vibes. Formerly known as Aster Court, this less formal seating is conveniently located in a palatable space as a re-imagined lounge-style area. Last year, guests were served an incredible three-course pre-fixe dinner with seasonal specials such as butter-poached lobster risotto, dry-aged prime rib, pan-roasted wild striped bass and more. Although this year’s menu has yet to be released, anticipate ending your evening with Buche Ispahan yule log and Grand Marnier panettone bread pudding for the perfect holiday meal.
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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 $100 per person, with choices of appetizers such as an oyster platter, Salmon gravlax, cauliflower velouté and beet and celeriac carpaccio. Entrees such as black truffle risotto, duck breast with butternut and sage, Filet mignon aux pores and confit halibut are followed by sinfully tasty desserts such as vanilla millefeuille and coffee and chocolate composition 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, a delicious Asian fusion restaurant known for its Christmas feast. The restaurant has previously served up a duck feast holiday menu, which included 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. Guests can expect an equally opulent experience this year, so check their website for menu updates for the optimal Christmas experience.
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100 E. 63rd St. / 212.772.2600 / Website
This newly Michelin-starred restaurant is known for celebratory dining, so spending Christmas Eve at Café Boulud is a no-brainer. Elevated interpretations of classic holiday dishes promise to make this 3-course meal memorable. For $175 for adults and $75 for children under ten, diners can expect immaculately plated dishes prepared with French techniques. Appetizers include choices such as curried rainbow carrots and lobster salad, followed by mains such as pan-seared scallops and roasted Sasso chicken breast. For dessert? Choices such as chestnut mousse and Tonka poached pear await.
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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 always offers up an extraordinary Christmas dinner, with meals that include lobster bisque, beef tartare, hamachi and smoked salmon Crudo. Some of the mains consisted of prime rib, fettucini with chanterelles, kale and black truffle, poached halibut, and coffee-roasted beet with pousse pied and "hollandaise," so expect an equal wow factor from this Hudson Yards hot spot this year.
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34 E. 52nd St. / 212.935.3434 / Website
Holiday decor, incredible Italian cuisine and live entertainment await at Fresco by Scotto's Night of Seven Fishes this Christmas Eve. Since 1993, Fresco by Scotto has been serving modern Tuscan and regional Italian cuisine with a modern flair, and the scores of loyal customers show just how beloved this neighborhood haunt is. The Christmas Eve multi-course seafood feast is $185 for adults and $60 for children 12 and under and will feature incredibly fresh catches for an unforgettable evening.
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Pier 17, 89 S. St. / 212.838.1200 / Website
A day as special as Christmas warrants a special meal, and the Fulton always delivers just that. Helmed by Michelin-starred chef Jean Georges, praised all over the world for his incredible French cuisine, the Fulton is a stunning waterfront restaurant known for its seafood. This Christmas, for $168 per person, enjoy a three-course prix fixe feast featuring first courses like yellowfin tuna tartare or the shaved Brussels salad or mains such as seared diver scallops or a classic prime NY strip served with fries and tangy mustard. Their fruity desserts are simply delectable, so save some room for the caramelized apple tart or the poached green Clapp pear served over a dark chocolate brownie.
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Pier 17, 89 S. St. / 212.265.3030 / Website
Chances are you’ve seen this hot spot 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 are consistently delicious year after year, with this year’s menu packed with the joy of seasonal flavors with a festive three-course feast. For $78 per person, start with either the roasted red pepper hummus or the fluke ceviche before indulging in one of the main courses like roasted flank steak or spaghetti squash lasagna. With sides and desserts included, diners will undoubtedly leave with a full stomach and a smile on their face.
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25 E. 77th St. / 212.606.3030 / Website
This classic NYC resto will be offering a $228 per person three-course prix-fixe meal, during which guests can enjoy delicious comfort food appetizers such as butternut squash soup, tuna tartare and fresh fettuccine. Entrees include Porcini-crusted salmon, roasted Colorado lamp chops and a baked Maine lobster with chili butter and shoestring potatoes. Don’t skip out on the dessert classics such as butterscotch pudding with crème fraîche, caramel and sea salt and warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream will also be on offer to end the evening.
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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. Previously, the restaurant's three-course prix-fixe Christmas dinner delivered a gorgeous meal of classics such as 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. Despite this year’s menu not being released to the public yet, one should expect similar options that do not shy away from packing a Christmas punch.
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108 E. 4th St. / 646.838.5524 / Website
This beloved Korean-French resto tucked away in the East Village wow every holiday with a delicious 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 restaurant always delivers a luxe meal, with Thanksgiving this year including five courses of favorites such as Beef Wellington and yellowtail amberjack with caviar.
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797 3rd Ave. / 212.753.1530 / Website
This beloved NYC steakhouse will be open for regular service on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, allowing guests to choose their own Christmas meal from the restaurant's beloved menu. Opt for a prime steak dry-aged and butchered in-house, or go for market-fresh seafood complemented with extraordinary side dishes. No matter what you order, Smith & Wollensky never disappoints, making it a true classic for the upcoming season. Plus, the irresistible dessert selections range from housemade cakes, sorbets and ice creams that satisfy every sweet craving.
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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 and Christmas treats year after year. Shuman’s three-course Christmas dinners have focused on his live-fire cooking and New York state’s seasonal produce. Highlights seen before from the prix fixe menu included butternut velouté, radish carpaccio, applewood smoked honey glazed ham, black truffle potato gratin and more. We expect to find an equally upscale and delicious Christmas meal this season.
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345 Park Ave. S / 212.686.1006 / Website
For the California cool family, Upland makes the perfect holiday dining destination for a memorable meal. Known for its casually chic decor and Californian and Italian-inspired menu, Upland is an NYC staple combining the West Coast with the East Coast. The restaurant usually serves a fairly traditional Christmas meal, with past dishes including wild mushroom soup with spiced crème Fraiche and sunchoke chips, prime rib with root vegetable gratin and au jus and branzino with fennel-leak vinaigrette. The desserts, which have included pecan walnut pie with whipped cream and an apple cinnamon sundae with salted caramel sauce and granola.
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67th Street & Central Park West / 212.877.8684 / Website
This modern tavern is nestled in the bucolic Central Park setting and serves as an iconic landmark restaurant like no other. Tis the season for their exclusive holiday menu, and for $135 per person and $65 for children, families can expect a four-course menu selected by executive chef Bill Peet. Start with the soup course of roasted cauliflower veloute before moving on to the appetizers like wild mushroom gnocchi, mains like grilled lobster risotto and dessert-like caramelized lemon berry meringue tart. Although they are fully booked for their Christmas Day dinner, spots remain open for their Christmas Eve offerings, so be sure to snag your spot before the seats are filled.
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3 Greenwich Ave. / 212.243.6546 / Website
Authentic Italian cuisine with a true sense of Mediterranean liveliness is making a statement in the NYC neighborhoods not just for Christmas but all year round. Based on Italian classic dishes, their typical lineup of offerings changes according to season, but the holiday menu is one-of-a-kind. Crafted by executive chef Danilo Galati and his team, start with tortellini in brodo, followed by the Primi Piatti of lasagna alla bolognese because there is never enough pasta. The Secondi is beef short ribs with fried polenta and kale, with the night ending on a lighter note with a vanilla and citrus fromage blanc mousse with mixed berry compote and crispy milk chocolate popcorn.
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1185 Broadway / 332.249.8160 / Website
Craving an out-of-the-box European Christmas? Zaytinya's holiday chef's experience for $110 is not just available for Christmas evening but practically the whole month of December too. While the full menu will be a surprise, guests can expect to be served green apple tzatziki, portakal salatasi and celebration rice, a delicious pilaf inspired by the classic Persian jeweled rice consisting of a 7-spice braised lamb shank and garnished with pistachios, barberries and almonds. The perfect celebratory feast for those looking to celebrate not just on the 25th but all month long.
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. Just make sure you are home in time before Santa pays his visit!
Photography by: FG Trade / Getty Images
