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Best Restaurants Open on Christmas Day in NYC

1. Agora Taverna – Forest Hills, Queens

If you're craving Greek food for Christmas dinner, this Forest Hills fave may be your best option. The restaurant offers a three-course prix fixe menu featuring traditional Greek classics, including stuffed grape leaves, lamb shank, and spinach pie for $44.95 per person.

2. Il Gattopardo – Midtown

Gather with your family at this popular spot, which serves traditional Southern Italian comfort food. The restaurant usually serves dishes honoring the Italian Christmas tradition of the feast of the seven fishes, including dishes like mussels and Sardinian fregola soup, langostino and asparagus risotto, and lobster ravioli.

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3. Chola – Midtown East

If you haven't had Indian food for ages, spice it up this Christmas with a visit to this neighborhood gem. Focusing on flavors inspired by more than 8,000 miles of Indian coastline, Chola presents seaside delicacies in a comfortable setting. From sizzling tandoori dishes delivered to your table on a cart to flavorful chicken dishes and tandoori lamb chops, there's something for everyone on the menu.

4. Fogo de Chao – Midtown

Nothing says festive like a Brazilian steakhouse, and this fun outpost does not disappoint. Using the centuries-old Southern Brazilian cooking technique known as churrasco, Fogo de Chao has been serving fire-roasted, high-quality meats since 1979. Meat lovers are in heaven as delectable cuts are brought to each table to sample. Let your server know at the beginning which meats your party prefers, and they ensure you receive exactly what you want. Choose from seafood dishes, cheeses, and fresh, seasonal appetizers, too. For Christmas, the cost is set at dinner prices all day.

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Relax and enjoy your Christmas dinner in a festive atmosphere at Sinigual.

5. Sinigual – Murray Hill

A local favorite upscale Mexican restaurant, Sinigual is open on Christmas Day for dinner or Christmas brunch. If you prefer to stay in, you can order the restaurant's holiday tamales to add to your spread—choose from carnitas, chicken, or sweet corn.

6. Jing Fong – Upper West Side and Chinatown

What could be more New York than eating Chinese food on Christmas Day? Now with two locations, this popular dim sum eatery welcomes diners on the holiday. Traditional dishes like chicken feet and rice noodles are offered, plus flavorful Chinese cauliflower with preserved pork and sea scallops in garlic sauce.

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7. Marseille – Hell's Kitchen

Taking its name from the port town in southern France, this brasserie serves yummy, traditional French favorites like bouillabaisse and moules frites. A special three-course prix fixe holiday menu is offered for $85 per person. Come for the cozy French vibes and stay for the delicious food.

8. Victory Garden Cafe – Astoria, Queens

Try a Mediterranean-inspired feast for Christmas dinner from this family-owned bistro. The well-priced holiday menu offers a choice of main course—sirloin steak, balsamic chicken, or salmon, plus a variety of appetizers and Greek side dishes for $59.55 per person.

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Tapas and paella served family-style makes for a fun Christmas dinner at Socarrat.

9. Socarrat – Multiple Locations

Paella and Spanish tapas for Christmas dinner; yes, please! Socarrat offers this mouth-watering holiday combination. Choose from the standard dinner party menu or a special holiday dinner menu, which includes a choice of festive tapas and a selection of paella for the table. Make sure to leave room for the dessert plate with chocolate churros and flan.

10. Noho Hospitality Group – Multiple Locations

Four of Noho Hospitality Group's five restaurants are open on Christmas Day and offer decadent holiday menus. They include Leuca, Carne Mare, The Dutch, Locanda Verde, and Lafayette. These Christmas feasts are multi-course meals with a choice of a main entree, sides, salad, dessert, and spirits.

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11. Red Rooster – Harlem

Named after the historic Harlem speakeasy, this spot serves cozy comfort food that's perfect fare for the holidays. Choose from an a la carte menu loaded with Christmas specials or indulge in the chef's special holiday twists, served family-style for a warm, festive celebration.

12. LaoJie – Multiple Locations

Nothing says Christmas in NYC like unlimited hot pot. Choose from one of three locations—two in Brooklyn and one in the Bowery. Enjoy special Christmas dumplings, barbecue skewers, and yes, an endless hot pot option. No reservations are taken for Christmas Day.

Savor Indian spices this Christmas dinner at the newly-opened Bungalow. 

13. Bungalow – Lower East Side

Experience a unique Indian feast at Manhattan's newest Indian restaurant. On Christmas, enjoy a three-course meal highlighting the flavors of India such as a chicken cafreal roulade with a kokum reduction and coconut gel. For an extra special dessert, the chef serves a bebinca, a multi-layer coconut dessert with coconut-jaggery sorbet and guava sauce. Round out the meal with some jackfruit-rice cases.

14. Siena Cafe – Upper East Side

You'll feel like family at this cozy neighborhood Italian joint, which serves its regular a la carte menu plus a selection of to-be-determined holiday specials on Christmas Day. Homemade pasta is guaranteed to steal the show and be a kid-pleaser.

15. Cote – Flatiron District

If you're thinking a little outside the box for Christmas dinner, how about some Korean barbecue? Billed as NYC's first Korean steakhouse, Cote offers the feast of the seven steaks in honor of the holiday. This meat-forward menu is accompanied by roasted sweet potatoes, a savory egg souffle, seasonal sides, and a swirl of soy sauce caramel soft-serve.

Have a very French Christmas at Le Rivage. 

16. Le Rivage – Midtown

If you happen to be in the theater district for Christmas, Le Rivage is the perfect place to enjoy a decadent and delicious meal. Dine on French classics such as oysters Rockefeller, buche de noël, and stuffed quail with foie gras.

17. 5 Acres – Midtown

For a great family-friendly option for the holidays, head to 5 Acres in the concourse at Rockefeller Center. On Christmas, the restaurant serves its brunch menu with special holiday offerings including seasonal pastries, a cranberry waffle, and holiday hot drinks. For dinner, guests can enjoy the holiday dinner plate, which includes a Christmas roast, roasted carrots, Brussels sprouts, and mashed potatoes for $49.

Get a touch of the tropics on Christmas at Popular in Nolita. 

18. Popular – Nolita

Enjoy a festive Christmas dinner at Popular at the Public Hotel where you feel like you're in a tropical garden. The Christmas three-course menu starts at $90 per person and features pan-seared tuna spiced in Aji amarillo sauce and crisp porchetta with pearl onions and sweet potato puree. Dessert is a Peruvian chocolate cup. Dinner is available only on Christmas Day from 6-11pm.

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Brooklyn's Cobblestone Catering can prepare a Christmas feast for your family.

Restaurants Open on Christmas in NYC for Takeout Meals

19. Cobblestone Catering and Fine Foods – Cobble Hill, Brooklyn

Brooklynites can pick up classic, healthy prepared foods at this Atlantic Avenue food shop. The boutique catering service uses locally grown, seasonal ingredients to prepare delicious appetizers, sides, soups, meats, and desserts for special events and holidays. For Christmas dinner, you can opt for the chef's special to feed up to 12 people, which includes a turkey or ham, three sides, two sauces, and one soup. You can also order from the a la carte menu.

20. BKLYN Larder – Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

For more than a decade, Bklyn Larder has been supplying Park Slope and Prospect Heights with hand-crafted cheeses, homemade prepared foods, and hard-to-find grocery items. Its commitment to using sustainably produced ingredients also applies to its holiday menu. For Christmas, choose from Bklyn Larder's a la carte menu for traditional items like beef brisket and ham, roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, and a cheeseboard. Eggnog gelato offers a fun twist on dessert. Reserve your order by Friday, December 13, to guarantee availability, and pick up on Christmas Eve.

21. Bario's – Heartland Village, Staten Island

This Staten Island establishment has an extensive catering menu for every major holiday. Its Christmas Eve feast can feed up to 15 and includes appetizers, bread, salad, veggies, a fresh seafood entree, and homemade pasta at an affordable price.

Photos courtesy of the restaurants/catering companies

Originally published in 2020.