Top Restaurants for Holiday Dining in New York City 2017
Fiona Chandra
The holidays are a special time to dine in New York City, with the city’s best restaurants and luxury hotels decking out their halls and their plates with special tasting menus and festive brunches. We have rounded up the fifteen best places in the city to dine this holiday season.
Four Seasons Hotel New York | Through Dec. 31
This five-star Midtown hotel has a slew of holiday programming set. There’s a holiday brunch in The Garden available on weekends from Nov. 25 to Dec. 31 with items such as gingerbread waffles with egg nog crème anglaise. On Dec. 24 and 25, The Garden will be serving a three-course menu for $139 with course options of chestnut bisque and black truffles, foie gras terrine, duo of wagyu beef, or rack of lamb.
The Peninsula New York | Through Jan. 1
Head to the luxury Peninsula Hotel for a holiday celebration in style. Clement restaurant will be offering a four-course menu on Christmas Eve complete with live music and Victorian carolers. On Christmas Day there will be a three-course menu with an appetizer and dessert buffet. Gotham Lounge will also be serving a holiday afternoon tea through January 1.
The Plaza Hotel | Through Jan. 7
The iconic Plaza Hotel has a few special programs across their dining establishments this season. Todd English Food Hall will be serving special Christmas menus a la carte on Dec. 24 and 25 including lobster bisque, foie gras torchon, and rolled ribeye. New Yorkers can also indulge in the Christmas Grand Buffet at The Palm Court on Christmas Day. There are also holiday teas served in The Palm Court and Eloise.
Agern | Dec. 1 – Dec. 31
Have a hygge holiday with Julefrokost and Saint Thorlak’s Day celebration at the Michelin-starred Agern. Julefrokost is the traditional Danish Christmas lunch featuring braised pork breast Ribbenssteg, available throughout December for $65. The patron saint of Iceland’s Saint Thorlak’s death is celebrated on Dec. 23, which is considered the last day of preparations before Christmas. Agern is serving the customary fish dinner consisting of marinated herring, skate wing, smoked salmon, and more. The menu is $95 per person and includes a holiday beer pairing.
Lambs Club | Dec. 2 – Dec. 25
Christmas spirit is in the air with The Lambs Club Holiday Carolers Brunch and Sunday Suppers. Live carolers will keep the atmosphere festive while guests dine on an a la carte supper menu with items such as steak tartare, oysters, Nova Scotia lobster, and more. Sunday Supper will be served every Sunday evening in December including the evening of Christmas Eve. The carolers will also be available for holiday brunch on every Saturday in December as well as Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, serving traditional brunch fare and hot chocolate.
Aquavit | Dec. 4 – Dec. 22
Taste Swedish Christmas with the Julbord brunch at Aquavit, featuring a spread of Christmas ham, wild game sausage, lingonberry cured cod, Christmas sausage, eggnog panna cotta, Kladdkaka (sticky chocolate cake), and much more. The Christmas season special brunch is served with a cup of Glögg and is available on Saturday Dec. 9 and 16 as well as on Dec. 24. A smaller three-course smorgasbord Christmas Plate is also available for lunch from December 4-22.
Bouley | Dec. 18, Dec. 19 and Dec. 21
Join Chef David Bouley for a ritual Chanukah biodynamic feast and lighting of the menorah on Dec. 18 and 19 in the Red Room at Bouley. The evening will start with a reception with passed appetizers and the lighting of the Chanukah, followed by a multi-course dinner of brisket, organic potato latkes, sufganiyot, and more accompanied by kosher wines. The dinner will be offered for $195 per person. On Dec. 21, Bouley will also be celebrating the longest night of the year with the “Winter Soul-Stice” filled with a multi-course feast, wine, and live music performed by Sistermonk. The Winter Soul-Stice celebration costs $150 per person.
Lincoln Ristorante | Dec. 18 – Dec. 24
For seven nights, Lincoln Ristorante will be serving The Feast of Seven Fishes, the red meat-free Italian tradition of Christmas and the feast will be available at Lincoln Ristorante from Dec. 18-24. There will be six courses for $125 per person and includes dishes such as Bluefin tuna tartare with sturgeon caviar, poached cod with polenta and winter mushroom ragu, poached octopus lasagnette, and more.
Del Posto | Dec. 24
Celebrate Christmas Eve in Italian-style at Del Posto’s La Vigilia. The Italian jewel will be offering their five-course Il Menu Del Posto tasting menu and the eight-course Captain’s Menu as well as seasonal Christmas Eve menu items. The five course menu runs $149 per person while the eight-course Captain’s Menu is $179.
Flora Bar | Dec. 24
For those who know that Chinese restaurants are a sure bet to be open on the holidays, Chinese food can be synonymous with Christmas dining. This Christmas Eve, New Yorkers can get a Chinese feast at a very different environment at Flora Bar at the Met Breuer museum. Flora Bar will be offering a seafood-centric menu inspired by Chinese flavors and techniques such as oyster dumplings, bonito with xo, lobster with black pepper sauce, or Peking duck.
Jean-Georges | Dec. 24 + Dec. 25
On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, celebrated Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s namesake restaurant will be offering a prix-fixe menu for $168 along with a special seven-course Christmas Tasting Menu for $258 per person. The special menu includes dishes such as raw Nantucket Bay scallops, roasted Maine lobster and venison with chestnut puree.
Le Coq Rico | Dec. 24 + Dec. 25
Chef Antoine Westermann’s Flatiron bistro is a heaven for poultry lovers and Christmas is a wonderful season to visit. The bistro will be offering a special menu for lunch and dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day featuring a stuffed roasted Emden goose with gnocchi, apple cinnamon red cabbage stuffing, and pork loin. Finish with a raspberry and vanilla snowman vacherin to get in the festive holiday mood.
Vaucluse | Dec. 24 + Dec. 25
Chef Michael White’s first French restaurant, Vaucluse in the Upper East Side will be offering a three-course menu for $110 and a four-course menu for $130 per person on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Course options include Royal Ossetra caviar, oysters, roasted duck with chestnuts, beef tenderloin with foie gras and black truffles, and more. Pasta with fresh Alba white truffles will also be available for $75 supplement.
Wallsé | Dec. 24 + Dec. 25
Get a taste of Austrian Christmas with Chef Kurt Gutenbrunner’s Wallsé. The $180 4-course prix-fixe menu features options such as foie gras terrine with pears and pomegranate, scallops with black winter truffle, traditional Austrian roasted Christmas goose and Wiener schnitzel. The special menu will be available on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Reynard | Dec. 25
Brooklynites can head to Reynard, the modern New American eatery at Wythe Hotel for an early Christmas dinner. The restaurant will be serving a special four-course prix fixe menu from 12pm – 8pm for $105 per person. Course options include duck liver toast, clam chowder, duck a l’Orange, and roasted rib of beef. Finish with a traditional dessert of Bûche de Noël.