By Molly Given

Skip the stress of cooking this holiday season and let Philadelphia’s restaurants do the work. From traditional Italian seafood feasts to indulgent holiday brunches, these spots are offering special menus for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve

Dolce

Dolce is bringing back their Feast of the Seven Fishes experience this Christmas Eve. Guests can expect dishes like baccalà mantecato, scallop crudo with winter truffle, and a pasta course featuring lobster tagliatelle, accompanied by a wine pairing (optional) to complement each dish. Dolce’s five-course prix fixe menu is available exclusively that evening; note, the venue’s signature dinner menu will also be offered. Reservations are available via Sevenrooms.

 

Positano Coast

Positano Coast will offer both a special a la carte menu for Christmas Eve filled with holiday and seasonal favorites, plus a special Feast of the Seven Fishes menu (for $85 per person.) Dishes span options like lobster and shrimp risotto, sea urchin linguini and baccala croquettes for the feast, and  burrata, gnocchi gorgonzola, beet ravioli, veal chop parmesean and more for the a la carte section. Reservations are available via OpenTable.

 

Caffe Aldo Lamberti

Philadelphians can enjoy a Christmas Eve dinner with table-side carolers at this South Jersey spot.  Students from Cherry Hill East and Cherry Hill West will walk around the restaurant between 6 and 9 p.m. to serenade diners enjoying their holiday meal. Dishes span options like filet gorgonzola, grilled lamb chops, house-made gnocchi sorrento and more. Reservations are available via OpenTable.

 

Christmas Day

Aqimero

The popular restaurant inside the Ritz Carlton is serving up a four course holiday brunch on Dec. 25. Philadelphians can enjoy dishes like oysters on the half shell and ceviche amarillo with ahi tuna and mango from the raw bar, bites like avocado toast and a kale salad for the table, plus entrees like halibut, holiday ham, a roasted lamb shank and mexican chocolate French toast.

 

To finish off the meal, every diner will receive a dessert of spiced apple, cardamom cream, vanilla ice cream, and cider sauce, complemented by a complimentary mimosa or bellini. The brunch runs for $95 per person and will be offered from noon to 5 p.m. Reservations are available via OpenTable.

 

Bank & Bourbon

Bank & Bourbon is once again offering a holiday brunch feast for Christmas Day. The unlimited seasonal spread comes out to be $90 per adult, $30 per child and includes bites like a local cheese assortment, root vegetable soup, a seafood display, seared striped bass, BBQ-spiced whole sweet potatoes, Bell & Evans roasted half chicken, a dessert display, and more. The meal will be offered from 1 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 25. Reservations are available via Resy.

 

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Red Owl Tavern

Brunch will be offered for the holidays on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at Red Owl Tavern. Visitors can sink their teeth into dishes like chicken and waffles, tiramisu waffles, avocado toast and Eggs Benedict while here. The meal will be available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 24 and 25, reservations (recommended) are available via OpenTable.

 

Square 1682

There are a few ways to indulge in the holidays at Square 1682. According to a release, brunch will be offered from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 24 and Thursday, Dec. 25, while the Christmas dinner menu will be available from Dec. 24 to 27 for dine-in only. Dinner service will begin at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, returning to the regular 5 p.m. start time on Dec. 26 and 27.

 

Dinner highlights span dishes like deviled eggs, jumbo shrimp cocktail, baked camembert, Oysters Rockefeller, cauliflower alla plancha,  prime rib, lobster risotto and more. Reservations are available via OpenTable.

 

City Cruises

Philadelphians can set sail on the Delaware aboard a winter-wonderland themed vessel when embarking on a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day sail with City Cruises. Tickets are still available for dinner each night, which features a chef-prepared buffet with holiday specials, a fully stocked cash bar, live DJ entertainment, and a visit from Santa. Tickets (starting around $110) are available online. Boarding begins at 5:30 p.m. each night.

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