Opting to dine out for the holidays brings a refreshing break from the usual home-cooked routine, offering a hassle-free and enjoyable way to celebrate. Restaurants add a special touch with festive menus, providing a culinary experience that stands out. Beyond the delicious food, the restaurant setting creates a lively and joyful atmosphere, fostering a sense of togetherness. Choosing to go out simplifies the holiday experience, letting everyone focus on the celebration rather than the kitchen. It’s a memorable and convenient way to make the most of the festive season. From traditional favorites to omakase, this list promises an incredible experience for every diner.
WHITE OLIVE IN MIDTOWN: White Olive, the Mediterranean kitchen in midtown will be open for Christmas Eve and Day as well as New Year’s Eve offering selections on their menu like White Olive Spicy Ezme, handmade cut tomato, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, garlic, green apple, walnut, pomegranate and jalapeno; Red Snapper, lightly fried on a bed of mixed greens Shrimp Gnocchi with sundried tomatoes, fresh beans and a red pepper sauce and Baby Lamb Chops with seasonal vegetable and lemon potatoes. For dessert opt for the Baklava Ice Cream Sandwiches. For drinks the restaurant highlights a global wine list and cocktails like the Fig Old Fashioned or the Mixed Berry Mezcal Mule. White Olive is located at 39 West 55th Street and open Monday – Sunday: 11:30am – 11:00pm. Website: https://www.whiteolivesnyc.com/
SHOTA OMAKASE IN WILLIAMSBURG: Shota Omakase, the Edomae-style omakase experience in Williamsburg led by sushi chef veteran, Cheng Lin (Sushi Seki, Blue Ribbon, ITO Tribeca) will be open for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve complete with a champagne toast. The restaurant spotlights an 18-course experience that changes daily, using the finest ingredients and honoring the traditions of Edomae – an emphasis on marinating, curing, and aging. Dish highlights include Botan Ebi, spot prawn from Vancouver with SanbaiZu jelly and golden ossetra caviar and Sawara, seared Spanish mackerel from Fukuoka Japan, homemade citrus miso and pickled cucumber. This is followed by the nigiri courses like blue fin fatty tuna, which is plated on Inochi No Ichi, shari-sushi rice that is sourced from a small farmer in Gero City, Gifu Japan. He also sources akazu, a red sushi vinegar aged for three-five years to bring a taste of umami to the sushi rice, making two different kinds of shari zu for the sushi rice. The restaurant offers an a la carte menu of curated sakes, wines and beers including Noguchi Natsu No Namazake, Ishikawa and Asahi Shuzo Junmai Daiginjo, Yamagata. Shota Omakase is located at 50 South 3rd St, Brooklyn, NY and open Tuesday – Sunday with seatings at 6pm and 8:30pm. Website: https://www.shotaomakase.com/
LA GOULUE ON THE UPPER EAST SIDE: La Goulue, the beloved French bistro on the Upper East Side, will be open for New Year’s Eve. Helmed by legendary Executive Chef Antoine Camin, the restaurant will feature a prix fixe menu for $195, featuring an oyster with yuzu canape, first course of Duck liver foie gras with black Perigord truffle, second course of Poached Dover sole with lemon beurre blanc and Oscietra caviarand third course Boeuf Wellington, Filet Mignon, puff pastry, mushroom duxell and sauce Perigourdine with a tarte with Guanaja chocolat with passion fruit for dessert. They will also offer a special cocktail with the La Belle Vie with Grand Marnier, Campari orange juice and crémant d’Alsace. La Goulue is located at 29 East 61st Street, New York and will be serving the prix-fixe from 8:45pm – 10:30pm. Menu can be found on the website here: https://www.lagouluerestaurant.com/menus/
