20 restaurants open for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day at the Jersey Shore

Sarah Griesemer, Asbury Park Press
·5 min read

Tired of cooking a big holiday meal?

Go ahead and make a reservation. Think of it as a gift you can give yourself.

Fewer restaurants are open on Christmas with each passing year, but there are some — and there are plenty open on Christmas Eve.

Here are 20 to visit — just be sure to call ahead as many require reservations.

Aarzu Modern Indian Bistro, Freehold Borough

Once named as a place to find the "best once in a lifetime meal in every state," Aarzu Modern Indian Bistro is a top choice for a holiday meal. Both the restaurant and the food are beautiful, and the menu includes elevated interpretations of traditional curry, tandoori and biryani dishes, plus samosas, chana masala, butter chicken and much more.

Go: open Sunday, Dec. 24, 30 E. Main St., Freehold Borough; 732-333-0933, aarzu.com.

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Birravino, Red Bank

Build a Christmas Eve meal of dishes like arancini, calamari with fennel and hot peppers, malfadine Bolognese, chicken scarpiello, and squid ink pasta — and don't forget a great glass of wine.

Go: open Dec. 24, 183 Riverside Ave., Rumson; 732-842-5990, birravino.com.

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Bombay River, Red Bank

Chana masala at Bombay River in Red Bank.
Chana masala at Bombay River in Red Bank.

Celebrate the holidays with a table full of classic Indian dishes, including lamb samosas, garlic pepper shrimp, eggplant with yogurt and chutney, chicken tikka masala, vindaloo and tandoor-baked naan.

Go: open Dec. 24, 90 Broad St., Red Bank; 732-530-1598, bombayriver.com.

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Calloway's Restaurant & Bar, West Creek

Go casual on Christmas Eve at Calloway’s, where the menu includes a Reuben sandwich, Cajun chicken tacos, shrimp scampi pizza, meatloaf and a French dip. Sushi fans can choose from nearly two dozen specialty rolls, plus platters and rice bowls.

Go: open Dec. 24, 597 Main St., West Creek section of Eagleswood Township; 609-978-0220, callowaysrestaurantnj.com

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Drifthouse by David Burke, Sea Bright

Beef Wellington from David Burke's restaurants.
Beef Wellington from David Burke's restaurants.

Spend Christmas Eve at Drifthouse, where a three-course menu of traditional holiday dishes and over-the-top desserts will be served.

Burke’s other Shore restaurants — Red Horse by David Burke in Rumson and The GOAT by David Burke in Union Beach — will serve brunch and dinner on Christmas Eve, and a three-course menu on Christmas.

Go: Drifthouse, 1485 Ocean Ave., Sea Bright; 732-530-9760, drifthousedb.com. Red Horse, 26 Ridge Road, Rumson; 732-576-3400, redhorsebydb.com. THE GOAT, 1411 Route 36, Union Beach; 732-264-5222, thegoatbydb.com.

East Bay Italian Grille, Barnegat

Mozzarlla en carrozza at East Bay Italian Grille in Barnegat.
Mozzarlla en carrozza at East Bay Italian Grille in Barnegat.

For a classic Italian dinner on Christmas Eve, visit East Bay in downtown Barnegat. Start dinner with mozzarella en carrozza and scratch-made meatballs, then move on to lasagna Bolognese, linguini with clam sauce, or osso bucco with garlic mashed potatoes.

Go: open Dec. 24, 696 East Bay Ave., Barnegat; 609-994-2353, eastbayitaliangrill.com.

Fuji 72, Stafford

Hot pot, made from meat and vegetables simmered in broth, at Fuji 72 in Stafford.
Hot pot, made from meat and vegetables simmered in broth, at Fuji 72 in Stafford.

Hot pot, an Asian dish of meats and vegetables cooked in hot broth, isn’t easy to find in Monmouth and Ocean counties. But Fuji 72 has it in five flavors: tempure udon, nabekyaki udon, chicken sukiyaki, beef sukiyaki and yosenabe.

Go: open Dec. 24 and 25, 626 Route 72, Manahawkin section of Stafford; 609-978-2888, fuji72steakhouse.com.

Half Moon, Keansburg

Chocolate chip cookies and sweet milk custard at Half Moon in Keansburg.
Chocolate chip cookies and sweet milk custard at Half Moon in Keansburg.

A four-course Christmas Eve dinner by the beach? Why not. Try cozy favorites like butternut squash soup with mascarpone cream, braised pork belly with apple slaw, macaroni and cheese with lobster, prime rib with rosemary mashed potatoes, and eggnog panna cotta.

Go: open Dec. 24, 2 Beachway Ave.; 732-787-3560, halfmoonkb.com.

La Mondina, Brielle

Seafood salad of poached calamari, shrimp and mussels with lemon shallot vinaigrette at La Mondina in Brielle.
Seafood salad of poached calamari, shrimp and mussels with lemon shallot vinaigrette at La Mondina in Brielle.

The menu at La Mondina features a trio of appetizers meant for sharing, which is a perfect start to a holiday meal. Housemade focaccia comes with ricotta and tomato spread; seafood stew is made with saffron tomato broth; and antipasti for four has all the meats and cheeses, plus olives and crostini.

Go: open Dec. 24, 110 Union Ave., Brielle; 732-612-8331, lamondinabrielle.com.

The Robinson Ale House, Asbury Park

This boardwalk restaurant and its sister spots in Red Bank and Long Branch will serve a Christmas Eve menu featuring baked oysters with prosciutto, crabmeat-stuffed artichoke, eggplant Bolognese, beef Wellington and seven-fish bouillabaisse.

Sister restaurants CJ McLoone’s in Tinton Falls and The Rum Runner in Sea Bright will be open on Christmas Eve as well.

Go: 1200 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park, 732-774-1400; 68 Ocean Ave., Long Branch, 732-222-2212; 26 Broad St., Red Bank, 732-383-8219, therobinsonalehouse.com.\

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Salt Creek Grille, Rumson

Salt Creek Grille in Rumson will be open on Christmas Eve.
Salt Creek Grille in Rumson will be open on Christmas Eve.

Reservations are booked for Christmas Eve dinner at Salt Creek, but seats still are available at the bar. An a la carte menu of dishes including stuffed jumbo shrimp, lobster bisque, steak frites, Chilean sea bass and more will be served.

Go: open Dec. 24, 4 Bingham Ave., Rumson; 732-933-9272, saltcreekgrille.com.

Villa Vittoria, Brick

Longtime favorites for classic Italian food, Villa Vittoria and sister restaurant Il Giardino Sul Mare in Lacey will be open both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Expect dishes like shrimp fra diavolo, veal marsala, rack of lamb and filet mignon.

Go: Villa Vittoria, 2700 Hooper Ave., Brick; 732-920-1550, villavittoria.com. Il Giardino Sul Mare, 2 Hollywood Blvd., Forked River section of Lacey; 609-971-7699, ilgiardinosulmare.com.

Xina, Toms River

Try a new spin on the feast of the seven fishes at Xina, where the menu includes dozens of sushi appetizers and entrees, including a scallop sashimi roll with spicy tuna and fried oysters, a peppered tuna roll with kimchee and pineapple, and one with Kobe beef and shrimp tempura. For dessert, you'll want to try the sweet and gooey milk pie.

Go: open Dec. 24, 3430 Route 37 East, Toms River; 732-279-6327, xinarestaurant.com.

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Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com, follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore restaurants open on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day