Forget cooking: These Central Jersey restaurants are offering Christmas takeout
We get it. You want to be surrounded by your Christmas tree, your twinkling lights and your most festive pair of pajamas. But the thought of spending yet another holiday cooking for hours has you reaching for the liquor cabinet.
That's where these Central Jersey restaurants come in. Although you may be used to going to them on a Saturday night for a meal out on the town, this Christmas, they're offering holiday meals to-go.
These meals are purchased cold with heating instructions — so all you'll need to do is turn the oven on, sit back and watch another Christmas flick.
Espo's, Raritan
Espo's, a cozy Italian joint tucked in a Raritan residential neighborhood with a pink Cadillac parked in front, is busy on any day that ends in "y."
But according to owner Nick Zamora, the busiest day of the year is Christmas Eve, when Espo's is only open for catering pickup from 10 a.m. to noon. Zamora began offering Christmas Eve takeout during COVID, and since then, it's only picked up steam.
Items on the menu include typical Espo's favorites, like pasta with white clam sauce, hotsy totsy shrimp, meatballs, veal Parmesan, stuffed peppers and braciole. Generally, half trays feed six to eight people, and full trays feed 12 to 16 people.
Order: Orders of seafood salad and baccala salad must be placed by Dec. 17; orders of all other items must be placed by Dec. 20. Pickup is from 10 a.m. to noon on Christmas Eve. 10 2nd St., Raritan; 908-685-9552, esposraritannj@gmail.com; bit.ly/4ac8DQz.
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Garlic Rose, Cranford
Garlic is the staple of comfort food, and this Christmas the Cranford restaurant that celebrates garlic in all of its dishes is offering a garlic-enhanced holiday menu.
Diners can choose from a variety of Italian eats, with small pans suitable for 8-10 people and large pans suitable for 15-20 people. Some of the dishes include shrimp scampi, beef tenderloin medallions, penne carbonara, and cannoli chips and cream. Plus, the Garlic Rose's staple bistro dip and roasted garlic bulbs are available for purchase.
Order: Orders must be picked up by 2 p.m. Christmas Eve; 28 N Ave W, Cranford; 908-276-5749, garlicrosecatering.com/holiday-catering-at-home/.
Maddalena's Cheesecake, Ringoes
Maddelena's Cheesecake is known for its dozen types of cheesecake made with 100% dairy and pure bourbon vanilla extract from Madagascar that is baked in a water bath to keep it creamy. But don't let the name fool you. In its 41 years, Maddelena's Cheesecake has also become known for its catering.
For Christmas, Maddalena's Cheesecake is offering a la carte dishes like 9-pound spiral glazed ham, lobster and crab ravioli, Swedish meatballs, spinach and artichoke dip, chicken marsala, and herb-crusted salmon.
Order: Orders must be placed by Dec. 11; pickup is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 23, or 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Christmas Eve. 415 Route 31 North, Ringoes; 609-466-7510, holiday.dinner@maddalenascatering.com, maddalenascatering.com/catering-christmas-dinner.
Ninety Acres, Peapack
Although diners can't be surrounded by Ninety Acres' 12-acre farm this Christmas, the restaurant located on a 500-acre park and resort will allow customers to bring its farm-fresh eats home with them.
Ninety Acres will offer a four-person, $450 prime rib dinner with sides and dessert to-go. Diners can also buy just the sides for $150, or a chocolate brownie pecan pie for $35.
The dinner includes a 5-pound herb-crusted prime rib, horseradish cream, roasted winter squash, sausage and porcini mushroom stuffing, cauliflower, cavatelli, au jus and chocolate brownie pecan pie.
Order: Orders must be placed by Dec. 19; pickup is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Christmas Eve. 200 Natirar Drive, Peapack; 908-901-9500, natirar.com, menu at bit.ly/3GurFne.
Pastosa Ravioli, Cranford
Pastosa Ravioli has been producing Brooklyn ravioli, pasta and other Italian foods for more than 50 years, and now sells its grocery stores at three New Jersey stores, including one in Cranford. This Christmas, Pastosa in Cranford is offering hot appetizers, salads, platters, vegetables and entrees.
A wide variety of items including stuffed mushrooms, a mozzarella and tomato platter, rice balls, frutti di mare, meatballs marinara and veal Parmigiana are available.
Order: Orders must be placed by Dec. 18; pickup is between Dec. 22 and Christmas Eve. 200 South Avenue East, Cranford, 908-276-0606, pastosa.com; menu at bit.ly/3Nf2kS2.
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Saly G's, Warren
There's nothing like Italian comfort food, especially when it's made by a chef who learned everything he knows by cooking at his Italian mother and grandmother's side.
Saly G's will offer its traditional Italian eats with modern twists to-go on Christmas Eve with a $300 package for eight to 10 people that includes items like a cookie platter, choice of pasta, choice of two entrees, and antipasto. There is also a $600 package for 15 to 20 people that also includes shrimp cocktail, stuffed mushrooms and miniature pastries.
Or customers can order a la carte half-trays that feed eight to 10 people. Some of the options include flounder Francese, eggplant rollatini, cavatelli and broccoli, meat lasagna, and zuppa marinara.
Order: Orders must be placed by Dec. 21 and pickup is at 1 p.m. Christmas Eve. 169 Washington Valley Road, Warren; 732-667-7400, salygsrestaurant.com/holiday-offerings.
Stage House Tavern, Scotch Plains
With its original fireplaces, woodwork and beams, the 286-year-old Stage House Tavern brings cozy ambiance year-round. For Christmas, it will let customers bring those vibes home with them with its Christmas dinner to-go package.
The eatery is offering four family packages, ranging from $250 to $500, that all feed six to eight people. Each package includes an entree, with options of smoked pit ham, roasted prime rib, Cuban pernil or whole Scottish salmon, alongside six sides, pie and a bottle of wine.
Sides include winter salad, rosemary roasted fingerling potatoes, roasted garlic Brussels sprouts, honey-glazed carrots, wild rice and a ciabatta loaf.
Order: Orders must be placed by noon on Dec. 18; pickup is from 11 a,.m. to noon Christmas Eve. 366 Park Ave., Scotch Plains; 908-322-4224, stagehousetavern.com/scotchplains/scotchplains-christmas-eve.html.
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Venue 104, Cranford
Venue 104 is a private event spaced that's popular for events like corporate gatherings, bar and bat mitzvahs, showers and holiday parties. But for the holidays, customers can bring its fare home to them instead.
Venue 104 will offer a $360 eight-person family package that includes a choice of filet mignon medallions or lobster tails alongside a choice of pasta, two sides, bread and butter, Nonna's struffoli and bow tie cookies. Or, customers can choose from an a la carte menu with additional choices.
There's also a decorate-your-own gingerbread man kit and a hot cocoa kit with DIY ornaments that customers can add to their orders.
Order: Orders must be placed by Dec. 20; pickup is Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 104 N Union Ave., Cranford; 908-272-8368, venue104.com/online-ordering/.
Vinny's Pizza & Pasta, Cranford
Vinny's might share its name with countless other casual Italian eateries throughout the country, but owner Vinny Savinelli is a one-of-a-kind Cranford local who prides himself on making Italian cuisine using traditional methods. He'll do just that for the items that he cooks for Christmas takeout.
Vinny's Pizza & Pasta is offering a holiday takeout menu with both half-trays, which serve 8-12 people, and full trays, which serve 16-22 people. Some of the items on the menu include clams oreganata, flounder Francese, mussels marinara, and shrimp and calamari salad. The regular catering menu is also available.
Order: Orders must be placed by Dec. 22; pickup is by Christmas Eve at 4:30 p.m. 28 Eastman St., Cranford; 908-709-9000, vinnyspizzaandpasta.net; holiday menu at bit.ly/3GwFEt4.
Contact: JIntersimone@MyCentralJersey.com
Jenna Intersimone has been a staff member at the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey since 2014, after becoming a blogger-turned-reporter following the creation of her award-winning travel blog. To get unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. You can also follow her on Instagram at @seejennaeat and on Twitter at @JIntersimone.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ restaurants offering Christmas takeout
