Indulge in a decadent Christmas Eve feast at these 5 North Jersey restaurants
When I was a kid, I always wanted to celebrate the Feast of the Seven Fishes. My family wasn't Catholic, though, so my mom bought me a ring of shrimp cocktail from ShopRite and thought she nailed it.
She didn't, and — to this day — my Feast of the Seven Shrimp is still the closest I've ever come to acknowledging the special festive event.
This year, however, there are plenty of Jersey restaurants hosting grand Christas Eve dinners (with or without fish), and, now that I'm a food writer, I think I just might go to one. Maybe I'll finally get my seared Chilean sea bass, or langoustine with lemon butter.
And as for my mom? Progresso makes a great Clam Chowder.
From Morris County to Bergen, here are five Christmas Eve feasts happening in North Jersey this season.
Restaurant Serenade, Chatham
Christmas Eve is a night of rejoicing and celebration, and thus is best acknowledged in a beautiful setting with fine food and dazzling decor. Chatham's high-end Restaurant Serenade, therefore, is the perfect place to observe the occasion. Complete with pristine table settings and cutting-edge service, the critically acclaimed spot is offering a December 24th dinner that promises to be a meal — and an evening — to remember.
To begin the feast, guests will receive their choice of appetizer, with options ranging from Grilled Octopus to Short Rib Tortellini in a black truffle sauce (the latter being one of the best dishes I've ever eaten in the restaurant). Some entrées to follow include Roasted Lamb with fried green tomatoes and potato gnocchi, or Seared Halibut with lobster risotto. Rounding out the meal will be a choice between Chocolate Mousse Cake, a Lemon Tart with raspberry sorbet or warm Apple Cobbler — à la mode, of course.
(PS: Reserve ASAP, this is a popular event).
Cost: $105/adult, $45/child 10 and under.
When/where: Begins 4 p.m. at 6 Roosevelt Ave., Chatham; 973-701-0303, reserve at: restaurantserenade.com.
Allegory at the MC Hotel, Montclair
So, back to that Feast of the Seven Fishes discussion: Allegory, the trendy Mediterranean restaurant inside of Montclair's MC Hotel, is serving the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Unlike my mom's sad attempt, though, the team isn't boasting grocery store seafood. Swordfish, oysters and a 3.5 pound Maine lobster platter are just a few of the delicacies being offered this Christmas Eve.
Looking to indulge in a starter of jumbo lumb crab and caviar? They've got that. Al dente linguine with clams? That's on the menu, too. If it swims — and it's fancy — you can bet chef Stephen Copeland's team is catching it, steaming it and plating it to perfection.
Cost: $110/person. Children's meal available.
When/where: Begins 5 p.m. at 690 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair; 973-329-5574, reserve at: themchotel.com/food-drink/allegory.
Jashan, Parsippany
Jashan is all about grand holiday buffets, and I'm all about Indian food, so it only makes sense that I put the top-notch Parsippany culinary destination on this list. With a name that literally translates to "celebration," the restaurant is already ornately decorated and bustling with energy on a normal basis, so for Christmas? I'm sure the local gem will be pulling out all the stops (especially after seeing footage from their recent Diwali dinner).
On the 24th, the restaurant has revealed it'll be serving a lavish buffet of meats, breads, vegetarian dishes and fresh-made desserts. Though the precise menu of offerings has yet to be released, last year's spread included 40+ dishes. If history repeats itself, diners can expect homestyle Butter Chicken, creamy Saag (spinach curry) and various kebabs to be on the endless rows of tables.
Cost: $30/person.
When/where: 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at 252 Route 46, Parsippany; 973-521-9100, jashannj.com.
Summit House, Summit
Christmas Eve is a special time at Summit House, as the team of chefs serves a one-night-only seasonal dinner inspired by the regional and "diverse edible bounty" of the Garden State. AKA, the four-course meal is a delicious ode to good-old New Jersey — and it's not one to miss.
Upon sitting down to enjoy the best our state has to offer, each guest will be greeted with their choice of appetizer. A preliminary glance at the menu promises options from Scallop Crudo to Grilled Squid with green olive. Following that will be a pasta course (gnocchi, black ink spaghetti or risotto), and then a flavorful entrée of Short Rib, Lentil Casoulet or Roasted Cod. To end the night, diners will indulge in Apple Cobbler, Olive Oil Cake or a Bowl of Chocolate with devils food cake and pretzel chocolate brittle. All of the courses, as advertised, will be locally-sourced.
Cost: $95/person, $30/child 10 and under.
When/where: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 395 Springfield Ave., Summit; 908-273-6000, summithousenj.com.
Madeleine's Petit Paris, Northvale
Madeleine's Petit Paris is a charming Bergen County French restaurant known for its elegant interior and special occasion fare. On Christmas Eve, however, the Northvale spot is taking its characteristic opulence one step further with a decadent, three-course prix fixe menu.
Choose the Wild Mushroom Napoleon for an appetizer and you'll feel as though you're dining in an upscale Parisian cafe. Opt for the Capellini & Ratatouille entrée and you'll be whisked to the coastlines of Nice. From the Swiss Baked Onion Soup to the Grand Marnier Souffle, every dish the team serves is certain to send your tastebuds on a luxurious European vacation.
Cost: $75/person.
When/where: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 416 Tappan Rd., Northvale; 201-767-0063, madeleinespetitparis.com.
Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can't find her in Jersey's best restaurants, she's probably off running a race course in the mountains. Catch her on Instagram: @karanicolev & @northjerseyeats, and sign up for her North Jersey Eats newsletter.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ restaurants open on Christmas Eve: 5 best dinner options
