Where to Order Christmas Dinner and Catering in NYC This Year
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin—you don’t have to make Christmas dinner this year! Because really, you’d much rather spend your holiday reading a good book, binging festive movies or watching your little ones revel in their new toys. Why not leave the cooking to the professionals at these nine restaurants, bakeries and markets instead. Here, our list of the best places to order Christmas dinner and catering in NYC this holiday.
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1. Citarella
Citarella
Address: Multiple Locations
Phone: 212-874-0383
Order By: Wednesday, Dec. 20 for pickup or delivery
This beloved gourmet market has tons of options for you to build your ideal holiday spread, including a “build your own” feast of seven fishes, roasted turkey with all the fixins, caviar, hors d’oeuvres galore and even a roast duck. There are also multiple dessert options to satisfy your sweet tooth.
2. Aquavit
Address: 66 East 55th St.
Phone: 212-307-7311
Order By: There’s no deadline for meal-kit pick-up on Thursday, Dec. 22 (from 2 to 5 pm), but inventory is extremely limited so order ASAP
Order a heat-and-eat Christmas kit from Michelin star restaurant Aquavit and you’ll be treated to a decidedly upscale spread that boasts three types of fennel, shrimp skagen and braised red cabbage, as well as Christmas ham, Swedish meatballs and cheese and potatoes. And, of course, no Aquavit meal would be complete without a selection of Swedish Christmas cookies. Just be prepared to pay a pretty penny for the gourmet fare and perhaps opt for a more intimate celebration, since a holiday feast for four will set you back $595.
3. Butterfield Market
Butterfield Market
Address: Multiple Locations
Phone: 212-772-8782 ext. 1
Order By: at least 48 hours in advance
This Upper East Side gem is renowned for its fine selection of freshly-prepared foods, so it should come as no surprise that their catering department serves up a mean Christmas Eve feast. The holiday packages available include individual dinners, as well as complete and deluxe meals that feed either six or 12 people. As for the menu, you can expect a sophisticated take on traditional dishes, featuring butternut squash bisque, sautéed haricot vert, stuffing, scalloped potatoes, glazed spiral ham, cedar plank roasted salmon and büche de noël for dessert.
4. Jones Wood Foundry
Jones Wood Foundry
Address: 401 East 76th St.
Phone: 212-249-2700
Order By: Sunday, Dec. 17
This Upper East Side staple is offering a traditional Sunday roast catering box that serves four for $295. It includes three delicious courses—butternut squash ravioli, roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and figgy pudding for dessert—but you can also buy just the roast beef with Yorkshire pudding for $135, if you’d rather whip up your own side dishes.
5. Bklyn Larder
Bklyn Larder
Address: 228 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn
Phone: 718-783-1250
Order By: At least 48 hours in advance for pick-up and local delivery
The neighborhood provisions shop has all the best sides, like haricot vert, mashed potatoes, gem salad and an impressive looking cheese platter, as well as main courses like pork loin Wellington and tea-brined roast duck. Local delivery in Brooklyn and Queens is free for orders over $50, and costs $40 for other boroughs, or you can swing by and pick up your order.
6. Eli Zabar
Eli Zabar
Address: 89 E 42nd St.
Phone: (212) 860-1340
Order By: at least 48 hours in advance for delivery by December 24
Ideal for those who like to build their own unique dinner menu, Eli Zabar’s has tons of delectable dishes on its catering menu, and even more in the Upper East Side market. Crown roast of lamb, poached salmon, potato gratin, cramelized Brussels sprouts, Cornish hen—these are just a few of the delicious options you can add to your order. You can even tack on flowers and wine to really round out the whole event.
7. Pig Beach
Jessica Hirsch
Address: 35-37 36th St., Astoria
Phone: 718-362-6111
Order By: at least 48 hours in advance for pickup only
Bring a taste of summer to your Christmas dinner with a barbecue spread from this Queens favorite. There is the obvious (yet always delicious) selection of ribs, pulled pork, wings and sliders, as well as classic sides like corn bread, caesar salad and baked beans. But you can also order a whole smoked heritage turkey, meatballs and smoked veggies stuffed mushrooms if you want something more traditional
8. Bubby’s
COURTESY OF BUBBY'S
Address: 120 Hudson Street
Phone: 212-219-0666
Order By: for pick-up between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Christmas eve place your order by Monday, Dec. 18, or while supplies last
You can never have too much pie. Particularly when there are choices like pumpkin caramel praline, Michigan sour cherry and local apple whiskey crumble. (We’ll gladly break from tradition in this case).
9. Kreuther Handcrafted Chocolate
Courtesy of Kreuther
Address: 43 W. 42nd St.
Phone: 212-201-1985
Order By: at least 48 hours ahead for shipping, local delivery and pick-up
So, you’ve got dinner covered, but what about dessert? Kreuther’s artisanal holiday offerings include chocolate babka, assorted caramels cinnamon spice cake and all the chocolate treats a gal could hope for. Starting December 15, you can also order a special Buche de Noel, a rich chocolate cake in the shape of a Yule log, for pick-up or delivery.
The Best Places to Get a Pie in NYC
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