Where To Eat Your Christmas Meal In Boston
The first of the snow here in Boston gives you that extra reminder that Christmas is just a couple of weeks away. While shopping for gifts becomes a priority, you can rest easy knowing that you have the following wonderful options for meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Aura at the Seaport Hotel
Aura at the Seaport Hotel provides a wonderful Christmas Day option to hotel guests and locals alike. From 11 am-3pm, Chef Robert Tobin celebrates Christmas through the combined joys of brunch and jazz. Set the kids up with crafts and activities with Samara Lamm of The Kid's Place 4 Fun while the 'adults' enjoy bottomless trips to the brunch buffet (you have to get your exercise in somehow!). Selections include traditional breakfast items like eggs benedict, French toast, scrambled eggs and a variety of breakfast meats. Something a step up from the ordinary: leek and truffle quiche, green salad with Seaport Honey vinaigrette and roast pork shoulder with chimichurri sauce are also available to tempt your palette. Of course, more standard items like mac and cheese, roast prime rib and assorted cheeses will most certainly be on hand and for dessert, Pastry Chef Karen Hodsdon prepares a slew of mini pastries and holiday cakes and pies...oh, and a chocolate fountain will be making an appearance, this may in fact be worth a trip in and of itself.
$71 per adult, $25 per child 7-14, complimentary for children 6 and under.
Beacon Hill Bistro
Chef Josh Lewin is always looking to cook up a storm, and lucky for you, snow does not faze him. This Christmas, bring the family to Beacon Hill Bistro for a meal to remember. Located on Charles Street in Beacon Hill, you could practically reenact the Christmas Carol what with all the charm and character this neighborhood will have on Christmas. As for the menu, Chef Lewin presents a multi-course feast available by reservation only, from 1 pm to 10 p.m on the 25th of December.
Select from an array of appetizers like the white sweet, potato soup with pink peppercorn hickory nut brittle or Chef Lewin's house crafted duck liver mousse with cranberry mostarda and chestnuts. Butternut squash and potato latke are also available should you want something a little less Christmas traditional. Chef Lewin's famous Free range turkey roulade makes a post-thanksgiving comeback (because you can never really get enough!) You might also want to take a look at his roast goose dish with braised winter greens and baby turnip or perhaps his Juniper Brined Mangalitsa Ham with sauerkraut and local apple. Desserts are just as varied with a Bouche Noel, pecan pie, classic chocolate mousse cake or a local cheese platter – Chef Josh truly has something for everyone.
$61 per person, optional wine pairing for an additional $29.
Beat Hotel
Executive Chef Rebecca Newell has so thoughtfully prepared a Christmas Eve lunch for all the famished last minute shoppers who head through, to or from Harvard Square this year. On the 24th of December, from 11 am to 6 pm, diners can tuck into an a la carte offering of Beat Hotel's newly launched lunch menu. Pick from a variety of sandwiches like their brisket grilled cheese (if you have had the braised short rib version of this bad boy from the South End location's The Beehive, you will know what this is about), or a roast pork French dip. Vegetarians can enjoy a hummus sandwich or any one of their delicious and hearty earth bowls. Beat Hotel also offers a kid's lunch menu with options like grilled cheese and chicken dino tenders – it's the kind of kid's meal even the adults are envious of.
And because it is the holidays, a bit of midday boozing is never frowned upon, so why not have a glass of their glogg – a traditional blend of mulled wine hailing from Scandinavia. At five dollars a glass, you may just want to extend your break as long as possible. This is always made easier at Beat Hotel where live holiday performances will be playing throughout the day.
Grill 23 Bar and Grill
Another delicious Christmas lunch special is going on in the heart of Boston's Back Bay at Grill 23 Bar and grill where executive Chef Jay Murray and pastry chef, Holly Hanson have prepared a delectable three-course prix fixe lunch.
Recipients of a glowing three star review from Boston Globe's Devra First just a few weeks ago, you are going to want to head in here to experience the restaurant and its usual top notch quality at a steal bargain! Whether you are heading in for a break from your shopping or just catching up with friends over the more relaxed holiday work hours, you can sink your teeth into house made charcuterie, lamb Bolognese and eggnog profiteroles. Of course, this is only one three coursed option you can enjoy at Grill 23 from Dec. 9-23rd.
$39 per person – reservations recommended.
Legal Harborside
Head over to the Seaport District for a seafood centric meal this Christmas. Legal Harborside offers so much more than a beautiful view of the Boston City skyline with their customizable four-course menu.
A light first course highlights seasonal vegetables, sunchoke bisque with duck confit and pear compote or a seasonal salad, you can go straight to the seafood of course with their Treasures of the Sea option – oysters, shrimp cocktail and accompaniments.
Up second: a choice of bay scallop, lobster pappardelle or seared sea scallops will have your mouths watering. (Just FYI, the seared sea scallops come with pork belly...should that help you make up your mind!)
Seared duck breast, sautéed cod, prime rib or Loch Duart Salmon vie for your attention as the third and final savory course and for dessert, a simple choice of cranberry orange pavlova or duet of eggnog cheesecake and opera torte are available. Wine pairings are of course suggested and recommended for each step of the way to guarantee a fully rounded and most enjoyable Christmas Day meal.
$60 a person – tax, tip and beverages not included.
L'Espalier
Always a favorite for Christmas, Executive Chef/Onwer Frank McClelland has his eyes set on Christmas Eve this year. Up on the Second floor overlooking a Boylston street bustling with last minute shoppers, L'Espalier diners can tuck into an indulgent, 6 course prix fixe dinner or an earlier prix fixe, holiday lunch.
As per usual at this fine dining establishment, every dish will be a piece of art, enjoyed by the eyes and the belly. Pairings are available and highly recommended.
$130 for dinner and $80 for lunch.
Restaurant Dante
The de Magistris family takes Christmas very seriously and at two of this culinary family's restaurants, guests can expect delicious meals focusing on the Italian tradition of Feast of the Seven Fishes.
Celebrate at Dante with Chef Dante de Magistris' Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. A four-course dinner pays homage to dishes inspired by Dante's very own Nonna. Each course offers a fish focused item and a vegetarian item. Start with choosing an antipasto – antipasto di mare (shrimp, calamari, clam, eel and more) or wild mushroom tart with goat cheese and seasonal greens. For primi, angel hair pasta or rustic pumpkin zuppa, secondi brings spigola, striped bass baked in salt or grilled beef tenderloin and for dolce, chocolate dry fruit cookie cake, Neapolitan fritters with orange pastry cream.
$75 per person, $115 with wine pairings – dinner will be served from 5 to 11 pm. The same menu will also be served at il Casale, their Belmont stronghold. The same menu offerings, in addition to their a la carte menu, will be available, but from 4:30 – 9 pm.