You made a list, checked it twice and would like to remove cooking on Christmas Eve (and maybe even Christmas) from it. It’s not naughty request! December 24 is day three of winter, a season once reserved for rest and reflection, something that usually gets lost in the sauce during the holiday hustle.
What’s nice? Almost a dozen dining destinations across the South Fork and on Shelter Island that are serving Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners, giving you one less holiday to-do. Consider a trip to one of these Hamptons and Shelter Island restaurants for Christmas dinner not only a gift to you but also a celebration of some of our most beloved local establishments.
Vine Street Café, 41 South Ferry Road, Shelter Island, 631-749-3210
Island hopping in December isn’t reserved for a Caribbean escape. Hop the ferry (unless you’re a Shelter Island resident) and beeline to this amiable country-chic spot serving local produce and holiday cheer. Vine Street Café will kick off its holiday menu on Christmas Eve (and offer it through New Year’s Eve) with a Baked Alaska slated as a special. Starbucks’ peppermint mocha can take a seat because the team at Vine Street is serving up a toasted meringue and homemade mocha-almond ice cream that won’t keep you up (but will keep you satisfied) until long after Santa arrives.
Cove Hollow Tavern, 85 Montauk Highway, East Hampton, 631-527-7131
Like its sister restaurant, Vine Street Café, this lively spot is loved for its happy hours and approachable menu, which serves enough festivus food for the rest of us from Christmas Eve to New Year’s. If you can’t make it to Vine Street, the menu will include the dreamy Baked Alaska, as well as mocha-almond ice cream, which makes for the happiest of endings to an already luxurious meal.
The Birchwood of Polish Town, 512 Pulaski St, Riverhead, 631-727-4449
For a laidback meal drenched in cozy vibes consider The Birchwood of Polish Town. The bygone-era Polish tavern will host Christmas Eve dinner in the catering hall adorned with a Christmas tree. The menu is arguably taller than the mighty fir, with options ranging from a sushi bar to a homemade soup and bread station with classic chicken noodle and lobster bisque. Tiny tots’ eyes will glow at a kid-friendly station with chicken fingers and mac ‘n cheese.
Nick & Toni’s, 136 N. Main St., East Hampton, 631-324-3550
Folks make like Rudolph and run to Nick & Toni’s every summer when finding an open table is as easy as finding a Ms. Rachel doll at Target (if you know, you know ). But the nearly four decades old restaurant is never one to RSVP “no” to a holiday meal. The iconic spot will have a prix fixe menu on Christmas Eve from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. It begins in grand style with a “chef’s welcome” dish of bigeye tuna tartare (crème frâiche, American caviar). Other offerings include wood-oven octopus, chestnut & ricotta agnolotti with brown butter and fig balsamic, and a prime New York strip steak. A children’s menu is available for kids 10 and under.
Bistro 72, 1830 W. Main St., Riverhead, 631-369-3325
Set near the fork in the road that separates the North Fork from the Hamptons, Bistro 72’s farm-to-table menu will take a festive turn on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 from 3 p.m. to close. A starter salad with arugula and cranberries pairs perfectly with the red and green décor — and a main course that can include oven-roasted chicken and sweet mashed potatoes, a honey-glazed ham or salmon. Save room for soul-soothing desserts, like a warm chocolate lava cake topped with vanilla ice cream.
Canoe Place Inn, 239 E. Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays, 631-736-6300
This cozy restored inn toward the South Fork’s tip exudes all the chestnuts-roasting-on-an-open fire vibes. A live jazz band may play that very holiday classic during a Christmas Eve dinner from 5 to 8:30 p.m. The menu reads like a holiday greatest hits list, with items slated to include winter chicory salad with pomegranate and slow-roasted turkey. The main course can come with family-style sides, like caramelized Brussels sprouts with smoked bacon and balsamic vinegar.
Almond Restaurant, 1 Ocean Road, Bridgehampton, 631-537-5665
No offense to the Master’s, but Almond Restaurant’s annual suckling pig roast is a tradition unlike any other. At 24 years running, only Nick & Toni’s, Law and Order: SVU’s Olivia Benson and Santa Clause himself have better stood the test of Father Time. In addition to the pig and seasonal accompaniments (traditionally chef Jason Weiner does the dish in the style of Chinese food, because seriously, what’s Christmas without a little Chinese food!) for $49, the dinner, slated for 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., will include an a la carte menu. A portion of the revenue will go to OLA of Eastern Long Island, a non-profit, Latino-focused advocacy group on the East End.
Art of Eating, 264 Butter Lane, Bridgehampton, 631-267-2411
If you subscribe to the idea that there’s no place like home for the holidays, but all you want for Christmas is a no-cook meal, Art of Eating provides a creative(ish) solution: holiday takeout. With offerings like corn and lobster chowder, slow-roasted, bone-in-Berkshire ham and chocolate chip cookies (leave a few for Santa?), you’re sure to find a ready-made dish that reminds you of (friendly) ghosts of Christmas past. Heads up for those who usually spend Christmas Eve afternoon at the mall buying their first gifts: orders must be placed by Thursday, Dec. 19, and picked up on Tuesday, Dec. 24.
Lulu Kitchen & Bar, 126 Main St., Sag Harbor, 631-725-0900
Have Santa things to do? Have an early big meal before the big guy comes. Lulu’s Kitchen & Bar will be open from noon to 3 p.m. on the afternoon before Christmas. But guests can opt for a takeout option and eat later. Choose from several options, including a feast for one or two with fresh-baked baguettes, oysters and apple tarte tatin. There are full platters and canapes by the dozen, like roasted beet and goat cheese and foie gras mousse. Orders must be made at least 48 hours in advance, with pick-up by 3:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve. A $50 gift card to use during your next trip to Lulu on orders over $400 is the eatery’s gift to you.
Bistro Eté, 760 Montauk Highway, Water Mill, 631-500-9085
Like the “truth about” Santa with tiny tots, the Christmas Eve specials are a well-kept secret at this French coastal escape for tastebuds in Water Mill. But an a la carte menu will be served all evening on the night before Christmas. The current menu is enough to make you feel good about not staying home for Christmas (Eve) — the fish, especially, with champagne caviar sauce and burgundy truffle pappardelle.
Baron’s Cove, 31 W. Water St., Sag Harbor, 844-227-6672
Baron’s Cove will be open for service on Christmas Eve, but a special prix fixe Yuletide feast is happening on Christmas Day. Dine in a room filled with all the twinkling string lights, an elegant fir, and a fireplace that’s as warm as the service. Pairs can make it an evening by taking advantage of the Christmas on the Harbor special, which includes cheery welcome cocktails, a holiday dinner for two, and a cozy bed designed to have you sleeping so deep that visions of sugar plums will dance in your head all night.
