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1) With Christmas Eve and Christmas just around the corner, a variety of Boston-area restaurants are embracing the festive spirit and celebrating the holidays with special menus and more. Here are some of holiday offerings:
Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse celebrates an Italian Christmas Eve tradition, the annual Feast of the Seven Fishes on Tuesday, December 24th, from 4pm – 10pm at all Massachusetts locations. Menu highlights include Oysters Rockefeller, Nantucket Bay Scallops, East Coast Halibut, Lobster, Osetra Caviar, Crab and more. The history of the tradition stems from honoring the day before a religious holiday, when no meat is served, and the dishes all represent family favorites from Chef/Owner Steve DiFillippo. The seven fishes represent the seven Catholic Sacraments, days of the week, number of pilgrimage churches in Rome and the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. The full dinner menu is also available. The Feast of the Seven Fishes is available for $85 per person, excluding taxes and gratuity. Davio’s is closed on Christmas Day and December 26th. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling or by visiting Davio's website and selecting your desired location.
Matria Boston, the Northern Italian inspired steakhouse at InterContinental Boston, will host a traditional Italian American celebration, Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24th, from 4:30pm – 10pm. Complete with a Seafood Tower ($170) that includes Maine lobster, Wellfleet oysters, shrimp, stone crab claws, and dipping sauces like lemon aioli, cocktail sauce, and mignonette. Guests can choose from the Ricciola Crudo ($24), lemon EVOO, balsamic pearls, micro basil and pistachio; “Liguria” Cloppino ($58), lobster, bronzini, Atlantic Salmon, mussels, clams, shrimp, salsa verde, lemon aioli, and focaccia. Call (617) 217-5151 to make reservations.
Back Bay steakhouse Abe & Louie’s will be dishing out a quintet of specials on Christmas Eve. To start, there are roasted East Coast oysters with lemon-butter sauce ($24) and brie en croûte with red currant compote ($18). For a taste of tradition, opt for a 14-ounce prime rib with a twice baked potato, horseradish cream and au jus ($75). Pescatarians can get their fix with pan-roasted branzino with melted leeks, escarole and Meyer lemon beurre blanc ($ 45). The dessert feature is a gingerbread yule log with Chantilly whipped cream ($15). Call (617) 536-6300 for Reservations.
Atlantic Fish Co. will feature their full menu of seafood classics in addition to some holiday features on Christmas Eve. Start with clams casino with smoked bacon, bell pepper and breadcrumbs ($20) or cauliflower soup with herbed croutons ($14). The duo of mains is bouillabaisse with lobster, shrimp, scallops, mussels, clams, cod and saffron rouille in a tomato-fennel broth ($48) as well as Nantucket Bay scallops with Japanese sweet potato, roasted mushrooms and champagne beurre blanc ($45). Satiate your sweet tooth with a gingerbread yule log with Chantilly whipped cream ($15). Call (617) 267-4000 for Reservations.
In Wayland, Coach Grill will feature five specials on Christmas Eve. For appetizers, there is lobster bisque with crème fraiche ($17) and a baby spinach salad with goat cheese, portobello and roasted peppers ($17). For entrees, there’s an 18-ounce bone-in NY strip with roasted asparagus and bone marrow butter ($85) as well as herb-crusted Chilean sea bass with butternut squash puree and black truffle sauce ($47). For dessert, indulge in a gingerbread yule log with Chantilly whipped cream ($15). Call (508) 358-5900 for Reservations.
Located on the rooftop at The Newbury Boston, Contessa Boston brings the elegance of Northern Italy to Boston and will be celebrating Christmas with an exclusive Christmas Day menu ($195 per person), available on Wednesday, December 25, served family-style with antipasti to start, choose from Burrata with Caviar; Carciofi salad of shaved artichokes, crushed almonds, parmigiano, and lemon; Chianina Beef Carpaccio alla Piemontese; Primi, enjoy the Spicy Lobster Rigatoni or Fettuccine Bolognese; Secondi, Prime Rib Grilled or Mediterranean Branzino; Contorni, Grilled Mushrooms or Whipped Potatoes. End with dessert for the table, Nutella Fudge Cake Panettone. Call (617) 741-3404 for Reservations.
2) The Tavistock Restaurant Collection portfolio will be open on New Year’s Eve and Day serving their full menus enhanced with holiday-inspired à la carte specials:
Back Bay steakhouse Abe & Louie’s will be dishing out a quintet of specials to close out 2024 and welcome 2025 on a high note. To start, there are East Coast oysters with crème fraiche and Ossetra caviar ($79) as well as duck confit and foie gras mousse with brioche, friseé, tangerine, pistachio and port wine ($32). For entrees, there is braised osso buco with red wine, goat cheese polenta and gremolata ($55) in addition to lobster thermidor with roasted mushrooms, gruyère and cognac ($95). The dessert feature is profiteroles with chocolate ganache and vanilla bean ice cream ($15). Reservations are available from 11am-12am on December 31 and 11am-9pm on January 1. Call (617) 536-6300 for Reservations.
Atlantic Fish Co. will feature their full menu of seafood classics in addition to some special features on both New Year’s Eve and Day. To start, there are deviled eggs with Venezia Ossetra caviar and lemon crème fraiche ($35) as well as scallop crudo with cucumber, radish, yuzu and wasabi tobiko ($22). The main course is a land-and-sea feature with an 8oz filet mignon, lobster, asparagus and wild mushrooms ($79). For something sweet, opt for a chocolate trifle with brownie crumble, whipped cream and bourbon chocolate sauce ($15). Reservations are available from 11am-12am on December 31 and 11am-9pm on January 1. Call (617) 267-4000 for Reservations.
In Wayland, Coach Grill will open their doors early to bid adieu to 2024 and celebrate the arrival of 2025. Starters include lobster bisque with crème fraiche ($17) in addition to an apple and fennel salad with spiced walnuts, parmesan and lemon vinaigrette ($16). There is a duo of specialty entrees: a 16oz bone-in filet with green peppercorn sauce served with a twice-baked potato ($110) and the herb-crusted cod with fingerling potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts and garlic butter ($42). Leave room for dessert, an espresso crème brûlée with fresh berries and biscotti ($15). Reservations are available from 3-10pm on December 31 and 3-9pm on January 1. Call (508) 358-5900 for Reservations.
3) Prezza, in the North End, is preparing for the holiday season with new specials for you and your loved ones to enjoy. Prezza will be serving lunch on December 6th, 13th, and 20th, starting at 12pm, and reservations are available to book online now. The Friday lunch specials include the following:
Chicken Cutlet Milanese, arugula, tomato, cucumber, olive oil, lemon, Pecorino $28
Grilled Shrimp, fingerling potato, broccoli rabe $28
Gemelli, meatballs, plum tomato sauce $24
Wagyu Burger, truffle cheese, bacon, pickled onion, aioli, brioche bun, parmesan fries $25
Prezza will also be serving the ‘Feast of Seven Fishes’ every Friday, from 12pm-10pm, throughout the month of December, available a la carte. The seven dishes include:
Fluke Crudo, Blood Orange, Fennel, Citrus Vinaigrette, Calabrian Chiles $22
Fried Smelts, Lemon Caper Aioli $20
Fried Clams, Cherry Pepper Aioli $26
Salted Cod Cake Pepperonata, Frisee Salad, Citrus Vinaigrette $22
White Anchovy Crostini, Garlic, Wine, Cherry Tomatoes, Olive Tapenade $20
Octopus ‘Carpaccio’, Citrus Vinaigrette, Baby Arugula, Calabrian Chiles, Salsa Verde $24
Spaghetti, Bay Scallops, Garlic, White Wine, Parsley, Lemon $38
4) XOXO Sushi Bar will ring in its first New Year, on Tuesday, December 31, from 5pm-1am, in Chestnut Hill by dazzling diners with lavish multi-course jukusei omakase New Year’s Eve tasting menus. Utilizing XOXO’s advanced in-house dry-ager and jukusei technique – “aging” in Japanese, where fish used in sushi is salted or soaked in vinegar then matured for several days – Chef Kegan Stritchko has designed a pair of menus that feature local and rare sea treasures designed with luxe and intriguing flavor profiles.
In the abbreviated jukusei omakase offering, there are 11 courses ($150 per guest): an Island Creek oyster with leche de tigre and dill; hirame usuzukuri with yuzu dashi, candied quinoa and lemon zest; madai and shima aji nigiri; chef’s choice of five pieces of sashimi; hiramasa and Ora King salmon nigiri; chawanmushi with savory egg custard, snow grab and ikura; bluefin tuna and akamutsu nigiri; a negitoro handroll with bluefin tuna belly, scallion and miso; grilled langoustine with miso butter, kimchi and chili oil; A5 wagyu beef tartare with black garlic, caviar and taro root; and a dessert of Thai chili chocolate ice cream with chocolate ganache and cranberry gel. Guests can opt for an expanded menu with five additional courses, bringing the grand experience to 16 courses ($250 per person): a personal 1oz jar of caviar paired with purple potato chips; Hokkaido uni nigiri; king crab nigiri; dry aged otoro; and A5 wagyu ribeye carpaccio with caviar, lemon miso butter and negidare.
For an additional infusion of New Year’s Eve glitz, there is a champagne and caviar tasting ($125 per guest) complete with 1oz of Polish caviar with a personal-sized bottle of A. Margaine champagne.
Reservations are required via Resy. The New Year’s Eve feature menus can be found on XOXO Sushi Bar’s website.
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