Whether celebrating amongst loved ones or taking the occasion to relax ahead of the new year, there’s no reason why you should be stressing about a Christmas Eve or Day meal when plenty of restaurants across the District would rather play host.
Opal
On Christmas Eve, chef Colin McClimans will offer a 3-course tasting menu ($75 per person) at seafood-centric Opal, located in Chevy Chase. Highlights include mussels and clams bouillabaisse with polenta fritters, saffron aioli, roasted fennel, forest mushroom; spinach rotolo with taleggio fondue, crispy leeks, olive jus; roasted rack of lamb with winter spinach, onion puree, glazed carrots; and for dessert, chablis-poached bosc pears with gingersnap crumble, and rum raisin ice cream.
5534 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20015
Elena James
On Christmas Eve, Elena James, the latest restaurant from chef Colin McClimans and co-owner Danilo Simic, will offer its usual menu, with the addition of a special prime rib dinner as an additional option. It includes herb and cheese popovers, traditional Caesar salad, pepper-crusted prime rib with horseradish cream, beef jus, rosemary potatoes au gratin, and creamed swiss chard.
8551 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815
Rosedale
The newly opened rotisserie-obsessed restaurant will offer three specials in addition to its seasonal American farm-to-table menu on Christmas Eve. Prepared by executive chef and culinary director Frank Ruta, festive platters include a fried kabocha squash with sage and horseradish; Roseda Farms New York strip with chef’s choice of daily farm fresh vegetables; and for dessert, decadent black walnut cake with orange, honey and yogurt. The restaurant will be open from 5 to 9:30 p.m.
4465 Connecticut Avenue Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia 20008
Ellē
Host dinner at home with the help of Ellē. Now through December 17, the restaurant is accepting pre-orders for its holiday take-home menu. The full meal is headlined by the prime rib dinner ($165 for two), served with miso jus, horseradish cream, BBQ prawns, hasselback potato, creamed spinach, and stuffed squash with Carolina gold rice risotto, roasted veggies, and sherry gastrique. À la carte take-home options include the vegetarian-friendly whole quiche ($42), country sourdough ($11), or six of the sweet potato molasses rolls ($15 for 12). Finish with a sweet treat like poached pear cardamom pound cake ($22) or the chocolate hazelnut layer cake ($65) layered with orange ganache and hazelnut buttercream, and topped with hazelnut bark, candied orange and cranberries, and meringue mushrooms. Preorders for holiday meals can be placed here and ready pickup only on Christmas Eve between 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Ellē.
3221 Mount Pleasant St NW (btwn Lamont St & Park Rd NW), Washington, D.C. 20010
Bresca
On Christmas Eve, from 2 until 8 p.m., join Bresca for a festive tasting menu of fun twists on holiday favorites. Chef Ryan Ratino and team have crafted a celebratory meal featuring seasonal ingredients. Reserve via OpenTable, here, the experience retails for $195 per person.
1906 14th St NW (at T St NW), Washington, D.C. 20009
Gravitas
Chef Matt Baker’s Christmas Eve menu consists of two prix fixe menus, allowing for a more customizable experience. Available 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. for $140 per person and $35 per child (eight years old and younger, excluding tax and gratuity). Reserve here.
1401 Okie St NE (at Fenwick St NE), Washington, D.C. 20002
Le Diplomate
On Christmas Eve, guests can enjoy a la carte menu items from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., along with a few specials. On Christmas Day, Le Diplomate will keep the holiday spirit alive from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. with an all-day menu full of themed specials.
1601 14th St NW (at Q St NW), Washington, D.C. 20009
Pastis
Union Market’s charming French bistro will be open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, from 12 to 9 p.m. The full a la carte menu will be available along with a few holiday-themed specials. Think: veal osso buco with celeriac puree and chanterelles on Christmas Eve, and beef Wellington with sauce chasseur on Christmas Day. Holiday cookie tins will also be available at the restaurant. For $25, pick up an assorted tin of snickerdoodles, chocolate chips, caramel pecan sandwiches, peppermint brownies, and more.
1323 4th Street Northeast, Washington, District of Columbia 20002
The Darcy
Head to the Darcy hotel for a four-course Christmas dinner featuring items like roasted winter vegetable salad, braised short ribs with red wine reduction, fava bean wild mushroom risotto, and pumpkin spice creme brulee. Reservations start at 2 p.m. for $79 per person.
1515 Rhode Island Avenue Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia 20005
St. Anselm
Union Market district’s polished tavern will be open for Christmas Eve from 12 to 9 p.m., promising to serve up their classic menu alongside festive specials. The standout dish of grilled lobster creole paired the with the signature XXX Dirty Martini is a good enough reason to pay St. Anselm a visit.
1250 5th St NE (at Morse St NE), Washington, D.C. 20002
Cordelia Fishbar
Celebrate Christmas Eve at the newly opened Cordelia Fishbar in the Union Market district. Indulge in raw bar specials including a selection of crudos and caviar, and platters like the Gilded Sea, featuring oysters, colossal shrimp, chilled lobster, and jumbo lump crab dijonnaise. Main dishes include turbot sourced from Spain and cooked over charcoal, served with a choice of sauce like salsa verte and chermoula. Cocktail specials from beverage director John Filkins include Clyde’s homestyle egg nog and The Dark Night, featuring Green River bourbon, nux alpina nocino, cascara, fee brothers black walnut bitters, and cherry wood smoke. Reserve here.
550 Morse Street Northeast, Washington, District of Columbia 20002
Balos Estiatorio
Celebrate the night before Christmas Greek style at Balos. Enjoy seasonal espresso martinis, Mediterranean cuisine featuring whole fish service, lamb chops, and more, and a live DJ playing festive holiday tunes. Reservations here.
1940 N Street Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia 20036
Chang Chang
Chang Chang’s holiday menu boasts dishes like will ginger-marinade lotus root, Beijing duck buns (chef Peter Chang’s famous duck in a steamed lotus bun), Manchurian crispy beef slices (a unique northeastern-style Chinese dish that has a citrusy flavor akin to lemon), rosemary chili chicken wings, and more. Reservations are available now via Tock.
1200 19th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
Blue Duck Tavern
Blue Duck Tavern will offer its seasonal a la carte dinner menu from 5:30 to 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Then, on Christmas Day, Blue Duck Tavern will offer its a la carte breakfast menu from 6:30 to 10 a.m. followed by a prix fixe holiday feast, which will be available from 12 to 8:30 p.m. Guests opting for the three-course, prix fixe menu on December 25 will begin their meal with starters like mushroom soup with sunchokes and truffles and jumbo lump crab cake with cress, frisee and remoulade. Entrees include roasted duck, slow roasted prime rib, and poached halibut. Finish with a mont blanc with candied chestnut cream, vanilla bean-whipped ganache, black currant and meringue or black forest cake with dark chocolate cake, kirsch-sour cheery jam and white chocolate mousse. The pre-paid holiday menu is priced at $165 per person for adults and $65 for children from six to 12 years of age.
1201 24th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
Nobu
Nobu will be open on Christmas Day with a set brunch menu and its regular dinner offerings. Available for $80 per adult and $45 for children, brunch features an open bar of salad, sashimi, sushi, sweets, and a chef’s selection of hot classic and brunch dishes made to order (including rock shrimp creamy spicy, salmon wasabi pepper, chicken teriyaki, tenderloin honey anticucho, tofu and vegetable spicy garlic, and shrimp yuzu honey). Reservations are available now via OpenTable.
2525 M St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
Bourbon Steak
What awaits on Christmas Day at Bourbon Steak is prix fixe dinner priced at $190 per adult and $90 for children 12 and under. Menu highlights include a playful caviar Twinkie with Ossetra caviar, yuzu creme fraiche, a 14-ounce boneless ribeye or phyllo-crusted dover sole along with a decadent sundae featuring Luxardo cherries, vanilla bean ice cream, and chocolate pearls.
2800 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia 20007
Immigrant Food+ at Planet Word Museum
Immigrant Food’s locations at Planet Word and Ballston will be open for its Christmas Eve brunch. Culinary director and executive chef Ben Murray is offering specials like a chicken and Belgian waffles featuring a take on Immigrant Food’s signature Filipino fried chicken. Brunch runs from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m and reservations can be made via Resy.
925 13th Street Northwest, DC 20005
La Bise
Located just steps from the White House, La Bise will be offering seasonal interpretations of classic French fare this Christmas Eve. The 3-course, prix fixe menu is priced at $95 per person and served from 5 to 9 p.m. Tempting starters include the gingered winter squash soup with spiced pumpkin seeds and almond cloud and beef tartare with quail egg yolk, locally foraged greens, variation of onion and French bread. Entrees consist of civet de sanglier with wild boar, cipollini and polenta and burgundy black truffle risotto with foraged mushrooms, toasted hazelnuts and porcini fondue. Save room for desserts like tarte au citron with meringue and drunken blueberries or Bûche de Noël with vanilla genoise and chocolate frosting.
800 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20006
Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
On Christmas Eve, Joe’s will be open with its regular menu for dine-in service from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reserve here.
750 15th St NW (at H St NW), Washington, D.C. 20005
Arrels
For Christmas Eve, head to chef Pepe Moncayo’s brand new Spanish showpiece downtown to feast on a 5-course prix fixe menu for $95 per person featuring on brand ingredients that reflect the season. Elevate the experience with beverage pairings and wine specials from our curated selection. Dinner service is from 5-9 p.m. On Christmas Day, return for a festive feast between 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Enjoy unlimited plates of holiday favorites for $48 per person and sip on bottomless mimosas for $17 or share a pitcher of sangria for $18.
333 G Street Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia 20001
La Grande Boucherie
The dynamic French spot that opened this spring near the White House has an opulent spread planned for its first Christmas Day, which includes French onion soup, a variety of steak cuts, seafood tower, charcuterie bar, and of course, desserts and cocktails to end on a high note.
699 14th St NW (at G St NW), Washington, D.C. 20005
Succotash
The Knead Hospitality Group (Mi Vida, Gatsby, Bistro du Jour, and more) will all feature a Christmas Eve menu, however both locations of Succotash will serve regular lunch until 4 p.m., followed by a regular dinner menu enhanced with special holiday additions after that. Happy hour will be available exclusively at Succotash Prime from 12 to 8 p.m. at the bar. On Christmas Day, indulge in regular brunch service until 4 p.m., with regular dinner and holiday additions beginning at 4 p.m. Succotash Prime will also offer happy hour at the bar from 12 until 8 p.m.
915 F St NW (at 9th & 10th St NW), Washington, D.C. 20004
Bistro Cacao
The beloved Capitol Hill bistro will be open on Christmas Eve between 4 and 9 p.m., serving a special 3-course menu for $65 per person. The same spread will also be available for pickup between 12 and 8 p.m. on December 24. Menu offerings include soup de chou-fleur (creamy roasted cauliflower, white truffle oil, and croutons); poulet grand-mere (braised chicken, wild mushrooms, fingerling potatoes, pearl onions and carrots; finally, the traditional Bûche De Noel (rolled sponge cake, raspberry filling, and buttercream). The Christmas Feast ($165) serves 2-3 people is available for pick up on December 23-24 between 12 and 6 p.m. It includes pistachio roasted rack of lamb, mashed potatoes, arugula salad with pomegranate, saffron risotto, grilled asparagus, dinner rolls, and Bûche De Noel.
316 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
Belga Cafe
Head over to Barracks Row for a Christmas Eve and Day dinner at this Belgian mainstay. Beginning at 4 p.m. both nights, expect oysters Rockefeller (half oysters, spinach cream, oyster sauce gratinee) and Maine lobster salad (warm capelli d’angelo pasta, lobster, lemon mosto oil, petite fleur, yuzu gel, caviar).
514 8th St SE (at E St SE), Washington, D.C. 20003
ilili
ilili DC will be open for Christmas Eve and is offering an a la carte menu along with holiday specials such as slow roasted lamb shoulder with pomegranate molasses. Pair your meal with a cocktail from beverage director Rachid Hdouche. Presented in a smoked bourbon decanter, the Demodé features bourbon, cardamom, and Old Fashioned bitters.
100 District Sq SW, Washington, D.C. 20024
Osteria Morini
Available December 20 through December 23, and all day on Christmas Eve, enjoy homemade pastas like the cappelletti with truffle ricotta ravioli, prosciutto, entrees like a Stracotto Sangiovese-braised short rib, and seasonal fish specials. Reservations available here.
301 Water St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
The Inn at Little Washington
Celebrate the season in ultimate luxury with a trip to three-Michelin-starred Inn at Little Washington. Chef Patrick O’Connell’s holiday menus are available on Christmas Eve and Day, both for $388 a diner.