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Go to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dining in Boston 2011.
It's time to make your reservations for Christmas Eve and Christmas day meals, if you're planning to dine at one of Boston's fine restaurants over the holidays.
What's open on Christmas Eve?
While many places close early on Christmas Eve, others are known for special Christmas Eve celebrations-- like the traditional Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes at Grotto. Their website says:
"Seven...The Magic Number- The Feast of the Seven Fishes is the traditional Italian meal on Christmas Eve, and it is believed to ensure good luck in the coming year. Grotto's version features seven different fishes served in four courses for 50 dollars. We book up quickly for this Christmas Eve meal, so please call to make a reservation!"
Other places, like Upstairs on the Square in Cambridge are simply open that evening. We mention Upstairs because with its holiday decor and roaring fireplaces, it seems a perfect place to dine on Christmas Eve.
What Boston Area Restaurants are Open on Christmas?
Hotel restaurants, since they must serve the hotel's guests, are normally open on holidays. There are some exceptions, for example Aura at the Seaport Hotel is only serving breakfast on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
In Boston, hotel restaurants open both the 24th and 25th include some excellent choices:
- Asana at the Mandarin Hotel
- Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel
- Brasserie Jo at the Colonnade Hotel
- Taj Boston Cafe at the Taj Hotel
Don't forget the newcomers to the hotel restaurants in Boston
- Market by Jean-Georges at the W Hotel in the Theater District
- Sensing at the Fairmont Battery Wharf on the Waterfront
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Other places open on holidays would include chains like Legal Seafood and many restaurants in Chinatown. We once asked a long time Boston cabbie where we could get something we needed on Christmas, and he said Chinatown was the place to go.
Here's a conversation on Chowhound.com about Christmas in Chinatown from last season. You'll have to check to see whether these places are still open. There's been a bit of restaurant turnover in Chinatown this year. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/580200#4249035
Those food loving Chowhounds haven't started talking about Christmas dining 2009 yet. When they do, we'll update these links. Here's their list of places that were both open and had great food from last year.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/580262#
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/582138#4268423
The reservation site, Open Table, is not maintaining a separate list of its member restaurants with Christmas menus. But, you can input information on the reservation you want and come up with a list of restaurants open at that hour. Change the hour and the list will change. It's a good place to start.
http://www.opentable.com/start.aspx?m=7
The Boston Chefs site normally has a listing of its participating restaurants with special services for the holidays. We'll post a link when they have it up.
Update 12.11.09: here's the link for Christmas Eve Dining from Boston Chefs
Here's their link for Christmas Day dining.
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Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photo: from iStockphoto.com
