The holidays can be a stressful time so take a load off and let someone else handle the cooking. Many Chicago restaurants will be open on Christmas Eve and Day. The following options around town include Feast of the Seven Fishes celebrations, all-you-can-eat lobster, truffle-laden specials, succulent steaks, and more. Regardless of what diners choose though, it’s a gift the whole family will appreciate.
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Where to Eat on Christmas Eve and Day in Chicago
Leave the holiday meal to the experts

Prairie Grass Cafe
Another to-go option comes from the suburbs thanks to star chefs Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris. Prairie Grass is selling a short-rib dinner to go for $132 to serve two. Mac & cheese, a mixed green salad with figs, dates, and goat cheese, plus a sticky toffee date cake comes in the package.
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George Trois
Chef Michael Lachowicz and his team at George Trois in suburban Winnetka will host an opulent eight-course Christmas Eve tasting menu ($225) featuring fancy fare like Golden Kaluga caviar with butternut squash royale, orange-dusted lobster with sweet curry glaze, and roast squab with a corn beignet, celeriac-fennel soubise, and Perigord truffle. Reservations for seatings at 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. are available via Tock. Interested parties would be wise to move quickly, as the intimate restaurant only seats 12.
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Bar Roma
Rustic Italian eatery Bar Roma is opening on Christmas Eve and chef Fred Ramos is whipping up a couple of special dishes for the evening. Reservations are available here.
Longman & Eagle
For $115 per person, enjoy the feast of the seven fishes at Longman & Eagle in Logan Square. Reservations are here.
Andros Taverna
Andros Taverna, Logan Square’s upscale Greek restaurant from restaurateur Doug Psaltis, will mark Christmas Eve with several noteworthy menu items to supplement the usual nightly menu. Patrons can keep an eye out for extra-large roasted Royal Red prawns with black truffle orzotto, grilled wild turbot, and crispy wood-oven roasted duck with xinomavro jus and chestnut porridge.
Floriole Cafe & Bakery
Lincoln Park’s majestic bakery cafe, Floriole, has several Christmas options for home consumption. Find quiches, pastries, soups, and fresh-baked bread to enjoy.
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Lottie's Pub
Those who’d rather enjoy an unfussy Christmas Eve may find just what they’re looking for at Lottie’s Pub, which has a full day of football viewing, raffles, and menu specials planned for the holiday, including $6 Guinness, $7 Bloody Marys, and $15 sausage and giardiniera pizzas.
NoMI
On Christmas Eve, NoMi will offer a $165 dinner ($45 for kids 5 to 12). The prix-fixe includes chestnut soup, Côte de Bœuf atop Hasselback potatoes, pearl onions, braised rainbow chard; and a Fondant au Caramel.
Christmas Day’s dinner is $195 per person ($50 for kids). The menu includes acorn squash soup, lemon garlic kale salad, and roasted duck.
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Indienne
River North’s new Indian fine dining restaurant is offering a to-go dinner for pick-up on December 22. It’s $75 (minimum two orders) and will get you butternut squash soup, masala babka, a choice of duck haleeem or jackfruit cutlet, a choice of chicken roulade or mushroom manti with creamy mashed potatoes, roasted Brussel sprouts, and Christmas berry pulao.
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Osteria Via Stato
Executive chef David DiGregorio is cooking up a storm on Christmas Eve this year for the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Osteria Via Stato’s multi-course dinner will highlight Italian seafood dishes, such as a baccala (salt cod) spread, grilled octopus, seafood stew, seafood linguine, and pan-roasted salmon. The menu is priced at $74.95 per person. Make a reservation here.
Lure Fishbar
Savor the flavors of the ocean on Christmas Eve and Day as seafood specialist Lure Fishbar will offer a holiday prix fixe menu. Diners can choose lobster bisque or Belgian endive salad; prime rib or Dover sole; and eggnog crème brulee or molten chocolate cake. The cost is $95 per person and reservations are available here.
Kostali by Naha
James Beard Award winner Carrie Nahabedian will take a traditional approach to the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve at Kostali with a seven-course prix fixe meal with accompanying beverage pairings. Courses will include baked cherrystone clams with fennel and bacon, fried smelts, and Georges Bank scallops with chestnuts and brown butter. Tickets ($175) and more details are available via Tock.
Bub City
Several Lettuce Entertain You spots are open for the holiday, but few can match the fun of their River North country barbecue spot. Their normal menu will be available for dine-in and carryout. They’re closed on Christmas Day but open the day before.
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Kinzie Chophouse
Steakhouse stalwart Kinzie Chophouse is planning a five-course menu for Christmas Eve. The dinner will start with welcome bites before transitioning to entrees. The cost is $150 per person and reservations are available here.
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Tortoise Supper Club
Gather the family at this River North supper club for a festive Christmas Eve meal. The kitchen will offer its regular dinner menu in addition to holiday specials. Reservations can be made here.
Prime & Provisions Steakhouse
Prime & Provisions is offering a special Christmas Eve dinner with lump blue crab cake, red wine-braised beef cheek, Farro Island Salmon, and tres leches cake. It’s $125 per person with wine pairings for $65.
Gioia Chicago
Veteran chef and partner Federico Comacchio will celebrate Christmas Eve with a culinary tradition close to many hearts: the Feast of the Seven Fishes, a meal with roots in the Roman Catholic practice of abstaining from meat on the holiday. Comacchio will feature seven seafood specials such as octopus carpaccio and squid ink risotto with sepia and n’duja. Gioia’s regular menu will also be available, as will seasonal cocktails and wine pairings. Reservations are available via OpenTable.
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Cherry Circle Room
Cherry Circle Room is tucked away on the second floor of the Chicago Athletic Association. Reserve a table here.
Mercat a la Planxa
Mercat is offering a “Barcelona” brunch on both days, as well as a holiday dinner menu that includes roasted butternut squash and cranberry salad, braised wagyu veal cheeks, lemon- and herb-stuffed lumina, and lobster croquettes.
The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant
The South Loop firehouse-turned-restaurant has crafted a special a la carte menu for Christmas Eve. Book a reservation here.
MingHin Cuisine
It’ll be business as usual at Chinese stalwart MingHin on Christmas Eve and Day. The local mini chain is open 365 days a year so Chicagoans can spend their holiday enjoying dim sum, roast pork, Beijing duck, white cut chicken, noodles, fried rice, hot pot casseroles, and more. Reservations are available here.