Restaurants Open on Christmas on Long Island in 2021
Cooking for the holidays can be stressful for even the most seasoned host. It can be a lot less fun if you’re in the kitchen while the rest of the family is celebrating.
If you’d rather enjoy a meal out than spend hours preparing one, some Long Island restaurants are open to serve dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Some even have kid-friendly menus. So take a look at this list to see which spots have the right menu for you. When it comes to holiday dining it's best to play it safe and call ahead for reservations. For more seasonal activities and events this month, check out our holiday guide and December GoList.
Enjoy classic entrees at The Coach Meeting House.
Restaurants in Nassau County Open on Christmas
The Carltun — East Meadow
The Carltun will be open on Christmas Eve with a prix fixe menu. Pricing is $95 per adult, $45 per child and includes an appetizer, entree, and dessert. Entree choices include lobster tails, branzini, and beef Wellington. Call for reservations.
The Coach Meeting House — Oyster Bay
Bring the family for a spectacular outdoor dining experience in one of the heated igloos or firepit tables. Christmas trees and snowflakes decorate the outside patio. Advance reservations for the igloos must be done online through Open Table. For indoor dining, reservations are made by phone.
Eric's Italian Bistro — Mineola
Eric's serves modern and classical Italian cuisine. Eric’s will offer a prix fixe menu for $64.95 on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. A kids menu is available upon request. Call ahead for reservations.
RELATED: Long Island Homes With Spectacular Holiday Decor
Celebrate the holidays at the beautiful Milleridge Inn.
Milleridge Inn — Jericho
The always festive Milleridge Inn will be open on Christmas Eve. At the Inn, from noon-6:30pm, it will host a lavish prix fixe dinner for $79.95 for adults and $39.95 for children ages 3-12. The menu includes turkey, pot roast, and lamb shank. Call ahead for reservations.
Thyme — Roslyn
Thyme overlooks Gerry Park and Roslyn Duck Pond. This quaint and scenic restaurant offers its normal menu on Christmas Eve as well as holiday specials. Regular menu items include short rib papardelle, butternut squash ravioli, icelandic cod, and many more delicious options. You can also get your Christmas Eve dinner catered. Advance reservations are required.
Volpe Ristorante at Fox Hollow — Woodbury
Volpe Ristorante features a special Italian-inspired a la carte menu for Christmas Eve. Standout entrees include pistachio crusted sea bass, certified angus filet mignon, and chicken volpe. Save room for dessert and try the molten lava cake or tiramisu. Reservations can be made by phone or online.
Restaurants in Suffolk County Open on Christmas
Prime — Huntington
The restaurant's regular menu is available on Christmas Eve, as well as specials to be announced. Call to make a reservation. Prime and its sister restaurants, Tellers and Prime, are also offering a Christmas--to-go meal. Pre-orders are being taken until December 20 for this three-plus course feast.
Sandbar — Cold Spring Harbor
Sandbar offers an upscale menu for Christmas Eve, featuring chickpea fries, foie gras of the day, and coconut curry mussels; and those are just the appetizers. The menu is a la carte and reservations must be made in advance via phone.
Wave Seafood Kitchen at Danford's Hotel and Marina — Port Jefferson
Visit Wave on Christmas Eve for a prix fixe menu. Pricing is $69.95 per adult and $26.95 per child. The dessert options are especially enticing. Choose from black forest cake, eggnog creme brulee, and cheesecake mousse with mixed berries. The Christmas Day menu is also prix fixe. Pricing is $49.95 for adults, $24.95 for children 4 to 12. Children 3 and younger are free. Call ahead for reservations. There are four seating times on Christmas Day: 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm and 5:30pm.
Restaurants on Long Island's East End Open on Christmas
Cooperage Inn — Baiting Hollow
Sip on a glass of local wine in a warm and cozy atmosphere. The Christmas Eve menu features holiday specials and regular dishes such as seafood bisque, chicken pot pie, and roast duck. You can also get pot pies from NoFo Pot Pies to bring home and warm up for Christmas dinner. Reservations must be made in advance online or by phone.
Desmond’s at East Wind — Wading River
Celebrate Christmas Eve with the family at Desmond’s. The three-course prix fixe menu is available from 4 to 9pm for $54.95 a person. From the rib eye to the short ribs and red snapper scampi to sea scallops, you won’t leave hungry. A separate children’s menu is available.
This article was originally published in 2012. It was updated in December 2021.
Top photo via Bigstock; all other photos courtesy of the restaurants