Dining Out for Christmas

Far too often, holiday time translates into “’tis the season to get hectic,” and the last thing anyone wants to do when all the decorating and shopping and wrapping is finally winding down is to prepare and clean up after another meal, especially if family tradition calls for a big spread on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

As ever, East End restaurateurs stand ready, willing and far beyond able to provide relief. This week, Dining Out offers a partial listing of area establishments offering tasty alternatives to making holiday meals at home. In next week’s Dining Out, look for a survey of the wide array of choices for celebrating the arrival of the new year.

Southampton

Two-for-one entrée specials will be offered on Christmas Eve from the American cuisine menu at Barrister’s Restaurant on Main Street. Reservations are accepted, as are all major credit cards. Call 283-6206, or visit www.barristersouthampton.com.

Le Chef on Jobs Lane will be serving dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve, offering such a la carte specials as beef Wellington bearnaise, lobster composé, veal chop, striped bass or swordfish, and a seafood risotto with lobster, shrimp and scallops. For more information, call 283-8581, or visit www.lechefbistro.com.

Reservations are being taken for dinner up until 8:45 p.m. on Christmas Eve at The Plaza Café off Hill Street, where chef Doug Gulija will be serving regular dishes from the restaurant’s New American Seafood menu and tasting menu, along with some seasonal additions. Major credit cards are accepted, and reservations are recommended. For more information, call 283-9323, or visit www.plazacafe.us.

Shippy’s Pumpernickels East on Windmill Lane will be offering such special dishes as fresh ham, prime rib and fresh 1½-pound lobsters in addition to the regular German-American menu and blackboard specials on Christmas Eve. Reservations are accepted, as are all major credit cards. Shippy’s will be closed on Christmas Day. For more information, call 283-0007, or visit www.shippyspumpernickels.com.

The Southampton Publick House at Bowden Square will be open for dinner on Christmas Eve. For more information, call 283-2800, or visit www.publick.com.

The red/bar brasserie restaurant on Hampton Road is open for dinner from Wednesday to Sunday in December, and the entire week between Christmas and New Year’s, including Monday, December 28, and Tuesday, December 29, closing only on Christmas Day. For information, call 283-0704, or visit www.redbarbrasserie.com.

Water Mill

Mirko’s at Water Mill Square off Montauk Highway will be serving dinner from the restaurant’s Euro-eclectic menu on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Major credit cards accepted; reservations are encouraged. Call 726-4444, or visit www.mirkos.com.

The Hampton Coffee Company Espresso Bar & Café on Montauk Highway is offering freshly baked pies along with a 10 percent discount and free delivery on all breakfast and lunch catering for holiday parties. Reservations are now being accepted for parties of five or more for Christmas Eve breakfast and lunch at the café.

The Hampton Coffee Company is also putting together special made-to-order gift baskets and offering free local delivery. The café will be closed on Christmas Day. For more information, call 726-COFE (2633), or visit www.hamptoncoffeecompany.com.

Bridgehampton

Pierre’s on Main Street will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. A $55 prix fixe menu overflowing with French fare will be offered on Christmas Eve and a brunch menu with dishes ranging from $18 to $35 will be offered on Christmas Day. Reservations are required; all major credit cards accepted. For more information, call 537-5110 or visit www.pierresbridgehampton.com.

Almond on Montauk Highway has announced the restaurant’s eighth annual Christmas Eve special offering of roast suckling pig served with cabbage, caramelized apples and spaetzle for $27. The regular a la carte menu will also be available. Open on Christmas Eve from 6 to 10 p.m., Almond will be closed on Christmas Day, but will reopen Saturday, December 26. For reservations or more information, call 537-8885.

Sag Harbor

Il Capuccino Ristorante on Madison Street will be open on Christmas Eve with three seatings, at 5, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30. Stuffed shrimp, filet mignon and lasagna Bolognese are among the featured entrées on the Northern Italian menu, with prices ranging from $20 to $35 per person. Reservations are requested for parties of four or more; all major credit cards accepted. For additional information, call 725-2747 or visit www.ilcapuccino.com.
Il Capuccino will be closed on Christmas Day.

New Paradise Café, at 126 Main Street, offering American cuisine with Asian and French influences, closed on Christmas Eve, will be serving dinner from 5:30 to 10 p.m. on Christmas Day. The restaurant’s regular prix fixe will be offered until 6:30 p.m., with two courses priced at $27 per person, or three courses, with a choice of any dessert from the menu, priced at $30.

Special Christmas entrées will include fresh Christmas ham, veal chop, rack of lamb, and lobster fettuccine. Price range for entrées is $19 to $39. For more information, call 725-6080, or look up the New Paradise Café at www.opentable.com.

Blue Sky Mediterranean Lounge on Main Street will celebrate Christmas Eve on Thursday, December 24, starting at 11:30 a.m. and serving from the regular menu with traditional Italian Christmas specialties. For reservations or further information, call 725-1810

East Hampton

Rugosa Restaurant at 290 Montauk Highway will offer a three-course Christmas Eve prix fixe for $30. A la carte dishes on the Modern American menu are priced at $10 to $15 for appetizers and $23 to $36 for entrées. Rugosa accepts Visa, American Express and Discover; reservations are appreciated. For more information, call 631-604-1550, or visit www.rugosarestaurant.com.

Cittanuova on Newtown Lane will be open only for lunch on Christmas Eve, and closed all day on Christmas. Call 324-6300 for more information.

The Living Room at c/o The Maidstone hotel on Main Street will offer a Christmas Eve prix fixe for $65 per person, $35 for children, or $95 with handpicked wine pairings. For more information, call 324-5006.

The Lodge Bar and Grill on Race Lane will be open for dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at 5 p.m. The regular menu will be available, as well as specials like prime rib, rack of lamb, lobster, chateaubriand and beef Wellington. Call 324-5022 for reservations.

Bamboo, at 47 Montauk Highway, will be open on Christmas Eve, serving from its regular Japanese-based menu along with the entire sushi menu. The restaurant will be closed on Christmas Day. Call 329-9821 for information.

Michael’s at Maidstone, at 28 Maidstone Park Road, will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at 3 p.m. Reservations are strongly recommended; call 324-0725.

Fresno at Fresno Place will be open for dinner on Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day. For information, call 324-8700, or visit www.fresnorestaurant.com.

Nick & Toni’s on North Main Street will open at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, offering a few holiday specials, including crab and lobster timballo with truffled sunchoke purée, $18; house-made foie gras ravioli with brown butter, $27; and pan roasted halibut with saffron cockles, white beans and Satur Farms baby spinach, $36.

Nick & Toni’s is now open Wednesday through Sunday starting at 6 p.m. For information or reservations, call 324-3550, or visit www.nickandtonis.com.

While the inn at the 1770 House will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas, the 1770 House Restaurant will be closed on both days. For more information, call 324-1770, or visit www.1770house.com.

Montauk

Reservations are suggested for the traditional Christmas dinner offered at the Sea Grille at Gurney’s Inn on Old Montauk Highway, with complete dinners starting at $27 per person.

In addition to salads, appetizers include a grilled portobello mushroom Neapolitan tort; “Santa’s Favorite,” rigatoni with lamb ragu; scallops, shrimp and crabmeat baked in a Sambucca cream sauce; and a jumbo shrimp cocktail. Entrées range from roast prime rib, roasted goose, and grain fed roasted tom turkey to grilled baby lamb chops, lobster, shrimp and scallops over penne pasta, and broiled or steamed live lobster. Heart healthy choices and a “little elves” menu for kids are also available.

The Sea Grille will also be open on Christmas Eve, serving from the regular menu. All major credit cards, cash and checks are accepted; for more information, call 668-2345, or visit www.GurneysInn.com.

Catering

Citarella in the Hamptons, in East Hampton, Water Mill and Bridgehampton, has introduced a Christmas catering menu for holiday feasts, offering everything from prime cut meat, poultry and game to freshly baked Christmas cookies and desserts. Citarella’s culinary team can also design complete meals from start to finish. Orders must be placed up to 48 hours in advance.

Citarella offers a selection of gourmet gift baskets starting at $69, and gift cards, sold in increments of $25, are also available. To view the full menu or the assortment of gift baskets, visit www.citarella.com. For further information or to place an order, call 726-3636.

Chef Damien O’Donnell of Harbor Bistro in East Hampton, a catering veteran and protégé of Roy Yamaguchi, is offering catering services throughout the holiday and winter season. Available for any off-premise event, Mr. O’Donnell and his staff will provide full-service sit-down or buffet dinners for from six to 150 guests starting at $75 per person. Menu requests are accepted.

For prices or further information, call 324-7300, e-mail damienodonnell1203@yahoo.com, or visit www.harborbistro.net.

Executive chef Cheryl Stair of Art of Eating Catering in Amagansett has designed a take-home menu for the winter holidays composed of hors d’oeuvres, soups and salads, entrées, fresh baked breads, vegetables, and desserts. All foods are prepared in small batches, not mass-produced. For further information or to place an order, call 267-2411, e-mail wecaterit@aol.com, or visit http://hamptonsartofeating.com.

Hampton Bays

The Inn Spot on the Bay on Lighthouse Road will be open on Christmas Eve for dinner at 5 p.m. and on Christmas Day from 2 to 7 p.m. Traditional American fare will be served, ranging in price from $25 to $35. Reservations are suggested and all major credit cards are accepted. For information, call 728-1200 or visit www.theinnspot.com.

Matsulin on West Montauk Highway will serve up Pan Asian cuisine on Christmas Eve from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a prix fixe menu offered for $38 per person. Reservations are suggested and most major credit cards are accepted. For information, call 728-8838, or visit www.matsulin.com.

Westhampton

Casa Basso on Montauk Highway will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 5 p.m. to closing, serving Italian fare from the regular menu. Prices range from $18 to $42. Most major credit cards are accepted, and reservations are suggested. For additional information, call 288-1841 or visit www.casabasso.net.

Magic’s Pub on Main Street will offer a $24.95 prix fixe menu on Christmas Eve from noon to 9 p.m. featuring soup or salad, choice of entrée and a dessert. In addition, the bar will be open for the evening. All major credit cards are accepted. For information, call 288-6105 or visit www.magicspub.com.

Hampton Coffee Company on Mill Road will be open on Christmas Eve from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. offering a variety of baked treats, coffee, espresso, and made-to-order gift baskets. Additionally, customers who drop in on Christmas Eve will receive 10 percent off any holiday lunch catering orders. All catering orders must be placed no later than December 24. Prices range from $3 to $15; all major credit cards accepted. Closed Christmas Day. For information, call 288-4480 or visit www.hamptoncoffeecompany.com.

Annona on Riverhead Road will be open on Christmas Day only from 3 to 8 p.m. offering a modern twist on Italian dishes ranging in price from $18 to $42. Reservations are suggested; most major credit cards accepted. For information, call 288-7766 or visit www.annona.com.

Finn’s on Old Riverhead Road will offer a $19.99 Christmas Eve prix fixe menu featuring choice of soup or salad, entrée and dessert from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Reservations are suggested, most major credit cards accepted. For information, call 998-3271.

Speonk

Jack & Diane’s on Montauk Highway in Speonk will be open on Christmas Eve from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. offering holiday shrimp platters from $25 to $80. Complete prix fixe dinner specials are available at $23.95 or $21.95 from 3 to 6 p.m. only. All major credit cards are accepted, and reservations are required. For additional information, call 801-2881 or visit www.jackanddianesrestaurant.net.

Riverhead

Stonewalls Restaurant on Reeves Avenue will offer a Christmas Eve three-course prix fixe menu from 5 to 9 p.m. Cost of the dinner is $45 plus tax and gratuity. Most major credit cards are accepted. Reservations are required. For additional information, call 506-0777, or visit www.stonewalls-restaurant.com.

Jamesport

Jamesport Manor Inn on Manor Road will open on Christmas Eve at 4 p.m. A three-course $55 prix fixe dinner featuring baccalau fritters, Crescent Farms duck breast, roasted Snake River Farms ribeye steak, eggnog tapioca with blood orange sorbet and more will be served. Reservations are suggested; all major credit cards accepted. For information, call 722-0500 or visit www.jamesportmanor.com.

Center Moriches

Moriches Steak House on Main Street in Center Moriches will be serving up steaks and seafood on Christmas Eve from 4 to 8 p.m., and on Christmas Day from 2 to 8 p.m. Several a la carte items will be available ranging in price from $18 to $23. A prix fixe menu will also be offered for $25 per person. Reservations are required; all major credit cards accepted. For information, call 878-1820.