**And some Manhattan places in case you are feeling extra ambitious
Tis' the season of amassing even more credit card debt, regrettable behavior at work parties and dizzying amounts of time feeling inadequate about your (potentially) tacky-looking mantle and pathetic-looking reindeer cookies (Die. Pinterest. Die.) So I thought I'd bring Brooklynites some holiday cheer that comes in the form of a list of restaurants that are open on Christmas or Christmas Eve. The list is not that extensive (because most restaurants are closed!) and I purposefully didn't list fast-casual places. So stop feeling guilty about what you're not making or beating yourself up because your table setting would make Martha's hate list. Let someone else (IE) a restaurant do all the dirty work for you so you can concentrate on getting drunk enough to forget that your dad wants to see Donald Trump or Ben Carson go all the way next year.

Happy Holidays!
Patrice at First Bites.

Some of the restaurants provided me with menu info and I listed it when I could.

MILE END:
Open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Mile End is open on Christmas Day at both its Brooklyn and Manhattan locations! Who says Chinese has to be boring...

$65 Per person with kid options available.
For reservations, starting at 5 p.m. on Dec. 24 and 12 p.m. on Dec. 25 in Manhattan and at 6 p.m.on Dec. 24 and 1 pm. on Dec. 25 in Brooklyn, guests can call 646.494.9508 or email catering@mileenddeli.com.

WHAT'S ON THE MENU?
A traditional Jewish/Chinese Feast for Meat-Lovers

Smoked Meat Dashi, Spicy Bamboo,
Chinese Mustard Greens, Slow Egg

Beef Tongue Dumpling, Seaweed And
Pickled Cabbage, Sweet Soy, Chili Oil, Garlic-infused Black Vinegar

Chef Brian Corned Wings, Spicy Cumin Aioli,
Crispy Shallots, Green Onion, Black Bean

Hunan Fried Egg, Spicy Soy Bean,
Kewpie Mayo, Lime

Xi’an Spiced Potatoes, Black Garlic

Smoked Duck, Crispy Sticky Rice,
Scallion Omelette, Chinese Greens

And for the Vegetarians

Dashi, Spicy Bamboo, Chinese Mustard Greens, Slow Egg

Seaweed & Pickled Cabbage Dumpling, Sweet Soy,
Chili Oil, Garlic-infused Black Vinegar

Roasted Cauliflower, Spicy Cumin Aioli, Crispy Shallots, Green Onion,
Black Bean

Hunan Fried Egg, Spicy Soy Bean,
kewpie Mayo, Lime

Xi’an Spiced Potatoes, Black Garlic Sauce

Mushrooms, Crispy Sticky Rice, Scallion Omelette, Chinese Greens

RUCOLA
Open on Christmas Eve but closed on Christmas Day; have a special NYE prix fixe with three seatings at 6PM, 8PM and 10:30PM with the latter being a bit more expensive as it includes a champagne toast.

Rucola is open on Christmas Eve but closed on Christmas Day and the special menu is bound to be off the charts.

Regular menu with special additions dishes
We reviewed Rucola last year in this video!
For reservations call, 718-576-3209 or email julian@rucolabrooklyn.com
They are pretty booked during the daytime on Christmas Eve but have some later time slots
NYE Menu and seating info can be seen HERE

BACCHUS
Open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Bacchus Bistro is open on Christmas and offers a fancy prixe fixe special menu.

Special prix fixe menu for Christmas below and they also have an impressive menu for New Year's Even which is $70 per person.
Reservations call (718) 852-1572

Christmas Menu $54.95

Homemade Fresh Lobster Bisque

APPETIZERS

Lobster Vol au Vent with fava beans, oyster mushrooms & Orange-Cognac Sauce

Home made Foie Gras terrine with a fig-apple compote & Country toasted Bread

Fennel & Endive salad with sundried tomatoes, fresh shaved Parmesan cheese

Toasted sliced almonds & chive-mustard vinaigrette

MAIN COURSES

Duck Magret with roasted Fingerlings potatoes, baby Bok Choy, grapefruit & Ginger-Cognac sauce

Pan seared striped Bass filet over roasted salsify, artichokes,

Fish emulsion & Saffron aioli

Filet Mignon with potato Salardaises, trio of sauteed mushrooms & Béarnaise Sauce

Roasted Rack of Lamb with parsnip puree, sauteed asparagus & Rosemary Sauce

DESSERTS Traditional “Christmas Log”

Molten Chocolate Cake with Roasted Cashew Vanilla Ice Cream

Creme Brulee

Vanilla custard topped with caramelized sugar

Complimentary Glass of Champagne Served with Desserts

KITCHEN AT COBBLE HILL (FORMERLY KARLOFF)
Open on Christmas Eve until 4PM (or later if it's busy) and closed on Christmas BUT they are catering Christmas packages which I've listed below.
To order packages call (347) 689-4279

Kitchen at Cobble Hill (formerly known as Karloff) is closed on Christmas but offering holiday catering packages.

Holiday Package Serves 12-15 people 399+tax Includes everything from our feast package below with the addition of:

Roasted Vegetables with Truffle Hummus and Lavash
Crudité with Herb Dipping Sauce and Assorted Olive

* Feast Package Serves 10-14 people 349+tax *

Starters (Choice of) Trimmings (Choice of 2) - Roasted Squash Soup with Wild Mushrooms - Cranberry Orange Dressing - Truffle Deviled Eggs - Creamed Spinach with Crispy Onions - Blini with Salmon Caviar - String Beans with Crushed Almonds - Crispy Potato Latkes with Apple Sauce & Sour Cream - Roasted Beets with Avocado

Salad (Choice of) Potatoes (Choice of) - Baby Arugula with Truffle Vinaigrette and Shaved Parmesan - Potato Puree - Baby Spinach with Dried Cranberry, Toasted Pine Nuts - Potato Gratin

Main Course (Choice of) Dessert (Choice of) - 18lb All Natural Free Range Turkey with Stuffing and Gravy - Pumpkin Pie
brined, dressed, and oven ready; cooking instructions included - Apple Pie - Prime Rib with Smoked Sea Salt and Black Pepper and Gravy - Eggnog Pie

Family Package Serves 10-12 people 199+tax A La Carte Items (Choice of 5 excluding Main Course)

BAR TABAC
Open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Bar Tabac is open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and will have a special menu on Christmas as well as live music.

Special menu and seating times on Christmas
Live music
On NYE a prix fixe menu for $54.99 that includes a wine pairing; seatings at 8 and 10PM
For reservations call (718) 923-0918

CARROLL GARDENS CLASSIC DINER
Open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Who says you need to get all fancy on Christmas Day...open 24/7!

Check out the video we made last year about our WILD Sunday Funday brunches at the diner

AITA
Open on Christmas Eve and Christmas from 11AM to 4PM

Aita in Clinton Hill is open on Christmas Day until 4PM

Christmas Eve will have the regular menu with some specials; Christmas will have a special menu
For reservations call (718) 576-3584 or email aitarestaurant@yahoo.com

AL FIORI
Manhattan
Open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

If you really want to make Christmas a special occasion...head away from the mason jars and toward the white tablecloths on Fifth Avenue.

Normal menu on Christmas Eve; special menus for NYE
Christmas Day has a special 4-course menu for $130 or Fish of the Seven Seas 4-course $225
Menu is HERE
Complementary champagne from 1PM-9PM
Kids under 12 are $65
Reservations call 212.613.8660 or click HERE

MAREA
Manhattan
Open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day