Savor the renowned Italian Christmas Eve repast at these outstanding eateries
Ristorante Lucia (pictured): The Italian-American stronghold that is the North End is a natural stop when it comes to celebrating Mediterranean cuisine and culture, so it’s no surprise that a number of restaurants are celebrating with special seafood menus on December 24. Lucia’s offerings include shrimp cocktail, stuffed clams, fried calamari and baked stuffed sole, and can be enjoyed prix fixe or à la carte. You can even do a take-home version if you order through December 20.
Prezza: Another beloved North End stopover, Prezza marks the feast now through December 24 by presenting diners with à la carte seafood specials in addition to its regular menu. Sup on fried smelts, scallop crudo, fried oysters, white anchovy crostini, grilled octopus salad, shrimp scampi flatbread and white clam linguini—and for those of you that are counting, yes, that is seven fishes exactly.
Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse: The lavish, locally based chain takes on the tradition at all its Massachusetts locations with a three-course, prix fixe meal that gives patrons a taste of delectable seafood creations with each round. Davio’s chefs have crafted different selections at each of the six outposts, featuring, as on would expect, seven fishes on the nose. The Boston locations feature shrimp, oysters, hamachi crudo, scallops, cod, lobster and clams at the flagship Back Bay eatery, while crab and Dover sole replace cod and clams at the Seaport locale. The regular menu is available as well.
Bar Mezzana: Celebrate a day early on December 23 from 6:30–11:30 p.m. at this South End hot spot, which indulges diners with a seven-course extravaganza that features innovative dishes like tautog with crab, escarole and fregola (a Sardinian pasta similar to cous cous) as well as surf and turf with monkfish and oxtail ragu alongside familiar faves like fried calamari, smelts and shrimp. This is a ticketed event, so be sure to make your reservation as soon as possible.
Coppa: Another South End Italian specialist, Coppa is the acclaimed brainchild of James Beard Award-winning chefs Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette. Known for its sought-after pizza and freshly made pasta, this neighborhood hideaway serves a special, seafood-centric chef’s menu on December 24 from 5–7:30 p.m. An optional wine pairing is also available for an additional fee.
