Holiday dinner: Chicago-area restaurants offer Christmas, NYE, New Year’s Day at-home options

Looking to let someone else do the cooking for Christmas or New Year’s Eve? Many Chicago-area restaurants are offering special meal packages, boxes and cook-at-home kits for delivery or curbside pickup.

Taxes, tip and delivery fees might not be reflected in the prices, so check when placing orders.

Here are a few options to consider:

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Avli Taverna (1335 W. Wrightwood Ave). offers individual meal boxes through Monday for pickup or delivery. Options include a choice of turkey breast ($34) or oven-roasted lamb shoulder ($36); sides include a quinoa, lentil and chickpea salad with raspberry dressing or whipped potatoes with feta. Also available: trays of spanakopita (spinach, leek, feta and wild greens pie) ($35); pastichio (Greek casserole of pasta, ground beef and béchamel, $45); and baklava (48 pieces/$50). Pickup by Dec. 24; reserve pickup or delivery via Tock. Individual New Year’s Eve meals include choice of entree from lobster pasta and New Zealand lamb chops ($40), Filet Souvlakia and seafood platter ($40) or whole leg of lamb feast ($250).

Special to-go option on New Year’s Eve package ($45 per person, Avli River North, 702 N. Wells) includes choice of Taverna-style lamb chops (four chops served with Greek fries) or the Astakomakaronatha (traditional Greek lobster spaghetti). Each entree comes with the choice of a bottle of champagne or sparkling Greek wine.

Frontera Grill (445 N. Clark): Chef Rick Bayless is serving up the ”New Year’s Eve Moveable Feast” featuring food from his four restaurants; $75 per person. Feast includes half-and-half (half guacamole, half pumpkinseed “hummus”) from Xoco, with tortilla chips and fresh vegetables for dipping; Bar Sótano’s lobster paella (1/2 lobster); Frontera Grill’s slow-cooked beef short rib in Oaxacan black mole with rustic queso añejo mashed potatoes and grilled green beans; and Topolobampo’s 3-layer crepe cake with dark chocolate mousse and Brovo-poached pears. Topolobampo margaritas and wine available for extra charge. All NYE to-go orders that night will ship with a playlist of the restaurant staffs’ handpicked Mariachi music. Or enjoy the feast at the restaurant’s outdoor tent (reservations are limited and required). Visit Tock for carryout; Resy for reservations.

Found Kitchen & Social House (1631 Chicago Ave., Evanston): Celebrate NYE with choice of three options: Champagne and Caviar Menu ($140) with trio of caviar — Hackleback, Paddlefish, and Bowfin Caviar served with creme fraiche and toast points; Champers and Nibbles Menu ($75) featuring charcuterie selection of cheeses, meats, Pate de Maison, smoked Whitefish Rilette, array of crackers, breads, and dried fruit; 3-course dinner for two ($250) — lobster chowder, ribeye roasted on the bone, dessert. Order here.

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Chiya Chai, 2770 N. Milwaukee Ave., is offering boxed chai and savory pies to go, individually priced or as a combo in three sizes: small ($32/12 8 oz. cups of chai), medium ($50/20 8 oz. cups of chai) and large ($110/48 8 oz. cups of chai). The nine-inch masala chicken pies or kale and potato pies are $20. Combination prices for choice of nine-inch savory pie with boxed chai include $50 (small), $65 (medium) and $120 (large). Order up to 48 hours ahed for pickup. The last pickups at the cafe will be by 10 p.m. Wednesday. Order by calling (773) 360-7541.

New Year’s Eve: The catering packages including appetizers, savory pies, entrees and sides. Favorites include the hot curry wings ($70/serves 10); Madras chicken: fried chicken with tomatoes, yogurt, spices and spicy curry ($80/serves 10); and channa masala, chickpeas with onions, tomatoes, turmeric, cumin, cayenne, paprika and ginger ($65/serves 10). Order by Dec. 30.

Larry’s, In Lobby at The Lawrence House, 1020 W. Lawrence Ave., offers made-to-order canned cocktails and large-format hot drinks for pickup and delivery. The large-format bottled cocktails ($70) serve eight and are ready to serve with the addition of boiling water.

Brite, 2021 W. Fulton Market, has small-batch doughnuts and baked goods, sweet and savory packages and rotating pies.

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Olive Garden is offering the convenient Italian favorites with its Bake at Home Family Meals. Choose between two chilled and ready-to-bake family favorites — Giant Cheese Stuffed Shells (serves five, starting at $39.99) or Classic Lasagna (serves 6 starting at $44.99) — served with a jumbo house salad, bottle of signature Italian dressing and one dozen ready-to-bake breadsticks. Order online; delivered to your car in the parking lot; www.OliveGarden.com.

Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants: The legendary Chicago restaurant group has myriad choices for your Christmas Eve and/or New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day celebrations at home. It’s one stop shopping — from Antico Posto and Big Bowl to Bub City and Mon Ami Gab to SushiSan and RPM Italian to name a few — with the offerings from all their restaurants available here:

• Christmas Eve: http://www.leye.com/in-the-know/in-the-restaurants/christmas-eve-chicago/
• New Year’s Eve: https://www.leye.com/in-the-know/in-the-restaurants/new-years-eve-chicago/
• New Year’s Day: https://www.leye.com/in-the-know/in-the-restaurants/new-years-day-chicago/

The Capital Grille is offering a three-course family-style dinner for takeout, featuring roasted whole beef tenderloin with choice of butter poached North Atlantic lobster tails or scampi-style jumbo shrimp, salad, sides and its signature brûlée-style cheesecake for dessert. The restaurant is also offering two takeout options for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: choose from four-course prepared dinner (serves four to six), or two Holiday Grille Boxes (each box serves four) to cook at home. For more information or to place an order, visit TheCapitalGrille.com

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Maple & Ash is serving up the Ultimate Carryout Feast, prepped and ready to cook complete with instructions from Chef Danny Grant. Dine on wood-fired filet mignon (seared and ready to cook), black truffle potato puree, Caesar salad, shrimp cocktail, roasted mushrooms, chestnut stuffing; chocolate bourbon pecan pie from Aya Pastry and more. Prices: $395 (serves 4); $595 (serves 7); $895 (serves 10). A Holiday Feast $240, serves 4) features Fire-roasted filet mignon (seared and ready to bake, black truffle jus, bubbling shrimp, spicy meatballs, cacio e pepe mac & cheese, kale and winter squash salad and more.

Eddie V’s Prime Seafood: A luxe, four-course holiday dinner for takeout, features choice of entree, chilled Gulf shrimp cocktail-style; classic Caesar salad; truffled macaroni and cheese, grilled asparagus, three cheese au gratin potatoes; and a Bananas Foster butter cake. Entrée selections include Chilean sea bass or herb-roasted tenderloin. Dinners serve either two or four to six people.

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The Yard House (Glenview location only, 1880 Tower Dr.) wants you to celebrate your holiday season game-day viewing with a Tailgate Takeout Pack featuring signature chicken nachos, wings (traditional, boneless or Gardein, with choice of sauce) and a choice of two pizzas for $50. For more information and to order online, visit YardHouse.com.

Seasons 52: The eatery is serving up The Green Box, a complete takeout dining experience perfect for Christmas, News Year’s Eve. Boxes feature choice of either Kona-crusted wood-grilled tenderloin or whole side of cedar plank salmon, salad, sides and six mini indulgence desserts. Dinners serve four to six people and are available for pre-order up to 24 hours in advance, including pickup on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. For more information or to place an order, visit Seasons52.com.

Goddess and Grocer: The Christmas catering menu meal options include “Christmas Dinner for Two” ($75), “Family Matters” (serves six) $195, and a la carte food, wine, cocktail offerings. The menu also offers options for those in need of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options. Orders for Christmas Eve must be placed by Dec. 18.

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen: Enjoy Family Bundles, featuring scratch-made classics such as house-smoked baby back ribs, hand-breaded chicken tenders, grilled salmon or a combination of these guest favorites; all come with two family-sized sides and a half-dozen signature honey butter croissants, starting at $24.99. To order online for curbside pickup, visit Cheddars.com.

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Bahama Breeze is offering an island-inspired To-Go Party Pack ($50) for four people, featuring choice of two appetizers, coconut shrimp, and beef empanadas, and one Family To-Go Pan with choice of Jerk chicken pasta, grilled chicken with cilantro crema or seafood paella.

Chicago Firehouse (1401 S. Michigan Ave.) is offering dinner for two options: ham, $130; prime rib, $160. Select soup (French onion or lobster bisque), salad goat cheese and pomegranate), sides (Parker House onion rolls, whipped potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, cornbread stuffing, dessert (classic apple pie or bourbon pecan pie). Order by noon Dec. 19. Pickup Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

The Peninsula (108 E. Superior): Dinner to-go options include “Christmas To-Go” featuring a roasted ribeye with red wine sauce and horseradish cream or whole spiral ham with traditional gravy, available at for $88 per person, plus tax. The minimum order is for six guests (each option serves six to eight guests). Both entrée options include a variety of side dishes such as Maine lobster bisque, saffron poached pear salad, butternut squash with pistachios and maple syrup, Brussels sprouts with chestnuts, cheese potato gratin and rolls. Holiday cookies are included for dessert. Individual dinners are available for $75 (ribeye) or $55 (turkey). Order all via TOCK by Dec. 22.

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Kinzie Chophouse (400 N. Wells): The legendary eatery recently announced a new ownership team and menu re-fresh just in time for holiday take-out for Christmas and/or New Year’s Eve. The menu options ($70 per person) include choice of prime rib roast with apple cider, brandy and mustard crust; or seared halibut fillet served with prosecco beurre blanc and salmon brick; or lamb osso buco braised with porcini mushrooms, Marsala wine and sage. Appetizer, soup and side dish of Christmas ratatouille with baby potatoes, Brussel sprouts, baby carrots, asparagus, sweet potatoes, pears and green beans are also included, as well as Brioche bread pudding with Fuji apples, pecans and bourbon caramel sauce. Order by Dec. 23 for pickup Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Somerset by Viceroy Hotel Chicago (1118 North State): Enjoy a Christmas feast prepared by Chef Stephen Gillanders. Entree choices include prime rib, cedar roasted salmon, or truffled chicken; sides include garlic-herb wild mushrooms, creamy mashed potatoes, truffled mac and cheese, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower gratin, buttermilk biscuits, a selection of pies, and more. Dinners can be ordered for pick up through Tock.

Prairie Grass Cafe (601 Skokie Blvd, Northbrook) has various holiday dinner-for-two options (entree, salad and desserts) available for Christmas Eve (orders must be place by Dec. 21 for pickup Dec. 24). All offerings include choice of entree plus salads, desserts; choose from roasted duck ($108); short ribs ($95); grilled Ora king salmon ($108); vegan wild rice-bean-mushroom patties with veggies, salad and pistachio muffins ($85). The New Year’s Eve option (order must be placed by Dec. 28 for pick up on Dec. 31) includes special menu/dinner for two ($143-$164). To order, call (847) 205-4433.

Little Goat and Girl & the Goat: Stephanie Izard is offering easy-to-prepare meal kits for Christmas and New Year’s Day brunch with favorites such as sourdough pancakes (with toppings), smoked salmon crepes and cinnamon buns. Pick-up Dec. 23, 30, & 31 via Tock. Also: Meal Kits by Stephanie Izard feature smoked taco kit or roasted pork shank kit, Duck Duck Goat favorites like dumplings and slap noodles. Order for local pick-up or national delivery through Goldbelly.

Uvae: (5553 N. Clark): Perfect for small holiday gatherings at home, Holiday Appetizer Platters are available throughout December. Choose from a variety of holiday appetizer platters that serve four to six guests like Cheese and Charcuterie, Duck Pâté, or a Burrata and Marinated Tomato platter for $35 each. A deluxe version for $70 featuring all three platter options will also be available. Delivery or curbside pickup.

Honey Butter Fried Chicken: The holiday menu is all about take and bake, with classic dishes like fried chicken with corn muffins and honey butter or pimento mac ‘n’ cheese; whipped sweet potatoes with marshmallow fluff, Bang! Bang! Pie and Biscuit’s Honey Pie for dessert. Each dish comes in a variety of portions depending on the size of the dinner, and guests will receive simple instructions to reheat their meal in the oven. Order for pickup or delivery on Dec 23.

New Year’s Eve/Day: Try their “Take and Bake” catering menu with some of their classic dishes available for pickup or delivery on Dec. 31 through Honey Butter’s Tock page. The eatery is also open for regular service on New Year’s Eve with various specials as well as a dressed-up version of their namesake sandwich.

Sunday Dinner Club: The Christmas menu ($50 per person) includes an apple and chicory salad with a black truffle vinaigrette and Tallegio, all-day Christmas ragu featuring meatballs, Italian sausage, and fusilli pasta, plus a tiramisu for dessert. Each multi-course meal comes with easy assembly and reheating instructions. Pick up Dec. 23.

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Perry’s Steakhouse: The “Perry Merry” 3-course meal ($45, excluding Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve) features soup or salad, entree (choose from bacon-wrapped filet, roasted lemon chicken, grilled salmon, cedar plank redfish, crispy skin wild red snapper, prime ribeye, prime New York Strip), and dessert or side. View menu details.

Daisies (2523 N. Milwaukee Ave.): Christmas dinner kit ($175) feeds 2 people and includes: prime rib, potatoes au gratin, marinated beets with citrus, creamed Swiss chard, choice of pies from Brite. Kit comes with instructions on how to complete the cooking at home. Pick-up from 9am - 2pm Dec. 24. Place your order via Tock. New Year’s Eve packages also available (prices vary). Highlights include dips, appetizers including King crab dip, signature chips & dip with caviar, Swiss chard artichoke dip, 4-course prix-fixe, served hot and ready to eat; select short rib or whole Rainbow trout for entree; and dessert bites from Brite.

Yūgen (652 W. Randolph): Chef Mari Katsumura’s Christmas Eve tasting menu to-go ($200 per person) boasts a Michelin-starred meal at home featuring seaweed salad with lotus root, littleneck clams, and leek; truffle pasta made with Okara gnocchi, pickled chanterelle, parmigiano, house togarashi, bonito, and Burgundy truffle; Lobster Motoyaki with Royale caviar and crispy potatoes; steak au poivre made with Miyazaki A5 Wagyu, twice-baked potato, alliums, au poivre sauce, and wasabi; with a choice of sticky toffee pudding with bruleed honey crisp apples or moltenchocolate cake with kasu glaze and vanilla Chantilly for dessert. Pickup Dec. 24. Orders must be placed by Dec. 22 at (312) 265-1008 or email admin@yugenchicago.com.

Bayan Ko and Ward Eight Bar are serving up a Chrismas ‘Noche Buena’ Feast and New Year’s Eve Grazing Table Collaboration with Ward Eight. Both of these packages are designed to be picked up the day before the actual holiday and will include detailed reheating and minimal cooking instructions. The packages serve 2-3 people with a wide variety of dishes created by Bayan Ko as well as four cocktails to go and a very affordable bottle of Prosecco from Ward Eight Bar. Guests who purchase the package can choose to pick up at Bayan Ko or Ward Eight Bar in Evanston. Christmas Eve kit is $55 per person and includes roasted pork shoulder marinated in mojo; beef short rib tapa, salted caramel flan; and more. Cocktail Add-Ons are $24-$30 and include Lion’s Tail, Vespers, French 75, and the Mother-In-Law. A bottle of Bisol Jeio Prosecco (750ml) is available for $12.

The New Year’s Eve food package ($65 per person) includes a cheese & charcuterie board, pork belly maki with garlic rice, atchara, and adobo glaze; Lobster Palabok with rice noodles, fennel, saffron, chicharron, and lemon; cassava cake bites with coconut and dulce de leche; midnight grapes for good luck and more. Cocktail Add-Ons are $24-$30 and include Lion’s Tail, Vespers, French 75, and the Mother-In-Law. A bottle of Bisol Jeio Prosecco (750 ml) is available for $12. Order by Dec. 16 via Tock.

Tuscan Hen Market (4019 N. Damen) will be offering lasagnas to-go (prices vary) for Christmas. Choose from spinach, mushroom, Bolognese, beef or braised short rib. The lasagnas come in sizes to feed 2, 4, or 8 people to fit your size gathering no matter how small. Tuscan Hen will also be offering Jake’s County Meats Nitrate-Free Smoked Ham as well as side dishes. For New Year’s Eve, Tuscan Hen will be offering housemade fettuccine to cook at home with a seafood sauce of lobster, crab and shrimp. The pasta comes with a mixed salad with Champagne dressing and molten chocolate cake.