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After Thanksgiving, many don’t want to prepare an additional feast just a month later. A holiday season’s worth of stress is nearly over, so why not cut yourself loose a little bit early? This year, instead of cooking a feast for your entire family, order ahead or plan to attend a festive celebration for your holiday dinner! From upscale jazz clubs to beloved BBQ joints, there are plenty of restaurants in the area preparing Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve dinners, so whether you don’t celebrate the holiday or simply want a night off from the kitchen, you’re in luck.
OAK & REEL
2921 East Grand Boulevard, Detroit
Join Oak & Reel on New Year’s Eve to ring in the new year with a delectable 4-course menu. Michelin-starred Chef Jared Gadbaw will be serving dishes from his seasonal menu, like homemade pasta, crudo, and fresh seafood, as well as holiday specials to choose from. This celebratory dinner costs $135 per person, with a $30 deposit required when making your reservation.
K-BLOCKS BBQ
66880 Van Dyke Avenue, Washington
K-Blocks BBQ is bringing back its beloved Christmas feast. “Why stress about holiday cooking, when our family can cook for yours,” says owner Michael Corbeille. K-Blocks BBQ is smoking hams and boneless turkey breasts, and offering upgrades to award-winning brisket or prime rib. Feast prices depend on the meat of choice, but all feasts include coleslaw, cheesy hash browns, green bean casserole, mac and cheese, rolls, and apple pie. Orders are available until December 20th for pick up on December 24th from 12 to 3:00 p.m. for a convenient meal option.
BLUE LLAMA JAZZ CLUB
314 South Main Street, Ann Arbor
Blue LLama Jazz Club offers a harmonious blend of music and fine dining. Planned for New Year’s Eve are two events, with the early show featuring the Bob Mervak Quartet and the late-night show with Gayelynn McKinney & the McKinney Zone. In addition to incredible performances, guests can, “enjoy a chef-curated four-course tasting menu to round out your evening,” shares Haley Burrill, Digital Marketing Manager. Attendees of the Late New Year’s Eve Dinner & Show will also be able to join in on a champagne toast as guests count down to 2024.
BLACK PEARL
302 South Main Street, Ann Arbor
If you’re looking to party into the New Year, this one is more than Ken-ough! “Celebrate the new year as the glamorous icon, Barbie, and bring your own Ken,” co-owner Jacob Doyal tells us. “The venerable Black Pearl will once again host Ann Arbor’s most exciting New Year’s Eve Celebration, this year with a dressed-to-impress Barbie theme. Famous for both elegance and simplicity, enjoy our creative libations and delicious culinary expressions. The music and dancing starts at 10:00 p.m.” The holiday dinner seating starts at 9:30 p.m., and this event will feature a costume contest and a pink champagne toast that perfectly fits the theme.
MARROW
8044 Kercheval, Detroit
Whether you want to dine in or have a meal prepared for you, Marrow is an excellent choice. “The Marrow team loves combining the art of food and wine with the excitement and merriment of the holidays,” shares Sarah Welch, partner/executive chef at Marrow. For holiday dinner reservations, grab a seat on December 21st through 23rd or the 28th through the 31st. These holiday meals are $100 per person, with a four-course tasting menu inspired by the steakhouse.
If you’d rather be home for the holidays, Marrow is offering several options for pickup or delivery. The Holiday Meal for Two is $110, ready-to-heat, and oh-so-filling. This choice comes with crab cakes and shrimp cocktail among the snacks, with a dinner of lobster bisque, Caesar salad with a lemon vinaigrette, truffled lasagna with Michigan mushrooms, and beef Wellington tenderloin in puff pastry, creamed spinach, and duchess potatoes. For dessert, enjoy chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream, caramel, and candied nuts. Other options to pre-order include holiday ham, duck, lamb crown roast, crab pot pie, charcuterie boards, and more. Welch tells us, “The holidays are so special. The culinary team are all crafters at heart and making beautiful food is second nature to us.”
LUCIANO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT
39091 Garfield Road, Clinton Township
Known for its authentic Italian cuisine, Luciano’s Italian Restaurant is a wonderful choice for those looking to enjoy a traditional and cozy holiday meal. Luciano’s is offering both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve menus, and they are extensive. Choose from options like chicken Marsala, lamb chops ai Ferri, mostaccoli, and more when dining in. If you’d prefer to host without the hassle of cooking, you can order trays to go. Preorder appetizers, bread, pasta, entrees, desserts, and much more. If you hide the containers, your guests may be none the wiser!
THE RATTLESNAKE CLUB
300 River Place Drive, Detroit
The Rattlesnake Club, with its stunning riverfront views, is another excellent option for holiday dining. For New Year’s Eve, attendees will get to enjoy a five-course dinner with wine pairings for $150 per person. Listen to live music featuring John Davis, and experience the evening of multiple courses. The passed appetizers will include crab cakes and short rib stuffed mushrooms, while the first course is a citrus caprese salad with fresh grapefruit, blood orange, and caracara orange. The second course features Thai peanut sweet potato noodles with coriander lime-scented prawns, and the third is pricini mushroom scented filet of beef with truffled fingerling smashed potatoes, cognac wild mushroom cream sauce, and sage-infused coulis. For dessert, indulge in cheesecake stuffed strawberries and mixed chocolate truffles.
There are plenty of options when it comes to holiday dinner in Metro Detroit on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve. Be sure to double-check the number in your party, make a reservation ahead of time and it’ll be smooth sailing from there. Happy Holidays!
This article has been updated to include new information. The original article was published on December 22, 2014, and was authored by Toni Cunningham.
