The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a deeply rooted Italian American tradition that honors the custom of abstaining from meat on Christmas Eve with a big seafood-focused meal. Don’t want to prepare multiple fish dishes? Head to these local restaurants for a seasonal seafood celebration.
Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse
On Christmas Eve, celebrate the Feast of the Seven Fishes with good food and great company at this Reston restaurant. Its three-course menu, prepared by executive chef Israel Pacheco, features a first course with prawns and lump crab, an egg fettuccini with scallops and lobster, and a third course of swordfish, clams, and mussels. The à la carte menu is also available. Join Davio’s between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. Reservations are recommended for the $85-per-person feast. 1902 Reston Metro Plz., Reston
Roberto’s Ristorante Italiano
Join James Beard award-winning chef Roberto Donna at his cozy Vienna restaurant December 24 for an elevated eight-course menu that includes poached cod, grilled squid, a soup with mussels, raviolo filled with lobster, and sauteed sea scallops with black truffle. The meal ends with swoon-worthy warm panettone pudding and caramel sauce. The cost is $110 per guest. 144 Church St. NW, Vienna
Hank’s Oyster Bar
Hank’s offers a dazzling feast available for dine-in through December 24, featuring sturgeon caviar, salmon, lobster Wellington, and seafood chowder. The three-course menu leads up to Christmas Eve and runs $78 per guest. 818 N. St. Asaph St., Alexandria
Washington, DC
L’Ardente
See and be seen at this glitzy Italian spot, offering an indulgent Seven Fishes menu December 17–24. Start off your experience with a glass of Veuve Clicquot, followed by oysters, hamachi crudo, scallops, prawns, and more. The meal costs $250 per couple. 200 Massachusetts Ave. NW
RPM Italian
Start a new tradition this Christmas Eve at RPM Italian. A six-course Feast of the Seven Fishes menu is available for dine-in guests. It features king crab tortelli, seafood risotto, Mediterranean octopus, bluefin tuna and caviar, Maine scallops with butternut squash, and more. The meal runs $125 per person with optional wine pairings at $65 per person. 650 K St. NW
Fiola
Revel in the occasion with a top-shelf Feast of the Seven Fishes experience at Fiola. The elegant setting illuminates the menu of oysters, langoustines, sea bream, risotto di mare, hamachi, and more. It’s available December 23 and 24 for $375 per guest. 601 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Lupe Verde Osteria
Spend La Vigilia with Lupo Verde Osteria. The eight-course meal includes hamachi crudo, lump crab meat crostini, octopus, langostino scampi, lobster, branzino, and cioppino. Dinner runs $85 per person. 4814 MacArthur Blvd. NW
Iron Gate Restaurant
Experience chef Anthony Chittum’s Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. The parade of food runs $120 per guest, and features a three-course, family-style menu of dishes inspired by Italian classics and featuring locally and regionally sourced seafood. Wine pairings are available to add on. 1734 N St. NW
Centrolina
Devour warm layered focaccia bread, Venetian whipped cod, mussels, swordfish, and more Italian treats during this four-course family-style feast. It runs $150 per guest, with optional wine pairings available for $75. 974 Palmer Alley NW
Modena Italian Cuisine
Modena’s Christmas Eve menu features grilled Mediterranean octopus, wood oven-roasted Rappahannock oysters, Maryland blue crab, roasted skrei cod, roasted sea bass, and more. The special menu runs $110 per person and wine pairings are an additional $65. The a la carte menu is also available. 1199 H St. NW
Feature image courtesy Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse
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