We’re all home for the holidays this year and between virtual school, working from home, buying presents, and staying festive amidst the existential dread that is 2020, cooking is just not happening. But between takeout meals, meal kits, to-go cocktails, treats, and more, we are sure to have a delicious holiday. Here are some top picks, including spots open on Christmas Day. We’re adding more (including many more dessert and cocktail packages!), so be sure to check back as you plan your holiday.

El Camino Real

1040 N. Second St.

Order by December 22, pickup on December 23

 

El Camino offers a lot of flexibility with prix fixe and a la carte options, plus add-on cocktails and extra desserts! All-inclusive packages include an entree, sides, salad, rolls, vegetables, and yule log or red velvet roll desserts. Order for two, four, or even 8-10 people. You can also pick any of their offerings a la carte, depending on your needs and tastes. Plus, add on fun 32- or 64-ounce cocktail pitchers like Jingle Juice and Santa’s Little Helper!

SliCE’s ‘Pizza of the Seven Fishes’

1180 S. 10th St. and 431 E Girard Ave.; Delivery available citywide

 

You’ve heard of “Feast of the Seven Fishes” for Christmas Eve, but have you ever had the whole freaking feast on one pizza? Marlo and Jason Dilks of SliCE created this special seasonal pizza is inspired by their families’ Christmas Eve traditions. The pizza features mozzarella topped with clams, mussels, shrimp, tuna, crab meat, and sardine all sauteed with fresh olive oil and garlic, and topped with anchovies, fresh lemon, and basil. It’s available for pickup or delivery now until Christmas Eve.

Garces Catering (and kids’ menu)

Order by December 19, pickup on December 23 and 24

Pickup at Olde Bar, 125 Walnut St.

 

With its various restaurants teaming up for some really decadent catering, Garces is going all out this year. You can order the celebrate Christmas Eve with an Amada tradition at home with their ready-to-heat meal including choice of prime rib or turkey, plus so many sides, holiday cookies, and spiced hot chocolate. Or you can opt for the Garces Trading Company Christmas Family Dinner that features turkey or sliced pineapple-glazed ham along with sides and dessert. Thanks to Olde Bar, you can also order a Christmas Eve Feast of the Seven Fishes. Add Christmas Cocktails to go (including egg nog!) by calling The Olde Bar at (215) 253-3777. The selection includes a dozen cocktails from The Olde Bar with seasonal additions.

 

If all of these options are too fancy for your kids (my daughter isn’t touching mussels, and she’s not sorry), you can add on kids’ favorites like pizza and burgers a la carte. You can also order a whole separate holiday cookie tray for pickup or delivery. And if you time it right, you can pair it with a virtual Santa storytime!

Hudson Table

1001 N. Second St., Unit 01
Order by December 20, pickup on December 23

 

Hudson has created holiday catering kits for four including a whole chicken, cacio e pepe lasagna, vegetables, broccoli casserole, and whipped butternut squash cake. Reheating instructions will be provided and they will be offering streamlined take out with a focus on minimal contact and enhanced safety procedures.

Talula’s Daily

208 W. Washington Square
Order by December 18, pickup on December 23 or 24

 

Talula’s Daily will offer a special holiday menu for Christmas and New Year’s. Customers can choose from a variety of gourmet, seasonally inspired options for brunch, “Snacks & Starters,” entrees, and desserts (including a homemade cookie gift box).

Di Bruno Brothers

1730 Chestnut St. and 930 S. Ninth St.

Order by December 18

 

A package for six people includes your choice of entree, appetizer, sides, and dessert. Add on more sides, appetizers, wine, and even flowers! If you’re late to order a whole package, chances are you can find some a la carte items in the Rittenhouse location’s prepared food section and bakery, so don’t give up!

Iron Hill Brewery

1150 Market St.

Order by December 21, pickup December 24

 

Iron Hill is offering three different options of takeout meals that will satisfy the family. All options serve six and include a pre-cooked turkey breast with gravy meal ($80) or a prepare-at-home, pre-seasoned prime rib roast ($150) or honey garlic glazed roast pork loin ($80). All meals come with twice baked potatoes as well as a side of either creamed spinach or roasted asparagus. Meal add-ons include crab cakes, lobster tail, pesto shrimp skewers, and individual molten chocolate lava cakes.

 

Open on Christmas Day

Smokin’ Betty’s and Devil’s Alley Christmas Feast

1907 Chestnut St. and 116 S. 11th St.

Available for hot pick-up on December 24 and 25; outdoor dining reservations also available

 

These two restaurants are teaming up for one giant feast, including in-person dining on Christmas Even and Christmas Day! $45 per person includes soup, salad, choice of entrée, two sides, and dessert. There is also a $20 kids’ meal option. Delivery is available through DoorDash, or you can arrange to pick up your feast on December 24 or 25.

Dim Sum House

1930 Chestnut St. and 3939 Chestnut St.

Open for takeout and delivery on December 24 and 25

 

Dim Sum House will be serving its full menu, plus a special new holiday feast for two or four people which includes a half Peking duck, ginger scallion lobster, and dim sum.

Urban Farmer at the Logan Hotel

1850 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Pickup on December 24 and 25

 

Urban Farmer offers a special holiday menu with choice of ribeye or ham, plus sides and choice of pie. You can pre-order for Christmas Eve or even Christmas Day, with curbside pickup available both days.

Parc 

227 S. 18th St.

Preorder holiday meal by December 20; takeout, delivery, and outdoor dining available December 25

 

We love Parc anytime, but we definitely appreciate that the kid-friendly French bistro on the Square is open on Christmas Day — and their new outdoor dining setup is especially cozy, so if you’re hoping to dine in person be sure to get a reservation. If it’s unseasonably warm, you can even go play in the park after your meal! Parc is also offering special holiday meal packages available for pick up to reheat at home (pre-order by December 20). If you miss the order date for that, they will have takeout and delivery on Christmas Day as well, just not that particular package.

Bonus Round: Cocktails!

Photograph by Kristen Micucci

Tinsel

112 S. 12th Street

 

This annual Christmas-themed pop-up bar is taking a different form this year. Rather than an indoor bar, there will be a twinkling outdoor streetery where you can enjoy Christmas themed cocktails, along with the food menu from next-door Sueno. For our takeout purposes here, things get even better because this is the first year you can bring kids along to walk through the inside, which is now a festive one-way holiday journey full of little surprises and a quick photo opportunity as you order and pickup your to-go goodies. No food or drink is allowed for consumption inside, and masks are required at all times when inside ordering or picking up. All food and drink will be packaged and sealed to go.

 

Select drinks will be served in a Christmas ornament, a Santa’s boot, a snowglobe, and other souvenir vessels to take home and keep. The popular cranberry Canned Good Cocktail will return with a portion of the proceeds going to feed furloughed workers out of a job due to the government shutdown of indoor dining. Tinsel will be open through at least December 31.

Bud & Marilyn’s

1234 Locust St.

 

Pick up irreverently illustrated holiday-themed cocktail pouches like “Santa! Oh My God I Know Him!” and even a Schitt’s Creek (or, “Merry Schittsmas”) one!

The Olde Bar

125 Walnut Street

 

From holiday meals to cookies with Santa, Garces Trading Company is offering so many festive experiences to make the season a little brighter (see above for meal options). In addition, they have added two holiday-themed cocktails to their menu: The Olde Bar Aged Egg Nog and A Partridge in a Spiced Pear Tree. Either are $20 for a two-serving size or $65 for an eight-serving size.

 

Additionally, if you’re inspired and want to make your own drinks, you can go ahead and order a curated selection of premium bartending tools used by the mixologists at The Olde Bar! The Bartender’s Tool Kit required three days’ notice, but is a great gift idea!

 

 

Taqueria Amor’s Christmas Takeover

4410 Main Street, Manayunk

 

Manayunk’s Taqueria Amor has been transformed into Senor Grinch’s for the holiday season, with over 50,000 lights and a Grinch-themed menu with hot and cold cocktails (and mocktails). This festive takeover will last through December 26. Outdoor dining and takeout are both available.

Cry Baby Pasta

627 S. 3rd Street

 

Add onto your meal order with one-quart batched cocktails for $20. Choose from Spiked Eggnog or Wassail Spiked Spiced Cider. While you’re ordering festive beverages, you can also pre-order a special Hot Chocolate Grazing Box which includes hot chocolate mix, housemade marshmallows, cookies, and more. The box will be available for pickup on December 22 or 23.

Hawthorne’s

738 S. 11^th St.

 

In addition to their to-go menu of beer, wine, and cocktails, you can also order a special Hot Cocktails Gift Box which includes the ingredients and directions to make Irish coffee, spiked peppermint hot chocolate, and mulled wine. The kits make one serving of each beverage, and include three cute mason jars to serve them in, too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lead photograph courtesy of Aversa PR.