For an Italian twist on the Christmas Eve dinner, the famous Feast of the Seven Fishes (or La Vigilia) can't be beat. Traditionally consisting of at least seven seafood courses, the epic meal varies from home to home and restaurant to restaurant. But because of its elaborate premise, it has long been a favorite for chefs to play with. Here are a few restaurants still taking reservations for the feast:
Barbuto: Chef Jonathan Waxman brings a market-driven approach to his prix fixe repast that includes risotto with sweet Maine shrimp and Umbrian black truffles and roasted striped bass with Meyer lemon and sunchokes (5:30–midnight; $60 per person; 212-924-9700).
Gonzo: This Greenwich Village Italian is offering more than seven different forms of seafood (not to mention dessert) in a meal that includes cold seafood salad, baked clams,
sauteed mussels, grilled salmon, prosciutto-wrapped diver scallops and more (5:30–10 PM; $60 per person; 212-645-4606).
Gusto: Chef Amanda Freitag's rendition includes grilled baby octopus, spicy shellfish soup, hollow spaghetti with sardines, pan-seared tuna and a frozen orange and lemon mousse (noon–11PM; $75 per person, $115 with wine pairings; 212-924-8000).
Otto Enoteca: Mario Batali's casual Italian eatery is serving an antipasti version of the feast from now through the new year. Served on a large platter, it includes baccala salad, orata pickled in white wine vinegar, baked semolina-dusted king fish, marinated eel and poached shrimp in basil pesto (11:30 AM–midnight; $32 per person; 212-995-9559).