If you have been following our site for some time, you may be asking yourself why we make a big deal out of the Feast of the Seven Fishes meal on Christmas Eve. It’s a tradition that I was oblivious to for half of my life; not until I met Lisa and got into her family events did I become acquainted with this annual dinner. So why the fuss?
It’s simple, really: it’s a table-full of fish goodness, that’s why! Unless you have an aversion or an allergy to fish (to which I direct my sincerest condolences), what’s not to like about a large spread of the sea’s bounty prepared in a myriad of ways? I mean, really – how could I not talk about the Feast during Christmas time? That, my friends, would be the bigger crime.
Anyways, in Part 1 of our two-part epic miniseries I presented the classes where you could get some cooking tips to help prepare your meal at home. Now I want to talk about the restaurants that will let you enjoy the Feats without having your kitchen reeking of fried fish for weeks (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
If you simply cannot wait for Christmas Eve, and I admire your enthusiasm, a few places are starting their Feasting a few days early. Casamari Italian Traditions in Burlington is having their Feast of the Fishes celebration from December 19 to 24. They are serving a special four-course dinner for $35 per person. Filomena’s in Berlin and Filomena Lakeview in Deptford will be offering their Seven Fishes Menu from December 21 to 24. Their offering is a three-courses dinner for $35. And – Mirabella Cafe in Cherry Hill will have their Feast of the Seven Fishes menu available 0n December 23 and 24.
For the patient ones, there are a number of locations that will have a Seven Fishes menu on Christmas Eve. Down Salem County way you have the Christmas Eve Feast being offered by DiPaolo’s Italian Ristorante in Penns Grove starting at 3PM. It is a buffet dinner for $35 per person. Salem City Cafe is also having a Chirstmas Eve Seven Fish Buffet from 4PM to 7PM for $34.95 per person.
Moving up to Gloucester County, Adelphia Restaurant & Bar in Deptford is having their Feast of the Seven Fishes starting at 4PM for only $29.95 per person. Terra Nova in Sewell will have their Feast of the Seven Fishes menu available from 3PM to 8PM. They will have a four-course offering for $40.
Heading further up to Camden County, you will find a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner being served at Max’s Seafood Cafe in Gloucester City. The dinner for the evening will be $33 per person. A Traditional Seven Fishes Dinner is being offered at Nunzio’s Ristorante Rustico in Collingswood staring at 3PM on Christmas Eve. The cost for dinner will be $55 per person.
And heading up north further still, Scaturro’s in Marlton will have their Traditional 7 Fishes dinner menu available from 4PM to 8PM.
Finally – if you are looking to bring the Feast home with you, Mirabella Cafe and Bacio Catering in Moorestown will provide a take-home version for you.
If I find any other tasty Seven Fishes dinners, I will update this post.
UPDATE 12/19! Blackbird in Collingswood is going to have a Seven Fishes Feast on Christmas Eve. It will be a five-course dinner for $55.
We used this column to select the Adelphia’s Feast of the 7 Fishes on Christmas Eve. Thank you a million times for posting this as that was the highlight of our holiday season. The food and setting were terrific and such a great bargain at $30 per person. We bought a bottle of wine for the three of us. Dinner took 2 1/2 hours — easy, unhurried enjoyment with pleasant service and nice decor. Limoncello and biscotti were the final ‘course’ – so very nice! We would do it again.
Gloria – So glad to hear you had an enjoyable Feast!