Where to Order the Feast of the Seven Fishes in Philly
An Italian-American Christmas tradition, to go.
Olde Bar’s Feast of the Seven Fishes
Feast of the Seven Fishes is, in my opinion, the best Italian tradition that isn’t Italian. Like eggplant parm and peas in your carbonara, it’s a delicious Italian-American adaptation based on the Catholic tradition of eating fish (a leaner meal) the night before a holiday or feast. So, yes, a pre-feast feast. It’s become a custom for many northeastern Italian-American families to cook the spread for family and friends at home on Christmas Eve, but for the average (or even highly-skilled) home cook, pulling off a meal with seven different types of fish can feel overwhelming. Instead, let the pros take on all that stress with these easy to-go options. Buon natale.
The Olde Bar
The Garces’ Group’s The Olde Bar typically serves a full-out seven fishes meal, which they’ve adapted this year for takeout. For $67.50 per person you’ll get cured hamachi pastrami, jumbo shrimp cocktail, curried mussels, crab and corn chowder, bay scallop pappardelle, lobster pot pie, and tile fish en pappillote and all topped off with a chocolate cake. Order at least three days in advance.
Slice, Italian Market, Fishtown, Washington Township
Every year, Slice offer their Pizza of the Seven Fishes. It’s a mozzarella topped with clams, mussels, shrimp, tuna, crab meat and sardines, all sauteed with fresh olive oil and garlic, and topped with anchovies, fresh lemon and basil. Order ahead by calling the Slice closest to you and pick up on December 24th. Add on a seafood caesar to round out the meal.
Positano Coast
At $120 for two, Positano Coast’s feast is quite a luxurious option. Start with a chilled crab and tuna salad, lobster croquettes, a salad of octopus, shrimp, and calamari, then move on to a seafood paccheri pasta, grilled branzino fillets, and a spread of Italian christmas desserts.
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Oyster House
What better place to get a seafood-heavy meal than Oyster House? The Philly stalwart is keeping it super old school Italian with a smoked fish dip, clams casino, a chilled seafood mixto, linguini with crab gravy, and tiramisu. Order by December 21st.
Osteria
If you’re in it for the pasta, opt for Osteria’s feast, which include baked clams amatriciana, baccala lasagna, and stuffed conchiglie, as well as shrimp cocktail, a whole branzino, and more. Finish it off with tiramisu for dessert. Call the restaurant to place your order by December 20th.
a.kitchen
a.kitchen is offering a rotating selection of special holidays meals, including their winter bouillabaisse available for pick-up on December 24th. The seafood stew will be accompanied by salad and dessert.
Fork
As always, Fork’s feast is a global mix of luxurious ingredients. This year that includes Portuguese sardines, oysters rockefeller, seared tuna, lobster macaroni and cheese and more.
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The Wayward
Though it’s not specifically intended for the feast of the seven fishes, the Wayward’s grand plateau is available for pick and delivery, and it includes exactly seven seafood items. You’ll hit the mark with lobster, caviar, shrimp cocktail, mussels, tuna tartare, and oysters.
Bomb Bomb
Unlike most takeout feasts this year, Bomb Bomb is offering an a la carte option for those who may want, say, only 4 fishes. Choose from mussels, fried shrimp, stuffed calamari, crab cakes, and so much more. Order by December 18th for pick up on the 23rd or 24th.
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Kay Kay’s
Another more casual offering from Kay Kay’s gives you the option to build you own meal with crab cakes, bacon-wrapped scallops, shrimp cocktail, seafood pastas, and much more. Call to order by December 18th.
