Top 5 Restaurants to Devour a Feast of the Seven Fishes

For many traditionalists, a Christmas Eve meal is not complete without eating fish—seven different kinds of fish, to be exact. Consult our latest dining guide to discover where you should be devouring the season’s seafood feasts.

For many with Italian roots, a Christmas Eve meal is not complete without eating fish—seven different kinds of fish, in fact. In honor of the seafood-laden tradition, we’re lining up the top spots for you to satisfy your need for an authentic, pre-Christmas feast.

Chestnut Hill’s Mica prepares to debut a modernized seven fishes feast featuring innovative spins on traditional Italian classics. Selections include poached baby octopus kissed with whipped apple cider to start, charred baby scallops with huckleberries, long fin tuna with tofu mousse, Bouchot mussels with pork cheek and maltose crackling, and so much more. Full menu here. Cost is $65 per person (excluding tax, gratuity & beverages). Visit micarestaurant.com.

Conshohocken’s Pepperoncini will offer its feast of seven fishes for to-go only. Skip the tedious cooking, and instead, swing by Poplar Street to snag your fish-heavy assortment. From baccala in red or white sauce, to fried smelts, flounder Francaise, sauteed calamari, lobster ravioli, shrimp cocktail, crab cakes, scallops with bacon, and so much more, the traditional options are endless and available for your choosing. Pick-up is available from 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; orders requested in advance. Visit pepperoncinirestaurant.com.

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Chef John Brandt-Lee will present his traditional Christmas Eve feasts at both Avalon Bistro (of Downingtown) and Avalon (of West Chester). The five-course prix fixe meal includes: antipasti, pasta, secondi, insalata digestive and dolce. Highlights of the menu include an antipasti of white anchovies with fried smelts, baccala fritter and fried calamari; linguine with shrimp, mussels and crab; skate wing with brown butter sauce, and tilapia piccata with white wine sauce. This feast, which is designed to be ordered by the entire party, is $45 per person; $15 for children under 12. Child-friendly options will be available, as will a limited a la carte menu. Reservations necessary. Visit avalonrestaurant.net.

Since Black Friday, Phoenixville’s Dominic’s Ristorante Italiano has featured a signature “Feast of the Seven Fishes” entree packed with all the necessary pieces—shrimp, scallops, salmon, lobster, tuna, baccala, and crab cake. Served on a bed of linguine accented with white wine sauce, if you’re going to order one entree this Christmas Eve—this is it. Visit dominicsphoenixville.com.

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