Order Your Holiday Feast To-Go
Mediterra cheeseboard styled by Quelcy Kogel. Photographed by Jeff Swensen. Stoneware by FD Ceramics.
Place orders for your carefree holiday feasts now. Below are details from a few of Pittsburgh’s wonderful restaurants. If yours isn’t on the list, pick up the phone and give them a call. They need us all to show up at the carry out window this winter. If you do your part, your plate will be full, the chefs’ hearts will be warmer…and our small business community might sleep better from having heard from you!
Mediterra Café
Christmas breakfast/brunch and Christmas dinner
Order by December 18 from a fantastic menu majestically captained by a three bone rib roast seasoned with garlic and rosemary that serves 6 to 8 people. Pair it with butternut squash lasagna, oyster and crab stew, mac and cheese, turnip gratin.
If you’re in a grazing mode, order one of Mediterra’s amazing cheeseboards for anywhere from four to fourteen people. If you’re starting the day with this group, you might want to plan ahead with Mediterra cinnamon rolls, Christmas stollen, cranberry muffins and chocolate pistachio pound cake.
Plan your pick up on December 23 at noon, or between 8am and noon on Christmas Day.
Morcilla
Cochinillo Feast for December 23, 26 or 27 pick up
If you’ve ever sat down in person to the full cochinillo experience at Morcilla, you’ll understand why we’re excited about the idea of a re-heatable meal kit that will give you the experience at home. Start with the sweet and bitter notes of a chicory and citrus salad. Move on to the unforgettable roast suckling pig seasoned with romesco, piperade, and salsa verde. Plate the cochnillo wth celery root and sunchoke gratin and roasted and marinated cabbage. Finish off the feast with chocolate soufflé cake…and thank your lucky stars for having skied successfully down the double black diamond slopes of 2020!
Fl. 2 at The Fairmont
Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s dinners
Fl. 2 at the Fairmont
Scrumptious Christmas dinners include a choice of herb-crusted rotisserie roasted pork loin or red wine braised short ribs, accompanied by a bevy of side options including leek and potato soup, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, wild rice pilaf with beets and cranberries. Chocolate cream pie or winter berry cobbler pie complete the scene. Extra side dishes and desserts can be ordered a la carte. Place orders by Monday, December 21st. Christmas to-go dinners are available for four people ($150 plus tax) or eight people ($290 plus tax).
You can also ring in 2021 with a festive party to-go party from Fl. 2. Offerings include a cheese and charcuterie board, spinach and artichoke dip, crudité vegetable platter and hummus, a seasonal fruit and berry platter with brown sugar crema, and a dozen deviled eggs. Also available are appetizers to-go, pricing per person, including vegetable spring rolls with citrus soy, mac and cheese squares with habanero aioli, coconut shrimp with sweet chili sauce, beef wellington with red wine jus, and duck spring rolls with five-spice ginger sauce. Place orders by December 28th at 3 pm. Packages are for four people ($60 plus tax) or eight people ($120 plus tax).
To order from Fl 2., call 412-773-8848 or email pittsburgh@fairmont.com.
Cioppino
Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s dinners
Cioppino only needs two hours notice to make your holiday feast happen. For Christmas, enjoy a prime rib dinner with horseradish mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, jus, bread and butter for $60 for two people, or $120 for four. Last day for pick up is December 23.
You can also ring in 2021 with bowls of lobster bisque, fresh wedge salad, four-ounce filets with truffle demi, four-ounce crab cakes with tartar sauce, asparagus, mini chocolate mousse pie or champagne panna cotta for $80 for for two . Order up until December 31 for contactless curbside pickup.
To order, call 412-281-6593.
Apteka
apteka-pittsburgh-holiday menu
Special holiday menu pick ups for December 22, 23 and 24
In some very Christmas-y parts of the world, lekvar pierogi filled with plum jam are de rigeur during the holidays! Apteka can take you there with their holiday curbside pick up program. You can get sauerkraut, potato or mixed pierogi, and finish your feast with poppyseed roll or dark gingerbread cake. Perhaps a jug of mulled wine would be nice, too?
Black Radish Kitchen
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dinner, Christmas Day Brunch, New Year’s Day dinner
Inspired by the cult classic movie Big Night starring Stanley Tucci and Tony Shaloub, Kate Romane and her team have crafted a Big Night Christmas Dinner. The menu, which serves six, includes the movie’s signature dish, a timpano. This Sicilian showstopper layers pasta, meatballs, meats, cheeses, and more, in a gorgeous pastry shell. Sides include grilled rapini with seasoned bread crumbs, roasted cannellini beans with sage, and a savory “olive garden” salad.
To accompany pre-dinner drinks, Romane offera a super-sized antipasto tray which includes fried anchovies with lemon aioli; cold marinated shrimps with parsley salsa verde; grilled artichoke and spinach dip with crostini; meats, cheese, olives and little pickles; the chef’s famous “gorg mess” dip and a smoky eggplant spread to spread on housemade focaccia.
For dessert, try Black Radish Tiramisu. The Big Night Christmas Eve/ Christmas Day dinner is $250 and will be delivered or available on December 23rd. The meal will have finishing instructions provided.
A sumptuous brunch menu for six to eight people is also available for $180, which includes delivery on December 24. No holiday would be complete without a Black Radish brunch experience. Romane has assembled an impressive spread of Breakfast Bread stuffed with fresh mozzarella, olive, mushroom, and grilled rapini with house red sauce and parm on the side; a Torte Rustica egg pie- ricotta, salami, capicola, hot sopressata, sweet peppers and spinach; Sfogliatella with apricot jam; chocolate almond and hazelnut biscotti; and a salad of farm greens, orange, shaved fennel, watermelon radish, onion, walnuts, and white balsamic vinaigrette.
A traditional New Year's Day dinner is also available, with generous helpings of lucky and comforting foods like pork, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, black eyed peas, collard greens, pickled veggies, and house focaccia with apple butter and herb butter. Romane is also throwing in two soups for the freezer. The package is $150 and includes delivery on December 31st.
Vivo Kitchen
Christmas or Christmas Eve Dinner
Sam DiBattista is at the ready with a holiday repast for two of braised short ribs over polenta, butter lettuce salad with truffle oil vinaigrette, and a pint of candy cane gelato. Pre-order by December 19 for pick up December 23, or on the 24th from 11am to 1pm. Email info@vivokitchen.com to reserve your delicious meal.
Casbah
Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Dinners
This Mediterranean oasis offers dinners for 2 with a “take and bake” message: pick it up at the restaurant and put it in the oven at home! One of theeir Christmas offerings is a Salmon for Two package that includes salmon seared raw and ready to heat up to desired temperature, accompanied by whole grain mustard aioli, crispy fingerling potatoes, roasted parsnips and celery root…and a wonderfully dark flourless chocolate cake.
Among the New Year’s “take and bake” combos is a crab and leek potato gratin dish, served with couscous, butternut squash, spinach, pepitas, apple slaw and apple cider tahini; winter salad with goat cheese, apples, lentils and cranberries in a pomegranate vinaigrette. The dessert here: bread pudding with crème anglaise.
Even more spectacular is the New Year’s Eve four course tasing menu. At $65 per person, Casbah provides an over the top buffet of tuna tartare, Chilean sea bass, and petite Filet — each of which comes with its own fantastic sauces and sides. Dessert is flourless chocolate cake with raspberries and Champagne pastry cream. Sparkling wine to go options include Revino Prosecco ($35), Juve y Camps Brut Rosé Cava ($55) and Thierry Triolet Brut Champagne ($75).
The Commoner
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve Dinner
The Commoner’s kitchens, helmed by Executive Chef Dave Racicot, are keeping things merry and bright this holiday season.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner will be offered for delivery and carry out. The $55 prix fixe option begins with an Artisan Greens Salad topped with dried fruits and nuts and drizzled with red verjus dressing. The main course is a choice of traditional Prime Rib Roast served with Yorkshire pudding and Robuchon potatoes, or Berkshire Ham glazed with clove syrup and served with fried Brussels sprouts, caramelized cauliflower gratin, and truffled mac and cheese. Dessert follows with choices of Frozen Egg Nog Baked Alaska or Bouche De Noel.
The Commoner will also be offering a New Year’s Eve dinner, with details available soon.
Station
Christmas dinner
Ease into Christmas dinner with Chef Curtis Gamble’s mini-ham dinner for two, priced at $70. Two cured ham shanks with brown sugar glaze are accompanied by spiced pear salad, scalloped potatoes, honey mustard-glazed carrots, and a quarter-pound wedge of fudge, flavor of your choice, from Fusion Fudge. Everything arrives ready to heat. Pick-ups are December 23 from 3pm to 8pm, though appointments for other times can be made if necessary.
Curtis recommends a pre-dinner cocktail of his sumptuous house-made red sangria, white sangria or rum punch. All are designed to sip on all day (to ease those holiday stresses and strains). Made with luscious ingredients, they come in batches of four or eight servings.
Food and drink details, and more, at the link above.
Khalil’s
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dinner, Holiday packages and trays, Holiday gifting
The enthusiastic turnout for their Syrian Thanksgiving dinner offering put sisters and owners Leila and Dalel on the path to bringing more of their family traditions to Pittsburgh dinner tables for Christmas. They’ve also added some delicious and meaningful gifting options to the festive mix, as well as Lebanese and Palestinian wines from The Holy Land.
Khalil’s Syrian Christmas Dinner is now available for pre-order, with Dalel and Leila offering options for dinners for one, two, or six people. The dinner features Samket Levantine, a marinated baked fish topped with shrimp and served with a bisque-style sun-dried tomato and garlic sauce topped with toasted almonds. The meal also comes with their family’s Syrian rice; Lubie Siamee green beans in a garlic olive oil sauce; Khalil’s signature salad; Apple Raisin Cinnamon Baklava; and dinner rolls. Orders must be placed no later than Monday, December 21, 2020.
Email orders to: info@khalilsrestaurant.com. Pick up times are 4PM - 7PM on Wednesday, December 23 and Thursday, December 24. Dinners are $130 for 4-6 people, $65 for two, and $32.50 for individual dinners.
Khalil’s is also serving up cocktails-to-go designed by Dalel Khalil, as well as hors d’oeuvres boards and mazza trays filled with Mediterranean nibbles. Details on their website.
Kaya
New Year’s Dinner
Kaya’s good luck pork and cabbage meal will be ready for pickup after noon on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. Heating instructions are included. Please order by phone by 5pm on December 30. Packages for two ($55) or four ($95) are available.
This delicious bringer-of-good-fortune meal includes a Kaya salad, braised Jerk pork shoulder, Jamaican steamed cabbage, sautéed sweet plantains, rice and beans, Mojo Rojo sauce, and a choice of coffee rum cake or banana chocolate bread pudding. Try a traditional side of macaroni and cheese for $15.
If you’re in a Caribbean frame of mind, a quart of sorrel tea toddy, made of Wigle Landlocked Oaked, hibiscus tea, lemon, honey is a fantastic idea ($25).
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dinner
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto has added a Fresh Fish and Seafood Market to their online carry-out options just in time to prepare for the mother of all holiday meals. Guests can stock up on fresh seafood and shellfish to fill their tables for a classic Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve or create new fresh seafood options for Christmas Day. Shoppers can choose from a variety of fresh catches like Chilean sea bass, Akura salmon, whole Branzino, Ahi tuna, and swordfish, or impressive Snow Crab Legs, Maine lobster tails, jumbo dry sea scallops, and Golden Paradise shrimp.
The kitchen has also designed meal-kits for two. These decadent holiday spreads include options like Monterey Bay’s signature crab cakes for two starting with shrimp cocktail followed by a choice of artisan or house Caesar salad and a choice of accompaniments like roasted carrots with lemon vinaigrette, red potatoes au gratin, and simply seasoned asparagus. Dessert choices include angel food grilled cheese sandwich, dark chocolate raspberry truffle cake. The wide selection of meal kits includes surf and turf offerings of some of Monterey Bay's most popular dishes like the roasted beef Tenderloin, honey lime salmon, Parmesan swordfish, Chilean sea bass with chimichurri, and seared Big Eye tuna sashimi.
Monterey Bay is also offering cocktails-for-two to-go. Choose from the Peachy Kween for Two with Parking Chair Vodka, Aperol, Dimmi, lemon, and peach bitters, or the Sneaky Tiki for two with MF Dark Rum, MF Spiced Rum, Big Spring Coconut Rum, banana, and fresh pineapple.
Pane è Pronto from DiAnoia’s Eatery
Christmas and Christmas Eve dinners
If you’re looking for a full holiday feast, Pane è Pronto’s Christmas for Two features thick-sliced porchetta and porchetta gravy, cacio e pepe mashed potatoes, three-cheese lasagna, focaccia bread, whipped ricotta, meatballs and an assortment of Italian cookies. Optional sides include roasted cauliflower with ricotta and herbed breadcrumbs and stuffing made with house-baked bread.
There’s also house-made panettone, which will be available from December 16 - 19. This sweet and buttery yeast-leavened bread – with its recognizable dome shape – is a classic Italian Christmas treat. Pane è Pronto’s panettone is studded with raisins, oranges, chocolate and a topping of almonds.
Square Cafe
Hanukkah, Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Holiday Dinners
The colorful cafe that has recently made the heart of East Liberty its new home is switching up their catering model for the Holiday season. The festive menu will be available a la carte for guests to design their own holiday table with Square’s chefs and staff doing everything except the dishes.
Starting with appetizers, Square Cafe is offering their familiar favorites like the mini crab cakes with dill aioli, spinach artichoke dip, and Thai chicken skewers. The cafe is offering entrees like braised brisket, roasted turkey breast with house-made gravy, potato-crusted salmon with horseradish & arugula, and baked ham with brown sugar glaze. True to form, Square Cafe also offers plenty of options for vegans and vegetarians with selections of roasted vegetables and the tofu & ancient grains stir fry with soy and sesame seeds.
A wide array of side dishes always makes it feel like a party. Choose from noodle kugel, sour cream and onion mashed potatoes, candied yams, Mascarpone mac and cheese, potato latkes with sour cream and applesauce, roasted Brussels sprouts with Parmesan breadcrumbs, and more.
Customers can add on a variety of breads, from Christmas stollen to challah and rustic dinner rolls, and select from seasonal salads as well. The café has dessert covered, too. Square’s in-house pastry chef will be whipping up house desserts to go, with offerings and details available online.
Scratch & Co
New Years Day Dinner
Scratch & Co. is setting good intentions for the New Year with a traditional dinner with a twist. Order up slow-cooked pork shoulder paired with Scratch’s own MADE by Scratch & Co. brand red sauerkraut and fermented turnip purée. The MADE brand of products are locally sourced shelf-stable items that focus on four core values- they are sustainable, equitable, charitable, and local. MADE produces shelf-stable products from fruit butters to a variety of pickled and fermented goods to specialty sauces and relishes.
Dinners are $18 each and can be combined with a MADE gift pack of 2 items of your choice for $29.
Carry-out orders can be scheduled for pick-up and Scratch & Co.’s Troy Hill location or at Bar Botanico as a part of the winter Scratch & Co. x Bar Botanico pop-up.
Sprezzatura
Holiday desserts
Owner Jen Saffron says, “We are really excited to bring joy to people’s lives through the power of authentic Italian desserts!” Sprezzatura’s offering of sweet treats includes hazelnut chocolate cake, orange olive oil ricotta cake, plus date toffee cake, boozy citrus walnut cake, as well as pear mascarpone cake.
Also on our their holiday menu are specialties such as Italian fish chowder, pork-and-pine-nut-stuffed acorn squash, excellent meatballs, and pans of their best-selling roasted vegetable lasagna.
Order online, or visit the at the Bloomfield Winter Market on December 19 from 11 - 2pm.
Fluted Mushroom
Through December 24
If your family table holds 6 to 10 people, the wonderful folks at Fluted Mushroom have a made-to-order menu of great options. You might start with a glass of wine while you nibble on crab, artichoke and jalapeno dip served with artisanal crackers, and curried Delicata squash soup shots with cranberry and salted pepitas. How about a main course of roasted filet mignon served with caramelized onions, sauteed mushrooms, horseradish mousse and miniature brioche rolls accompanied by the roasted and marinated root vegetable platter of rainbow carrots, squash, parsnip, fennel, Brussels sprouts and beets.\
A tasteful finish in the form of dessert? How about peppermint mousse with crushed peppermint, bruléed meringue and peppermint bark. That sounds like a “right and proper” Christmas dinner!
December 21 is the last day to place Christmas orders with Fluted Mushroom by phone at 412.381.1899. Contact free drop-off up upon request.