2016 Capital District Holiday Dining Guide

If you are staying home for Christmas doesn't mean that you don't have to eat good. Even if you can't cook, there are a lot of restaurants open for business on Christmas Day. Whether your in the mood for Italian, Greek or Jamaican. There is a Capital District restaurant open for business to fulfill your Christmas eating needs.

Here are a few :

Amorici Vineyard, 637 Colonel Burch Road, Valley Falls. 469-0680. Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve: Noon to 6 p.m. Regular menu. Christmas Day and New Year's Day: 1 to 7 p.m. for seven-course holiday feast, $30 to $50, depending on entrée choice.

Angelo's 677 Prime, 677 Broadway, Albany. 427-7463: Christmas Eve: Open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for gift card sales only. Christmas Day: Closed. New Year's Eve: Seating from 4 to 11 p.m. for a-la-carte menu with holiday specials. New Year's Day: Closed.

Angelo's Prime Bar& Grill, 30 Clifton Country Road, Clifton Park. 631-6500: Hilton Garden Inn hotel breakfast available daily. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: No lunch or dinner. New Year's Eve: 5 to 10 p.m. for a-la-carte menu for dinner with holiday specials. New Year's Day: 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner with regular menu.

        

Aperitivo Bistro, 426 State St., Schenectady. 579-3371: New Year's Eve: Dinner from 5 to 10 p.m.; a-la-carte menu with holiday specials. Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Athos, 1814 Western Ave., Guilderland. 608-6400. Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day: From 4 p.,m. for regular menu and holiday specials. Closed Christmas Day.

Blue 82, 82 N. Pearl St., Albany. 495-3703: New Year's Eve: Reservation-only party (i.e., no walk-ins) with four hours of open bar starting at 9 p.m., hors d'oeuvres, champagne, party favors at midnight, DJ. $85 ($150 per couple). Jackets required for men. Closed Dec. 24-26 and Jan. 1.

Boca Bistro, 384 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. 682-2081. Christmas and New Year's eves: Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., happy hour 4 to 6 p.m., dinner from 5 p.m.; regular menus and holiday specials for all. Closed Christmas and New Year's days. Party menus to go available for Christmas and New Year's eves.

Cella Bistro, 2015 Rosa Road, Schenectady. 381-2081. Christmas Eve: Gift-card sales only until 3 p.m. New Year's Eve: Bar from 5 p.m., dinner from 6 p.m.; four-course, $75 menu with choices. Closed Christmas and New Year's days.

Chianti il Ristorante, 18 Division St., Saratoga Springs. 580-0025. Christmas and New Year's eves: Happy hours 4:30 to 6 p.m., dinner from 5 p.m.; regular menus and holiday specials for all. Closed on Christmas and New Year's days. Party menus to go available for Christmas and New Year's eves.

The Desmond, 660 Albany Shaker Road, Colonie. 869-8100. Christmas Eve and Day: Regular menus for breakfast and lunch. Dinner, three-course holiday menu with choices in Simpson's Grille for $38.95. 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Christmas eve, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Christmas Day. New Year's Eve: Holiday a-la-carte menu in Simpson's from 4:30 p.m. to midnight. Also, the hotel is hosting a "Night in Wonderland" event, now available to overnight guests only, with open bar, buffet dinner, midnight toast, live music and DJs, for $420 to $1,000 per couple, depending on accommodations. Simpson's hours: 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. New Year's Day: Simpson's Grille, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., serving regular menus.

Eden Cafe, 269 Osborne Road, Colonie. 977-3771. New Year's Eve: Regular menu from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. New Year's in Rio celebration from 4:30 to 10 p.m. with fresh pasta bar, other food, drink, live music, entertainment and New Year's celebration on Rio time (three hours ahead). $25 per person. Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day.

Il Faro Restaurant & Bar, 698 N. Pearl St., Menands. 463-2208. Christmas Eve: 6 and 8:30 p.m. seatings for seven-course Feast of the Seven Fishes menu, $50 ($75 with wine); limited a-la-carte menu also available for seating at the same times. New Year's Eve: Three-course holiday menu with choices, $50 ($75 with wine). Closed on Christmas and New Year's days.

Fish at 30 Lake, 30 Lake Ave., Saratoga Springs. 539-3474. Christmas Eve: 3 to 4 p.m. for limited a-la-carte offerings, bar tapas and raw bar menu only from 4 to 7 p.m. Christmas Day: Closed. New Year's Eve: 3 to 5 p.m. for bar menu only and 5 to 11 p.m. for a-la-cart menu with holiday specials. New Year's Day: 3 to 5 p.m. for bar menu only and 5 to 9 p.m. with regular a-la-carte menu.

Forno Bistro, 541 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. 584-2401. Christmas and New Year's eves: Happy hour 4:30 to 6 p.m., dinner from 5 p.m.; regular menus and holiday specials for all. Closed on Christmas and New Year's days. Party menus to go available for Christmas and New Year's eves.

Illium Café, 9 Broadway, Troy. 273-7700. Holiday dinner to go: Prime rib, sides and dessert to feed eight to 12, $250; shrimp platters, $25 and $50. Available for order through Dec. 23 for pickup Dec. 19 to 24. Christmas Eve: Open for to-go pickups only until 11 a.m. New Year's Eve: Breakfast and lunch from regular menu; dinner, $65 three-course menu with choices and glass of champagne from 4 to 10 p.m. Closed Christmas and New Year's days.

Innovo Kitchen, 1214 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham. 608-1466. Christmas Eve: Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., dinner 4 to 9 p.m. for regular menu with holiday specials. New Year's Eve: Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., dinner 4 to 11 p.m. Regular menu with holiday specials. New Year's Day: Brunch 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. from regular menu with holiday specials, dinner 3 to 9 p.m. from three-course menu with choices for $20.17. Closed Christmas Day.

La Serre, 14 Green St., Albany. 463-6056. Christmas Eve: 5 to 8 p.m. for regular menu and holiday specials. New Year's Eve: 5 to 11 p.m. for holiday a-la-carte menu. Closed Christmas and New Year's days.

Lark Lily Wine Bar & Kitchen, 200 Lark St., Albany. 463-2881. New Year's Eve: 5 to 10 p.m. for limited a-la-carte menu. Weather permitting, there will be a heater on the back patio for those who wish to enjoy cigars, mulled wine and cordials. Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Lucas Confectionery, 12 Second St., Troy. 326-3450. New Year's Eve: 9 p.m. start for Totally Super Fancy AF New Year's Eve party within the combined spaces of the wine bar and its sibling businesses, Peck's Arcade and Little Pecks. Open bar, dance floor with DJ, photo booth and food stations located throughout the spaces. $150 inclusive. Lucas Confectionery, Peck's Arcade and their new sibling Italian restaurant, Donna's, will be closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day; the café Little Pecks, at 211 Broadway, will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve for coffee, snacks, wine, beer and gift cards to all Clark House businesses, closed on Christmas and New Year's days.

Mazzone Hospitality. www.mazzonehospitality.com/holiday. Dinner packages to go for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Meals with beef tenderloin, turkey or pork rack cost $240 to $580 to feed 10 to 20 people, depending on protein, and include sides and dessert. Additional sides available a la carte. Orders may be picked up from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, or 9 a.m. to noon on Christmas Eve (Saturday, Dec. 24) at Glen Sanders Mansion, 1 Glen Ave., Scotia, or Mazzone Catering, 743 Pierce Road, Clifton Park.

New World Bistro Bar, 300 Delaware Ave., Albany. 694-0320. Christmas Eve: Noon to 4 p.m. for gift-card sales only. Christmas Day: 3 to 8 p.m., regular menu. New Year's Eve: 5 to 10 p.m. for a four-course, $75 holiday menu. New Year's Day: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for New Year's Day brunch menu, regular menu 5 to 9 p.m. for dinner.

Prime at Saratoga National Golf Course, Route 9P, Saratoga Springs. 306-2330. Christmas Eve: Open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for gift card sales only. Christmas Day: Closed. New Year's Eve: A-la-carte lunch and dinner with holiday specials from 11:30 a.m.; New Year's Eve party from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. $150 prepaid in advance (details, link here), $175 at the door. New Year's Day: Closed.

The Point, 1100 Madison Ave., Albany. 729-5383. New Year's Eve: Three-course menu with choices for $75, or $60 for those seated before 6 p.m. New Year's Day: Regular menu from 4 to 9 p.m. Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Provence, Stuyvesant Plaza, Guilderland. 689-7777. 5 to 8 p.m. Christmas Eve and 2 to 6 p.m. Christmas Day for holiday a-la-carte menu. New Year's Eve: Three-course menu with choices from 5 to 10:30 p.m. Closed New Year's Day.

Rascals Steakhouse Entertainment, Crossgates Mall, Guilderland. 389-6682. New Year's Eve: Party from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Five-hour open bar, passed hors d'oeuvres, food and dessert stations, performances by The Get Down and Lonesome Dove. $125, including tax and gratuity. New Year's Day: Regular menu, abbreviated hours. Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Reel Seafood Co., 195 Wolf Road, Colonie. 458-2068. Christmas Eve: Noon to 9:30 p.m. for regular menu and Feast of Fish specials. Christmas Day: Closed. New Year's Eve: 3 to 10:30 p.m. for regular menu and holiday specials. New Year's Day: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for jazz brunch, until 8 p.m. for dinner.

Sam's Italian American Restaurant, 125 Southern Blvd., Albany. 463-3433. New Year's Eve: 4:30 to 10 p.m. for regular menu will be available with holiday specials. Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Jan. 2.

The Shop, 135 Fourth St, Troy. 874-1899. Christmas Eve: Brunch, noon to 3:30 p.m. from regular menu with holiday specials. New Year's Eve: Speakeasy from 7 p.m. with passed hors d'oeuvres, beef and vegetarian carving stations, champagne toast and cash bar; $35. New Year's Day: Pay-what-you-will brunch and cash bar to benefit the Pride Center of the Capital Region. Closed Dec. 25-27.

Slidin' Dirty, 9 First St., Troy. 326-8492. Christmas Eve: Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for gift-card sales only. New Year's Eve: Open from 11:30 a.m. Viewing party of the live stream of the band Phish's three-set Madison Square Garden concert starts at 8 p.m. Free admission; regular menu and drinks available. Closed Christmas and New Year's days.

Tala Bistro, 626 New Loudon Road, Latham. 486-8252. Christmas Eve: Open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for cocktails and gift-card sales only. Christmas Day: Closed. New Year's Eve: Open for lunch from noon, a-la-carte dinner menu with holiday specials available from 5 p.m. New Year's Day: Closed.

Wolf's 1-11, 111 Wolf Road, Colonie. 275-0561. Christmas Eve: From 11:30 a.m. until 6 or 7 p.m. Regular menu and NFL football. Christmas Day: Closed. New Year's Eve: From 4 p.m., regular menu and prime-rib and seafood specials. Champagne toast at midnight. New Year's Day: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. for regular menu and prime-rib special.

Yono's, 25 Chapel St., Albany. 436-7747: New Year's Eve: Seating from 5 to 11 p.m. Three courses with choices for $92 or eight-course tasting menu for $144 ($199 with wine pairings, $245 with premium pairings). Yono's adjoining sibling, DP An American Brasserie, will be serving an a-la-carte menu with holiday specials. Both restaurants will be closed on Dec. 24-26 and Jan. 1 and 2.