40 Christmas Menu Ideas for Restaurants + Prices for 2026

A great Christmas menu gives guests a festive meal that feels special — and gives your kitchen a menu it can cook all month long.

For most restaurants, Christmas isn't one day. It's a whole season of office parties, family get-togethers, friends catching up before the holidays and, for some, a fully booked Christmas Day. The best Christmas menus work for all of it: a festive set menu for December, a premium Christmas Day lunch, and a few seasonal drinks and desserts that guests come back for.

Planning early matters. Office parties often book in October and November, and many families reserve their Christmas Day table as soon as your menu is published.

If you're planning your festive season, here are 40 Christmas menu ideas for restaurants with suggested 2026 prices to help you get started.

Note: Prices below are suggested starting points for a U.S.-based casual or mid-range restaurant. Your ideal prices will depend on ingredient costs, location, portion size, holiday labor, competition and whether you serve a festive menu all December or only on Christmas Day.

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Christmas set menus

Most restaurants serve Christmas as a set menu. One clear price makes group bookings easier, speeds up service for large tables and lets the kitchen prep exact quantities.

1. Two-course festive menu — $38–$45 per person

A starter and main, or a main and dessert. Great for lunchtime and office parties with a tighter budget.

2. Three-course festive menu — $50–$65 per person

The December workhorse. Run it from early December until Christmas Eve so guests can book any day.

3. Christmas Day lunch — $90–$130 per person

Four courses with a glass of bubbly on arrival, mince pies or petit fours, and coffee. Christmas Day is a premium occasion, and guests expect to pay for it.

4. Kids' Christmas menu — $20–$28

Two courses and a hot chocolate for children under 12. A clear kids' price makes your restaurant an easy choice for families.

5. Office party package — $55–$75 per person

Three courses plus a drink on arrival or a half bottle of wine per guest. Packages make it simple for organizers to book and budget.

6. Christmas Eve dinner — $70–$95 per person

Many families celebrate on Christmas Eve, especially with a seafood or Feast of the Seven Fishes style menu. It's a great way to fill tables the night before the big day.

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Christmas starters

Christmas starters should feel indulgent but not too heavy — the main course is the star.

7. Roasted chestnut soup — $10

Silky and seasonal, with truffle oil and crispy sage. Easy to make ahead in large batches.

8. Beetroot-cured salmon — $14

Horseradish crème fraîche, pickled cucumber and rye bread. It looks festive and can be fully prepped in advance.

9. Chicken liver parfait — $12

Port jelly, fig chutney and toasted brioche. A classic that holds well and costs little to make.

10. Baked camembert — $16

Warm camembert with cranberry, honey and walnuts. Perfect for sharing at the start of a party.

11. Shrimp cocktail — $15

A retro holiday favorite that's quick to plate during a busy service.

12. Winter salad — $12

Bitter leaves, pear, candied walnuts, blue cheese and pomegranate. A lighter vegetarian option.

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Christmas mains

Offer one classic roast, one premium option, one fish dish and one vegetarian main. That covers almost every guest at a big table.

13. Roast turkey with all the trimmings — $28–$34

Turkey with stuffing, roast potatoes, cranberry sauce and gravy. Roast breasts and legs separately for more even cooking and easier portioning.

14. Beef wellington — $38–$45

Beef fillet wrapped in mushroom duxelles, prosciutto and puff pastry, with red wine jus. A show-stopping premium main.

15. Prime rib — $42

Slow-roasted and carved to order. Works well as an upcharge on a set menu.

16. Honey-glazed ham — $28

Sweet, sticky and easy to hold and slice during service.

17. Roast goose or duck — $36

A traditional European Christmas main. Rich, festive and a good point of difference.

18. Pan-roasted cod or halibut — $30

Mussels, saffron sauce and crushed potatoes. A lighter option for guests who want fish.

19. Seafood platter — $55 for two

Oysters, shrimp, crab and smoked salmon. Ideal for Christmas Eve menus.

20. Mushroom and chestnut wellington — $24

A festive vegetarian centerpiece. Make it vegan with plant-based pastry and gravy.

21. Braised short rib — $36

A comforting winter main that can be cooked ahead and finished to order.

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Christmas sides

Sides make Christmas plates feel generous. Serve them family style for big tables to save time on the pass.

22. Pigs in blankets — $7

Chipolata sausages wrapped in bacon with a honey glaze. Guests always want more of these.

23. Goose fat roast potatoes — $7

Crispy outside, fluffy inside. Worth getting perfect.

24. Brussels sprouts with pancetta and chestnuts — $7

Brown butter turns the most divisive vegetable into a crowd pleaser.

25. Honey-roasted parsnips and carrots — $6

Simple, colorful and inexpensive.

26. Braised red cabbage — $6

Spiced with apple and cinnamon. It can be made days ahead.

27. Cauliflower cheese — $8

Rich and comforting, and a hit with kids.

28. Yorkshire puddings — $5

Not traditional with turkey, but very popular with beef and an easy add-on.

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Christmas desserts

Christmas desserts are where tradition matters most. Offer a classic, a chocolate option and something lighter.

29. Christmas pudding — $10

With brandy butter or warm custard. Flame it at the table for a moment guests will film.

30. Chocolate yule log — $10

Dark chocolate sponge rolled with ganache, served with cherry compote.

31. Sticky toffee pudding — $10

Warm date sponge with toffee sauce and vanilla ice cream. Often outsells the traditional pudding.

32. Mince pies — $6 for two

Served warm with clotted or whipped cream. Also great with coffee or to go.

33. Gingerbread cheesecake — $10

A festive twist on a reliable favorite.

34. Cheese board — $16

A selection of cheeses with crackers, chutney and grapes. Offer it as a dessert alternative or an extra course with port.

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Christmas drinks

Seasonal drinks set the festive mood and raise the average check.

35. Mulled wine — $9

Red wine warmed with orange, cinnamon and star anise. It smells like Christmas the moment it's served.

36. Eggnog — $10

Bourbon or rum, cream and nutmeg. Offer a non-alcoholic version for kids and drivers.

37. Hot buttered rum — $11

Dark rum, brown butter and warm spices.

38. Glass of Champagne — $15

The classic Christmas toast. Include a glass on arrival in your premium set menus.

39. Cranberry and rosemary spritz — $12

Colorful, refreshing and perfect for office parties. Our cocktail bar menu template can help you build a full drinks list.

40. Luxury hot chocolate — $6

Topped with whipped cream and marshmallows. Add a shot of liqueur for adults.

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Christmas menu price list for 2026

Using the ideas above, a simple pricing structure could look like this:

These numbers aren't fixed industry prices. Christmas pricing varies a lot between small towns, big cities, hotels and fine-dining restaurants. Christmas Day in particular is often priced at around double your December set menu.

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How many items should a Christmas menu have?

You don't need all 40 ideas.

December is the busiest month of the year for many restaurants, and big groups order at the same time. A short menu keeps tickets moving, reduces waste and helps your team deliver the same quality on the first of December as on the twenty-third.

For most restaurants, a strong Christmas menu includes:

• 1–2 festive set menu prices (plus a kids' price)
• 3–4 starters
• 3–4 mains, including turkey and a vegetarian option
• 3–4 sides
• 3–4 desserts
• 3–5 seasonal drinks
• A separate, premium Christmas Day menu

If you're building your festive menu from scratch, our Christmas menu template helps you organize set menus, mains, desserts and drinks into a mobile-friendly menu with a QR code. Planning the rest of the season? See our Thanksgiving menu ideas and the New Year's Eve menu template.

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How to price a Christmas menu

Start with the cost of each course on your set menu. Use the most expensive option in each course to calculate your worst-case plate cost — guests will often pick the premium dishes.

Many restaurants aim for a food cost of around 28–35% on festive set menus. For example, if a three-course meal costs $16 to make, a set price of around $50–$55 keeps you in that range.

Then account for Christmas-specific costs:

• Holiday pay for staff on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
• Extras like crackers, a drink on arrival, mince pies and coffee
• Decorations and table settings
• No-shows from large groups during the busiest weeks

A few practical tips:

• Take deposits for groups. A deposit per person protects you from last-minute cancellations on nights you can't refill.
• Pre-order for big tables. Ask groups of 8+ to choose their dishes in advance so the kitchen can prep exactly what's needed.
• Use supplements for premium dishes. Add $8–$12 to the set price for beef wellington or a seafood platter.
• Price Christmas Day separately. It's a different occasion with higher costs and higher expectations.

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Share your Christmas menu early

Christmas bookings start earlier than any other holiday. Publish your festive menu by late October or early November so office party organizers and families can book.

With a digital menu, you can share the same link on your website, Instagram, Google Business Profile and email newsletter. Guests can check the dishes, prices, dietary options and booking details before they reserve, and group organizers can forward the link to everyone on the guest list.

During service, a QR code menu on each table lets guests browse the full drinks list and desserts without waiting for a server. If a dish sells out or you switch from the December menu to the Christmas Day menu, you can update it from your phone in seconds.

With mmmmenu's Christmas menu maker, you can add your set menus, mains, desserts and drinks, customize the design to match your restaurant, and update it anytime without reprinting. Already have a menu online? Use our free menu QR code generator to create a printable QR code for it.

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Example Christmas menu

If you want to keep it simple, you could launch with a menu like this:

Festive Menu — 2 courses $42 / 3 courses $55

Served 1–24 December. Kids under 12 — $22.

To Start

Roasted Chestnut Soup
Beetroot-Cured Salmon
Baked Camembert to Share

Mains

Roast Turkey with Pigs in Blankets, Stuffing & Gravy
Beef Wellington (+$10)
Pan-Roasted Cod with Saffron Sauce
Mushroom & Chestnut Wellington (V)

Sides for the Table

Goose Fat Roast Potatoes
Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta
Honey-Roasted Parsnips

Desserts

Christmas Pudding with Brandy Butter
Chocolate Yule Log
Sticky Toffee Pudding

Christmas Day Lunch — $110 per person

Glass of Champagne on arrival, four courses, mince pies and coffee. Booking and deposit required.

This gives guests a classic, festive meal with enough choice for everyone, while keeping your kitchen focused on a menu it can deliver all month.

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Frequently asked questions about Christmas menus

What should be on a Christmas restaurant menu?

A typical Christmas menu includes a festive set menu price, a few seasonal starters, roast turkey with all the trimmings, a premium main like beef wellington, a fish dish, a vegetarian main, classic sides like roast potatoes and pigs in blankets, and desserts like Christmas pudding, yule log and mince pies.

What are the most popular Christmas dishes?

Roast turkey, ham, prime rib, beef wellington, roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, Brussels sprouts, stuffing, cranberry sauce, Christmas pudding, yule log, mince pies, mulled wine and eggnog are among the most popular Christmas dishes.

How much does a Christmas dinner at a restaurant cost in 2026?

In the U.S., a three-course festive menu at a casual or mid-range restaurant usually costs around $50–$65 per person in 2026. Christmas Day lunch is usually priced higher, at around $90–$130 per person, and more at hotels and fine-dining restaurants.

Should I charge more on Christmas Day?

Yes. Christmas Day comes with holiday pay, extra courses and higher guest expectations. Most restaurants serve a separate, premium Christmas Day menu priced well above their December set menu.

When should I publish my Christmas menu?

Publish it by late October or early November. Office parties and family Christmas Day bookings are often made weeks or even months in advance.

How do I make my Christmas menu work for vegetarian and vegan guests?

Include at least one vegetarian main, such as a mushroom and chestnut wellington, and make sure some starters, sides and desserts are vegetarian or vegan. Clearly label dietary options on your menu.

Should I use a QR code menu for Christmas?

A QR code menu works well alongside printed menus in December. You can share the menu online before guests book, update it instantly when dishes sell out, and switch to your Christmas Day or New Year's Eve menu without reprinting anything.