Festive season is upon us, and with it brings an array of Christmas cuisine. Whether you’re looking for something to warm you up during chillier weather, a crowd-pleaser for the work Christmas party, or are in need of a Christmas shopping energiser, Carnaby has it all. With some of the best festive menus in London, Carnaby offers a multitude of dishes to suit all tastes.
Lobster the Night Away
Have a Christmas party to host, then why not book Wright Brothers very own Lobster Cage? For up to 18 people, the menus start at £42pp, and all include a tantalising choice of starters, main and desserts. Start with a Shrimp and Mushroom Spring Roll or Beef Tataki, and follow with Whole Baked Seabass, Truffle Macaroni Cheese, or Rare Fillet of Venison – it is the season for feasting, after all. Finish with an indulgent selection of desserts, form flaming Christmas pudding to chocolate fondant.
Have a Dirty Jolly Christmas
Whether your party is big or small, Dirty Bones guarantees to offer a good time. Start the night with their signature holiday cocktail ‘Fig Poppa’, made with bourbon, sherry, cinnamon, figs, lime and plum bitters. Menus start at £25pp for 2 courses and sides, and include Brown Crab Beignets, and Chorizo Charred Octopus as starters, Lobster Mac & Cheese and the Holiday Burger for main, and Smashed Mince Pie and Banana Trifle Pudding for dessert. Dirty Bones also serve up a spectacular veggie holiday menu that is bound to put you on the naughty list.
Oh Holy Gnocchi
Buon Natale! Christmas is being served up Italian style at Polpo between 22 November and 24 December. For £32pp you can dine on a selection of 4 courses, with traditional Venetian Cicheti to share, including Aubergine Caponata and Beef Shin Arancini. For main, enjoy Roast Chicken, Baked Sea Bass, or Baked Pumpkin, Gnocchi, Sage and Gorgonzola. Polpo have your sweet tooth sorted too, serving up Italian classics this Christmas, including Tiramisu.
Feliz Navidad
Dreaming of hotter climates this Christmas? Dehesa will whisk you away to the Spanish countryside with its twist on festive food. You can dine from £35pp, with Spanish olives, chargrilled flatbread, or aged Speck Le Cime to start. For the main, enjoy Prawn Ravioli, Venison Stew, and Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin. Still hungry? Make room for a Manzanilla and Orange Trifle, all topped off with Spanish and Italian wine of course.
I’m dreaming of a Whyte Christmas
Welcome to the ‘turkey free’ Christmas at Whyte & Brown, serving up free-range chicken and all the classics from 24 November. All for £30pp, start with a Crayfish Cocktail, or Chicken and Ham Hock Terrine, then onto the main event, the classic Christmas Dinner of Roast Chicken with pigs in blankets, stuffing, veg, gravy and of course roast potatoes. If you feel like mixing it up, they also serve up Sea Bass Fillet and a veggie Wild Mushroom, Spinach and Celeriac Wellington. Finish with traditional Christmas pudding or Baked Apple Cheesecake.
Peruvian Fiesta
This year enjoy the delights of a Peruvian Christmas at Señor Ceviche, with a choice of both a Vegan & Vegetarian menu and the classic Navidad Fiesta menu. Starting from £30pp, start by snacking on Peruvian Popped Corn, Conchas el Mercado or Coliflor Quemado. Next is the classic Ceviche followed by a Christmas dish such as grilled turkey with Rocotto Salsa and Chancaca Glazed Pigs in Blankets, or a Tata de Navidad. For postre (pudding), dig into a Chocolate and Maca Brownie or a Hot Chocolate Chia Pudding.
Aloha Christmas!
Surf's up for Christmas with the help of Kua 'Aina. Enjoy their Christmas specials at their Foubert's Place restaurant; how about their Lava Filled Christmas Burger - 1/3 lb beef burger with sage & onion stuffing, sausage, cranberry sauce, camembert & pig in blankets? Or why not try the Grilled Turkey Breast or Veggie Special of Grilled Portobello Mushroom - all served with camembert, sage & onion stuffing and cranberry sauce, plus the legendary Mince Pie Milkshake to finish you off.
Spice and all things Nice
This Christmas, visit Cinnamon Soho on Kingly Street for either a sit-down Indian Christmas Feast or a mingling canapé reception, followed by late night merriment with large group bookings. With 2 choices of Festive menus, enjoy either 3 courses for £25pp or 4 courses for £38pp. Expect starters including Stir-Fried Paneer with Curry Leaf and Green Chilli or Keema Gotala - spiced lamb mince and scrambled egg in a pao bun. For the main, expect Kolkata Spiced Cod, mustard and red onion with red rice flakes or Chettinad Spiced Grilled Lamb Fillets with curry leaf-lime salt. Finish with a Sticky Carrot toffee Pudding with stem ginger ice cream or a Chocolate and Cumin Tart with banana ice cream. Yes please! Oh, and they’re open for Christmas Day, too, with a special £55pp menu including a Cinnamon Bellini.
Bombay Feasting
Come together at Dishoom, the home of hearty meals bringing people together. With a choice of 3 menus of £30pp to £55pp, enjoy delicious Dishoom favourites and Christmas specials alike. Expect Turkey Raan with all the trimmings - cooked slowly over a day until meltingly tender. Or how about Masala Prawns, each one charred slightly at the edges. Finish with a Bun Maska Pudding steeped in vanilla custard. And don’t forget the Chai Egg Nog, too!
Spanish Festive Fare at Brindisa
Christmas at Tapas Brindisa is all about sharing and feasting. With a variety of menus to suit all occasions, you’re in good hands. Try their £45pp feasting menu starring with cava and picots followed by favourite seasonal tapas - try the Monkfish, roasted parsnips and black olives or Tempura salt cod, truffle honey and dried fruits. The £70pp menu sees specials from the fire - how about Suckling pig, apple compote and roast potatoes or Milk-fed lamb, aubergine purée and roast potatoes? Looking for something lighter, try their canapé menu and choose from 8-14 per person, with cold, hot and sweets to choose from - Bauma Cheesecake gets a big thumbs up from us.
Christmas exclusive dishes
It is not just about the Christmas set menus - we can’t wait to try these one off dishes at Carnaby cafes and restaurants, too.
Yum Bun x Island Poke
Just for the festive season, Island Poké has teamed up with the good people of Yum Bun to create a special seasonal bowl. A bed of sushi rice is topped with classic Ahi Shoyu, edamame beans, avocado and lime, warming Szechuan pickled cucumbers, noru, roasted sesame furikake topped with our green coriander mayo.
Feel Good at Pure
This Christmas, Pure have teamed up with Centrepoint to raise £10,000 to support homeless young people. With every purchase of one of the festive specials, they’ll donate 10p to Centrepoint. Try the Christmas Cracker toastie with Turkey, Brie, fig chutney, stuffing, red cabbage and creme fraiche or their Winter Parsnip and Kale soup to stay warm at lunchtime. For a quick treat, try their Fig & Cranberry Powerball or Festive Crumble Slice for just under £2.
Dumplings in December
Here’s a completely new way of having your Christmas turkey. Visit Ugly Dumpling this December for a Christmas special of Turkey Dumplings served with cranberry sauce, and finish with a Christmas Pudding dumpling, too.
Link: Carnaby Street
