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Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner in Sussex County NJ is easiest to plan at Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg and Vernon, where three restaurants have posted 2026 holiday menus for Thursday, December 24 and Friday, December 25. Our team also rounded up a Sparta brew pub with Christmas Eve music, an Italian spot with Christmas Day hours on its calendar, and a simple plan for booking everywhere else.
We only list restaurants that have posted their 2026 Christmas plans on their own websites. Many local kitchens announce holiday hours in early December, so if your favorite spot is not here yet, jump to our call ahead section for the questions to ask and the guides we use to find a table.
- What: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners, specials menus and holiday hours at Sussex County restaurants
- Where: Crystal Springs Resort (Hamburg and Vernon), Sparta and beyond
- When: Christmas Eve is Thursday, December 24, 2026; Christmas Day is Friday, December 25, 2026
- Cost: A la carte; prices are listed on each restaurant’s posted holiday menu
- Link: Crystal Springs Resort Christmas dining
Crystal Springs Resort: Three Christmas Menus in One Place
Crystal Springs Resort has posted Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining at three of its restaurants for 2026, and the resort notes that reservations are required. You can book online through each restaurant or call the resort at 855-977-6473. If you are new to the property, our Crystal Springs Resort guide explains how the two hotels, the restaurants and the activities fit together.
Kites Restaurant at Minerals Hotel, Vernon
Kites sits on the second floor of Minerals Hotel at 2 Chamonix Drive in Vernon. For December 24 and 25 the resort lists Kites from 6 to 10 p.m. with a specials menu paired with wines. The posted Kites Christmas Eve specials include New England clam chowder, beef carpaccio, herb crusted salmon with saffron beurre blanc, veal scallopini, slow braised short rib ragu gnocchi and a molten lava cake, each with a suggested glass. It is a relaxed choice if you are staying at Minerals or spending the day around Vernon.
Crystal Tavern at Grand Cascades Lodge, Hamburg
Crystal Tavern is inside the Crystal Springs Clubhouse at 1 Wild Turkey Way in Hamburg, with views over the hills. The resort lists Crystal Tavern for December 24 and 25 from 5 to 10 p.m. Its Christmas dinner menu features a seafood and raw bar with oysters and poached shrimp, French onion soup, a jumbo lump crab cake, Chilean sea bass, braised short rib, a dry aged strip steak and a Chateaubriand served with bearnaise, black truffle whipped potato and broccolini. A vegan eggplant tart and sides like baked mac and cheese round it out, so it works well for a mixed table.
Gino 34 at Grand Cascades Lodge, Hamburg
Gino 34 is the resort’s Italian restaurant, and its posted Christmas specials are built around the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Look for a mussels and shrimp cioppino with herb focaccia, a blue crab salad, roasted whole snapper, a swordfish steak, a seafood pizza with shrimp, lobster and crab, and a lemon trifle for dessert. The resort lists Gino 34 for December 24 and 25 with hours of operation still to be announced, so check the page before you book.
Krogh’s in Sparta: Christmas Eve Music in the Pub
Krogh’s Restaurant and Brew Pub at 23 White Deer Plaza is a Lake Mohawk tradition, and its live music calendar lists a Maribyrd Holiday Set in the pub on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, from 6 to 9 p.m., with seasonal songs on acoustic guitar and bass. Krogh’s takes reservations up to 30 days ahead through OpenTable for parties of up to 8, and larger groups should call.
Plan around Christmas Day, though. Krogh’s FAQ page says the restaurant is closed for dining on Christmas Day, while the Krogh Bar downstairs opens from 5 p.m. to midnight. For more ideas around the lake, see our guide to restaurants in Sparta NJ.
Casa Bellisima in Sparta: Christmas Day on the Calendar
Casa Bellisima, the modern Italian restaurant at 269 Newton Sparta Road, lists Christmas on its events calendar for Friday, December 25, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., inviting guests to join with family and friends. The kitchen is known for homemade pasta, wood fired pizza and fresh seafood. Call 973-579-7711 to confirm the holiday menu and book a table.
Call Ahead: Finding Christmas Dinner Everywhere Else
Plenty of Sussex County restaurants set their Christmas schedules in early December, and many close on Christmas Day so staff can be with family. If a favorite is not listed above, here is the routine our team uses:
- Start with our restaurant guides. Our best restaurants in Sussex County NJ roundup is organized by town, which makes it easy to find a spot close to home or church.
- Check the restaurant’s own site and social pages first. Holiday menus often appear as a PDF or a pinned post a few weeks out.
- Ask four questions when you call: Are you open on December 24 and 25 and what are the hours? Is it a regular menu, a specials menu or a set menu? Do you take reservations, and is a deposit required? Is there a kids menu?
- Book early for Christmas Eve. Thursday night seatings around church services fill first, so earlier or later reservations are often easier to get.
- Consider takeout. Many Italian restaurants and delis take holiday trays and seafood orders in December, which can make a home Feast of the Seven Fishes much simpler.
Make an Evening of It
Dinner pairs nicely with the season around it. Our Christmas events in Sussex County NJ hub collects parades, tree lightings and holiday shows, and our things to do in Sussex County this December guide lays out the month week by week. The Skylands Stadium Christmas Light Show in Augusta runs on select nights through December 30, so a drive through the lights the week before Christmas is an easy add on. For more glowing displays, see our roundup of Christmas lights in Sussex County NJ.
If you would rather wake up near dinner on Christmas morning, Crystal Springs has two hotels on site, and our hotels in Sussex County NJ guide covers other places to stay around the county.
A tip from our team: screenshot or download the posted holiday menu when you book. Holiday menus are often shorter than the regular menu, and having it on your phone lets you check for picky eaters and dietary needs before you sit down.
Frequently Asked Questions
What day of the week is Christmas Eve 2026?
Christmas Eve falls on Thursday, December 24, 2026, and Christmas Day is Friday, December 25, 2026. That gives many families a long weekend, so expect busy dining rooms on both nights.
Which Sussex County restaurants are open on Christmas Day 2026?
As of our research, Crystal Springs Resort lists Kites, Crystal Tavern and Gino 34 for December 25, and Casa Bellisima lists Christmas Day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on its calendar. Krogh’s in Sparta is closed for dining on Christmas Day, with its downstairs bar open from 5 p.m. to midnight.
Where can I find a Feast of the Seven Fishes in Sussex County?
Gino 34 at Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg has posted a Christmas Feast of the Seven Fishes specials menu with dishes like cioppino, whole snapper and swordfish. Call the resort at 855-977-6473 to reserve.
Do I need a reservation for Christmas dinner?
Yes, plan on it. Crystal Springs says reservations are required for its Christmas dining, and Krogh’s books up to 30 days ahead on OpenTable. Booking in late November or early December gives you the best choice of times.
Are these Christmas menus kid friendly?
The Crystal Tavern menu includes approachable sides like baked mac and cheese and French fries, and Casa Bellisima serves pasta and pizza. Ask about a kids menu when you book, since holiday menus can differ from the regular one.
What else is there to do in Sussex County around Christmas?
Our Christmas events hub and December guide list tree lightings, Santa visits, light shows and holiday concerts. Browse where to see Santa in Sussex County NJ if you have little ones.
Primary sources: Crystal Springs Resort Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dining, Crystal Springs Resort Events and Holidays, Krogh’s Upcoming Music, Krogh’s FAQs, Casa Bellisima Events and Skylands Stadium Light Show.
Featured photo: Crystal Springs Resort via crystalgolfresort.com.
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