What is the Feast of Seven Fishes? It’s all in the name.
Simply put, it’s the Italian American tradition of eating fish in place of meat on Christmas Eve day. It’s comparable to Thanksgiving in its dinner party grandeur and features, you guessed it, seven different kinds of seafood. Maybe the dinner consists of one fish prepared seven ways or a seven course dinner with each featuring a different kind of seafood. Either way, it’s a beloved celebration to ring in the holidays and there’s a couple local restaurants putting on this event, so you don’t have to.
I’ve searched around town and found two KC restaurants offering the Feast of Seven Fishes: Lidia’s and Barcaro Primo.
Lidia’s
Lidia’s is one of KC’s longstanding institutions and for good reason. Celebrity Chef and Owner Lidia Bastianich has made waves far beyond our local food scene with her public cooking shows, best-selling cookbooks and multiple restaurants around the country.
On Christmas Eve, Lidia’s will host its annual Feast of Seven Fishes at 5:30 pm. Dinner is $95 per person. To make reservations, call Events Manager Terra Hammond at 816-221-0805.
Lidia’s, upscale Northern Italian restaurant in Kansas City
Bacaro Primo
In 2023, we dubbed Bacaro Primo one of KC’s Best New Restaurants. The upscale Brookside Italian joint is the second restaurant opened by restaurateurs Todd Schulte and Cory Dannehl, who also own Earl’s Premier.
Bacaro’s Feast Of Seven Fishes takes place on Dec. 23 and costs $125 per person. Courses include sea scallop crudo, mussels, calamari and more. Make reservations here.
