Don’t spend Christmas dinner with your pots and pans

Tomorrow is the big day! Get ready for presents, smiles, food, more food and cookies. No one wants to interrupt all that fun to put on an apron.

Rolf’s (281 Third Ave.)

This place takes Christmas seriously, with garland and lights that hang so low they brush your head and off-the-charts eggnog and mulled wine. Rolf’s is a German restaurant with every type of schnitzel and sausage (with a few seafood dishes if that’s not your thing). It get crowded but it’s worth the wait.

La Mela(167 Mulberry St.)

A great spot to bring relatives of any age, La Mela offers prix-fixe family-style menus starting at $25 for three courses or $37 for four. I recommend going all-out to experience the pastas, meats and seafood.

Serafina (Seven locations, serafinarestaurant.com )

For a fine-dining experience sure to please, try one of Serafina’s homemade pastas, which start at $14; I recommend the gnocchi di momma and the tuna del principe. Choose the West 55th Street location and walk off your meal by seeing the Rockefeller Center tree.

Monica DiNatale is a deals expert, food host and author of“365 Guide New York City,”a treasure trove of restaurant deals and bar specials in New York. Monica has hosted segments for The New York Chocolate Show and Craft Beer Week festivals. She dines out eight days a week in search of the best deals in the Big Apple. “365 Guide New York City” is available in paperback ande-book.