This Christmas Eve, the Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group will celebrate the holiday by featuring a special Feast of the 7 Fishes at several of their New York Italian restaurants. Some of the best seafood tastings will be served at the restaurant group's downtown spots Otto, Babbo and Lupa, where guests will be treated to multi-course meals showcasing fresh fish prepared by some of the city's most talented chefs.

In addition to the feast, all three restaurants will be serving dishes from their regular à la carte menus. So, instead of relegating dinner on the night before Christmas to only one restaurant, why not create a custom seafood tasting by going to all three? It can and should be done. Here's your plan for a Christmas Eve food crawl:

STOP 1: OTTO

While most people come to Otto for its unique, griddle-cooked pizzas, outstanding selection of cured meats and creamy house made gelato, there is a short section of the menu dedicated to small plates of pesce.

Find a spot in the bustling front enoteca, where diners and drinkers congregate around tall marble standing tables, sipping wine while waiting for the large Solari board to indicate that their party's table reservation is ready. Since this will be a relatively quick stop, the wine bar will be just fine for enjoying a few fish dishes, but don't over do it, as there will be quite a bit more to eat along the way.

Order: Get a couple small plates of seafood, like the baccala alla pizzaiola, anchovies with breadcrumbs and scallions, or mussels with peperonata and mint. All three are large enough to share.

STOP 2: BABBO

After Otto, head down 5th Avenue and take a right at the giant Christmas tree under the Washington Square arch. One block west on Waverly Place you'll find Babbo, one of the most celebrated Italian restaurants in New York and quite possibly the best from Batali and Bastianich.

It's damn near impossible to not have a blast at Babbo. While the white table clothes and sophisticated Italian fare smack of sedate high-end dining, the loud rock music and lively staff quickly quell such pretense; dinner at Babbo is a decidedly unstuffy affair, particularly when eating in the downstairs dining room of this split level establishment. Ask for a table on the ground floor or grab a stool at the bar for this leg of the crawl.

Order: There are plenty of outstanding seafood dishes on the menu. For a solid order, split the spicy two minute calamari ("Sicilian lifeguard style") and the linguini with clams, pancetta and hot chilies.

STOP 3: LUPA

Specializing in food served in traditional Roman trattorias, Lupa's menu features fantastic pastas and proteins perfect for a casual dinner with family and friends. Lupa also boasts a stellar wine list spanning all the regions of Italy, as well as the largest selection of amaro in New York City, making it a fitting finish for the evening.

Lupa is perpetually packed, especially at the bar. But, as the evening wears on, you should be able to score a stool or even a two top for a bite and a drink.

Order: The seafood dishes are consistently delicious at Lupa. Finish your feast by splitting the market fish (changes daily), or if you've still got room, the whole brook trout with carciofi, chili and lemon.

ESSENTIAL INFO:

-Total Cost: About $100 per person for split plates and personal drinks at each stop. Tax and tip included.

-Begin the crawl between 7:30 pm and 8:00 pm and spend 45 minutes to an hour at each stop in order to hit all three restaurants.

-While all three places accept reservations, you don't really need them for this sort of dining. That is to say, don't be a jerk and request a table if you're just splitting 1-2 dishes. That's what the bar is for.