Where to dine out on New Year’s Eve
It’s actually time to start thinking about your New Year’s Eve plans. Anyone else have that Talking Heads “Once in a Lifetime” song in their heads? Make your dinner reservations now.
If you’d like to spend the evening out, we’ve got a few suggestions. Just make sure there’s enough Champagne for everyone, and have that designated driver ready.
Baltaire: The Brentwood restaurant is having a ’40s-themed Midnight in Paris party. The first dinner seating (5:30 to 7 p.m.) is an a la carte menu. The second seating, from 9 to 11 p.m., includes a four-course prix-fixe dinner for $250 per person, with a Champagne toast at midnight. Menu highlights include foie gras torchon, Burgundy escargot and mille-feuille for dessert. There will be Champagne and cheese carts, as well as a live jazz band and a DJ. Open seating will be available in the bar and lounge area. 11647 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, (424) 273-1660, baltaire.com.
The Bazaar, Saam, Tres and Bar Centro: All three of José Andrés’ restaurants, and the Bar Centro at the SLS hotel, will have NYE specials. The Bazaar will have a seating at 5:30 p.m. that includes a 16-course prix-fixe menu for $150. The second seating at 9 p.m. will include the 16 courses as well as a Spanish 12 grapes ceremony at midnight for $300 per person. Bar Centro will have table service beginning at $650 (includes one premium spirit and one bottle of Champagne). Bar Centro will be selling $100 tickets at the door starting at 10 p.m., which will include bubbly for the midnight toast and access to the Bazaar’s party (DJ, dancing, party favors). At Saam, the prix-fixe menu will include caviar truffles and foie gras for $350 per person. At Tres, an $85 three-course prix-fixe menu with seatings beginning at 4 p.m. 465 La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 247-0400, slshotels.com/beverlyhills/dining.
Broken Spanish and BS Taqueria: Both Ray Garcia’s downtown restaurants will have special menus. At Broken Spanish, there is a $75 prix-fixe menu with an optional $30 agave pairing. Highlights include squid aguachile with caviar, foie gras with buttermilk tortillas and a baked Oaxacan dessert. At BS Taqueria, there will be a party with unlimited chorizo and papas, carnitas tacos and Tecates, margaritas and sparkling wine. The party starts at 7 p.m. and goes until 1:30 a.m. There will be a DJ from 9 p.m. until they close. Tickets can be purchased online. 1050 S. Flower St., Los Angeles, (213) 749-1460, brokenspanish.com; 514 W. 7th St. Los Angeles, (213) 622-3744, bstaqueria.com
Bourbon Steak Los Angeles: Michael Mina’s steakhouse at the Americana at Brand in Glendale will have a four-course menu priced at $98 per person. An additional wine pairing is available for $45. Menu highlights include chilled soba noodles with black truffle dashi, a 14-ounce New York steak with black garlic soubise and cheesecake with blackberry. 237 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, (818) 839-4130, www.michaelmina.net.
The Cannibal: The Culver City restaurant will host what it is calling an old school hip hip hop party from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. The two ticket options include $85 tickets for passed hors d’oeuvres, charcuterie and pate boards, a whole animal feast, sides, two drink tickets and a Champgane toast at midnight; and a $125 ticket that includes all of the food included in the other ticket, as well as an open bar of draft beer, wine, draft cocktails and a Champagne toast at midnight. 8850 Washington Blvd., Culver City, (310) 838-2783, thecanniballa.com.
Catch: The new West Hollywood restaurant will be serving its a la carte menu, along with a few specials, including a 5-pound Norwegian King crab. Reservations will be offered between 5 and 7 p.m. for an earlier seating, and from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. for a later seating. There is a food-and-drink minimum for each: $150 for the earlier seating and $250 for the later. Those confirming reservations before Dec. 26 will receive a complimentary bottle of Champagne with dinner. There also will be a DJ for the late seating. 8715 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, (323) 347-6060, catchrestaurants.com.
Cliff’s Edge: The restaurant will have an Old Hollywood theme for its $95 four-course prix-fixe menu. Highlights include lobster thermidor and Cornish game hen coq au vin. Dinner includes a glass of bubbly. 3626 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 666-6116, www.cliffsedgecafe.com.
Cut Beverly Hills: Wolfgang Puck’s Beverly Wilshire steakhouse will have two seatings: 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. The first seating is $150 per person and includes a three-course menu. The second seating is $275 per person and includes a three-course menu and a Champagne toast at midnight. Cut Lounge will open at 5 p.m. and there will be a DJ from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. 9500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, (310) 276-8500, www.wolfgangpuck.com.
Doheny Room: SBE’s West Hollywood restaurant is throwing a 1920s Gatsby-themed party with two dinner seatings, a balloon drop at midnight at a Champagne tower and toast. The first seating from 7 to 9:30 p.m. is $75 per person. Menu highlights include beef carpaccio with truffle vinaigrette and crispy snapper in a Thai chile lime vinaigrette. The second seating from 9:30 p.m. to close is $100 per person plus a table minimum. The minimum for two to four people is $1,000; $1,500 for parties of five to 10; and a $2,000 minimum for parties of 15 or more. Tickets can be purchased online. 9077 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (424) 777-0266, www.sbe.com/dohenyroom.
E.P. & L.P.: The L.P. rooftop on top of the restaurant will be transformed into an après-ski lodge with birch trees, antler chandeliers and more. But before you head upstairs, chef Louis Tikaram is making a special prix-fixe dinner ($125 per person). 603 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 855-9955, eplosangeles.com.
Gwen: There will be two seatings, with reservations from 6 to 9 p.m. ($125 per person) and between 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. ($175 per person and includes a Champagne toast at midnight). Menu highlights include charcuteries and terrines, chestnut agnolotti and Blackmore Wagyu. 6600 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 946-7500, www.gwenla.com.
Hinoki and the Bird: The Century City restaurant has put together what it’s calling a Vietnam dinner party. Executive chef Brandon Kida is making a three-course dinner with papaya salad and Dungeness crab, and grilled quail with lemon grass and your choice of dessert. The early seatings at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. are $65 per person. The late seatings at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. are $95 per person and include the three course-dinner plus an amuse bouche and a sparkling wine toast. 10 W. Century Drive, Los Angeles, (310) 552-1200, www.hinokiandthebird.com.
Melisse: Josiah Citrin’s Santa Monica restaurant will have two seatings: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. ($150 per person for a four-course prix-fixe meal) and 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. ($295 per person for a six-course prix-fixe menu, plus music and dancing). Menu highlights include Maine lobster and prime beef rib-eye cap. (A credit card is required to hold a reservation.) 1104 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 395-0881, melisse.com.
Orsa & Winston: Josef Centeno’s downtown restaurant will serve a seven-course tasting menu with complimentary bubbly. Call (213) 687-0300 for pricing and to make a reservation. 122 W. 4th St., Los Angeles, www.orsaandwinston.com.
Otium: The downtown restaurant will have a family-style tasting menu plus entry to a Dom Perignon Champagne lounge where there will be a NYE countdown, dessert, Champagne toast, DJ and a photobooth. The price is $175 per person. The first seating is available from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the second seating is available from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. If guest would just like entry into the Champagne lounge, it’s $50 per person at the door. 222 S. Hope St., Los Angeles, (213) 935-8500, otiumla.com.
Providence: Number one on Jonathan Gold’s 101 best restaurants list, Michael Cimarusti’s fine-dining restaurant in Hollywood will have a $230 prix-fixe menu that includes an amuse bouche, scallop and black truffle mousseline, uni parfait with osetra caviar, grilled Maine lobster and a dry aged Creekstone farms rib-eye. Dinner is $320 with a wine pairing and $400 with a premium wine pairing. 5955 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 460-4170, providencela.com.
Redbird: Neal Fraser’s downtown restaurant will have a $175 prix-fixe menu with optional wine pairings priced additionally at $75 and $100. Menu highlights include a 17-layer lasagna, foie gras torchon and risotto with truffles. 114 E. 2nd St., Los Angeles, (213) 788-1191, redbird.la.
Rose Cafe: The Venice restaurant will have a special dinner, and party, depending on what time you drop in. The prix-fixe dinner is $125 per person and will be served between 6:30 and 10 p.m. Highlights include Santa Barbara spot prawns plus spaghetti with Dungeness crab, uni and lobster knuckles. The party takes place from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., and tickets are $100 plus tax and tip ($75 if purchased with a reservation for dinner earlier in the evening). The menu includes a raw bar, pizza, charcuterie and a dessert bar. Drinks are not included, but there will be a complimentary Champagne toast at midnight. 220 Rose Ave., Venice, (310) 399-0711, rosecafevenice.com.
Sotto: Chef Steve Samson will be serving a $75 four-course prix-fixe menu with an optional wine pairing for an additional $45. Highlights include squid ink garganelli, warm lobster salad and scallop crudo. 9575 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 277-0210, www.sottorestaurant.com.
Spago: There will be two seatings: the first from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and the second from 9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The first seating is $98 per person and includes a three-course menu. The second seating
Spago Beverly Hills will offer two seatings on New Year’s Eve. The first slot is from 5:30PM - 6:30PM during which time a special 3-course menu for $98 per person is available. The second seating is from 9:30PM - 10PM and will include a 3-course menu, live DJ and dancing, and a 1AM bountiful breakfast buffet to ring in the New Year. Seats can be reserved by calling 310.385.0880 or by visiting https://spagobeverlyhills.tocktix.com/
Tuck Room Tavern L.A.: A five-course dinner will be served from 5 to 8 p.m. Dinner is $75 and highlights include an ahi tuna crudo cone; seared scallops and a red velvet pavlova. There also will be a cocktail countdown from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The countdown admission is $60 per person and includes a cocktail at 9, 10 and 11 p.m. and a midnight Champagne toast. 10850 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 307-7004, www.thetuckroom.com.
Ready for that Champagne toast. Follow me on Twitter & Instagram @Jenn_Harris_
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UPDATES:
11:35 a.m.: This post was updated with additional specials at the Cannibal restaurant.
This article was originally published at 9 a.m.
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