Where to have a last-minute dinner on New Year's Eve
Hey foodies!
I've been quiet for a while. Basically, I went back home for the holidays and have been too busy enjoying summer, my family and -of course- our amazing homemade food.
Anyways, as a treat, I'm bringing you a special New Year's edition this week, with another update landing in your inbox by Friday that I hope can be helpful for you.
Recently, my friend Carla suggested the idea of sharing some dining options for New Year's Eve. I understand the challenge: many restaurants hike their prices for the holiday, making it seem like an extravagant night (though personally, I find New Year's Eve a bit overhyped - isn't your real New Year on your birthday?).
To help you out, I've checked various websites and revisited my experiences at different eateries. Here is a list of restaurants that promise diverse options with enjoyable, budget-friendly, and warm atmospheres for your New Year's Eve celebration.
Some disclaimers:
I've just been to one of these places but did a fair research to make my picking.
The restaurants I've selected are those with available seating for New Year's Eve. Of course, I would have chosen others over some of these, but they were fully booked.
For reservations, it's always better to make a phone call than an online reservation. Many restaurants hold a number of tables specifically for customers who book over the phone, so this way might be your ticket to a reservation that isn't available online.
You can always walk into these chosen places. However, please be prepared for potential wait times.
Check them out!
1. Dhom
This is a Southeast Asian food & cocktails intimate spot located in East Village. They serve omakase, spring rolls, crunchy coconut rice, and, according to the evaluations, pretty good barbecues.
Their specialty is small plates to share. As a post in The Infatuation said, the food here is snacky and designed for drinking, a perfect mood for New Year's Eve.
Also, I was surprised when checking their Instagram account that they turned into a cool dancing cocktail bar after dinner.
Google Maps evaluations gave them 4.6 stars and a budget between $20 and $30 per person. You can make your reservation here!
2. Cafe Spaghetti
If you are in Brooklyn, this is a simple Italian restaurant in Caroll Gardens serving homemade pasta. It is really well evaluated: 4.8 stars in Google Maps and an 8.3 score in Beli Eats.
They have a nice -now enclosed and fully heated- backyard with a garden, and it is also a cool place to go with your family and kids.
According to the bio on their website, guests will find family recipes across the menu, including tiramisu featuring eggplant parmigiana, cacao e pepe, rice balls, and our meatballs in sugo.
If this place is your chosen one, tables are still available here.
3. Roberta's
Following up with the Italian food mood, this is an ideal group dinner pizza spot in Williamsburg. I have been here, and I assure you their pizzas are between the best five slices I have had in NYC.
My husband -an Italian food addict- taught me that eating a pizza from the north of Italy is not the same as eating a pizza from the south. When we went to Naples in 2018, I understood that: southern pizzas are amazing, and Roberta's brought me back to that trip we made.
The place has a cozy vibe and is pretty big, so if you are looking for a night out with a large group of friends, you can start eating here and then enjoy the night at any Williamsburg bar.
They have 4.0 stars on Google Maps and an estimated spending of $20-$30 per person. However, they have a special menu for New Yera's Eve, offering a $60 pre-fix menu that includes two entries; their Lasagne, Baked Cacio e Pepe, pizza Margherita, or their pizza Bee Sting (with tomato, mozzarella, soppressata, chili, and honey); and finally, gelato for dessert. Here is the link to get your table.
4. Artesano
Okay, this is expensive, but I found it a pretty good deal if you are in the mood to spend. This restaurant located in Tribeca is a fancy Peruvian cuisine site. Some of their options are octopus emulsions, rocoto gel, and cauliflower tiger's milk, as well as fried rice and short ribs.
They usually have live music and plenty of pisco sours, but let's go straight to their New Year's Eve plan. They will offer a dinner party (so you don't have to move afterward), serving a 7-course tasting menu that takes you on a short trip to Peru, includes a champagne toast at midnight, party favors, and a stay at their exclusive party with live entertainment for $225 per person.
They also offered an early dinner menu for $150, which was fully booked. However, if you prefer that option, there's always hope with a phone call.
They have 4.7 stars in Google Maps and 8.5 in Beli Eats. If you think this is a good New Year's Eve deal, here is the link to reserve your table.
5. Foxface Natural
Located in the heart of East Village, this wine bar is perfect for experimenting new flavors with small plates and drinking good wine. Although this place used to be a take-out sandwich, today they serve things like kangaroo tartare, smoked hiramasa with subtle pastrami spices, and a whole roasted fluke served with scene-stealing potatoes.
For New Year's Eve, they offer a 6-course menu full of festive specials with a champagne toast included for $200 per person. The food will consist in sweet shrimps, foie gras millefeuille, agnolotti, smoked potatoes and vin jaune, chanterelles.
Yes, it looks fancy, but they have a 4.9 in Google Maps and a 9.3 score in Beli. If you want to give it a chance, grab your tickets here.
What other places are you thinking of when celebrating and welcoming 2024? Let me know if you want more options or if you have another plan!
Happy eating!!