Justin CaffierBefore the begrudging dietary resolutions of the new decade begin, let us allow ourselves one final feast. You can get your drink on anywhere, but it’s always better when not on an empty stomach. And what better way to fill your belly than with prix fixe New Year’s Eve meals prepared specifically for the occasion? If you’re planning to ring in 2020 with a full-on bacchanalia, you might as well choose one befitting Dionysus himself. To that end, we’ve pulled together a few luxe options for your last meal of 2019.
Courtesy Cantina Frida
Cantina Frida
This stylish Beverly Hills spot gives guests the option of filet, branzino, or langoustines for their entrée, rounding out the rest of the meal with options like lobster sope, mango salad, crema poblana, and tiraditode hamachi. Good luck choosing between the sweet potato crumble and decadent chocolate cake for your dessert, though. https://www.cantinafrida.com
Terra
You can’t temporarily part ways with carbs without one final fling. And nobody does that food group like the Italians. Eataly L.A.’s rooftop restaurant Terra invites guests to spend the big night sipping a wide selection of beer, wine, and specialty cocktails, nibble on the assaggi “bites” floating through the crowd, and stop by food stations serving fresh house made pasta served in a wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano DOP, hand-carved prosciutto, or some of the restaurant’s top dishes. Be sure to leave room for some dessert crafted by their pastry chefs. https://www.eataly.com/us_en/stores/los-angeles/la-terra/
Terra (Eataly)
Warrior
Top Chef winner chef Hung Hunyh made the 11th hour call to scrap his original NYE feast plans in order to give diners a meal that would be truly special. First course is oysters and caviar, then fried cauliflower and wagyu beef tartare. After that is a flurry of Cantonese lobster noodles, wagyu beef steak, toban mushrooms, and kung pao tofu, before you’re hit with chocolate molten lava cake and coconut ice cream (if you even have any room left). https://warriorlosangeles.com
Lunetta
Chef and owner Raphael Lunetta hopes his Love Boat-cruise themed meal will take diners into the new year with full bellies and relaxed minds. Inspired by cruise ship steakhouses, the meal invites diners to enjoy coastal classics like pan-roasted John Dori, Seafood Risotto, 55-day aged rib chop, and Maine lobster. You’ll have plenty of festive and potent tiki drink options to help wash down each bite while yacht rock classics play from the speakers. https://www.lunettasm.com
Santuari
Executive Chef Brendan Mica has prepared a 5-course menu to help revelers reach the countdown with full bellies. The scratch run kitchen will also offer wine pairing, black truffle, and caviar additions. Salmon rillette crostini, smoked trout caviar, butter poached Maine lobster, Anson Mills risotto, and grilled wagyu with a parsnip puree and veal jus should take care of all the hunger guests arrive with, and a final mille crepe cake and dark chocolate ganache bite should seal the deal just in case they don’t. https://www.santuarirestaurant.com
Avec Nous (Aliza Sokolow)
Avec Nous
Springing for the optional wine pairing is your call, but even without, you’re sure to be satisfied with this 4-course tasting menu at Viceroy L’Ermitage’s beloved French bistro. With highlights like bone marrow with absinth spinach, New Zealand red deer tenderloin with red currant, and duck-stuffed Bandera quail how could you not be? https://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/beverly-hills/dining-nightlife/avec-nous
Bourbon Steak
New Year’s Eve at the Americana might sound a bit unorthodox at first, but chef Michael Mina’s steal of a final meal will force you to reconsider many a preconceived notion. Bourbon Steak’s “Ode to Epicurean Eras” menu is all nods to the past featuring classic dishes such as oysters Rockefeller with garlic streusel and spinach, lobster Thermidor, a 10 oz. wagyu flat-iron steak Diane, and duck breast and duck-leg confit à l’orange. Just dig in. You can worry about what the future hold once you’re there dealing with it. https://www.michaelmina.net/restaurants/bourbon-steak/los-angeles/
E.P. & L.P.
The Asian eating house and rooftop, will celebrate the start of 2020 with an exclusive 6-course Family-Style Dinner ($125/person) from new Filipino head chef Sabel Braganza. E.P.’s NYE 6-course menu offerings include caviar with scallion pancake and Crème Fraiche, Hiramasa kingfish crudo, yellow aguachile, cucumber and radish as well as lobster with chili noodles and dry aged wagyu with winter black truffle.
E.P. & L.P. (Wonho Frank Lee)
Revelers can keep the party going upstairs at the L.P. rooftop and party like it’s 1969 with L.P.’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood New Year’s Eve Celebration and Rooftop Party (21+ only) from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. ($100/person) L.P. guests can enjoy 60’s and 70’s music by DJ Ninja & Aaron Colbert and costumes are encouraged. The evening will include an open bar and passed appetizers from 8 – 10 p.m. (bottle packages and tables are available for purchase). https://www.eplosangeles.com
Tavern
Suzanne Goin and Carolyne Styne will usher in the New Year Tavern’s grand atrium and blue room with a retro Roaring Twenties party where the Rosé and Champagne will be flowing all night long. The decadent five-course dinner begins with caviar toasts and the traditional accompaniments; followed by crab and shrimp Louie . Main course choices include slow-roasted beef tenderloin “Stroganoff” with baked Alaska with eggnog ice cream and stout gingerbread for dessert. DJ Williams – named Best DJ in LA Weekly readers’ poll – will be spinning from 7:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. https://tavernla.com
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