Our Ultimate Guide to Celebrating New Year’s Eve 2014
Unless you want to be stuck watching the ball drop on TV from a corner of your couch (not that there’s anything wrong with that), it’s time to start seriously considering your New Year’s Eve plans now. Thankfully, we’re here to help you scout out the best bashes at local restaurants — from a Spanish fiesta at the hopping tapas spot, Toro, to a fete complete with fireworks at Tavern on the Green!
Toro
This New Year’s Eve celebrate “Noche Vieja” in true Spanish style at Toro, the Barcelona-inspired tapas bar from James Beard Award-winning duo Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette. For $75 per person, guests will enjoy a family-style menu of Toro‘s most popular dishes, ranging from modern pinchos like Sea Urchin and Miso Butter Bocadillos, seasonal plancha bar items, such as Griddled Garlic Shrimp with Cascabel Chiles, Lobster and Black Truffle Paella and a selection of Maple Crumble and Orange Chocolate Churros. And that’s not all — party-goers will wile the night away with sangria, an ice luge, DJs, dancing, and a midnight cava toast! Fear not if reservations are already snagged. Just download the Resy app and fork out a little bit of dough for prime-time New Year’s Eve seating.
Read MoreRed Rooster
Marcus Samuelsson is ringing in New Year’s Eve at both his popular Harlem soul food spot, Red Rooster, as well as his swinging downstairs supper club, Ginny’s. Per person prices depend on how many courses you choose, during either early or late seatings, but you won’t go wrong no matter when or where you decide to celebrate, with dishes like Cornbread Madelines, Celery Root Soup, Tartar of Beef, Curried Lobster Fried Rice, and delicious desserts, including Peanut Black Bottom Pie or Holiday Doughnuts, with eggnog pastry cream and glogg-macerated cherries.
Read MoreTuome
Recently awarded with two stars from the New York Times, this refined Chinese restaurant (run by an Eleven Madison Park vet) is an unexpectedly chic spot to spend the holiday. For $95-125, chef Thomas Chen will ring in the New Year with a seven-course pre-fixe menu of his inventive, modern Asian fare, including Crab and Whipped Truffle Toast, Egg with osetra black caviar and uni dashi, Branzino for Two with fermented black soy beans and wild rice, and a not-too-sweet Chinese Beignet, filled with apple jam, drizzled with goat’s milk caramel, and served with a scoop of red bean glazed ice cream.
Read MoreAlder
Wylie Dufresne’s groundbreaking wd-50 may be officially closed for business, but you can still finish out the year at his only slightly less quirky sophomore effort, Alder. He’s created a special multi-course tasting menu especially for New Year’s Eve, which takes diners through a journey of the food of various NYC neighborhoods. For $125 per person, you’ll start with a trip to the Lower East Side for small snacks, then head to Midtown for decadent Egg Yolk Pasta with Truffles, followed by Chinatown for XO Scallop and Peking Duck, Arthur Ave in the Bronx for Braised Veal Breast, and end up in Coney Island for a delightfully old-fashioned Candied Apple.
Read MoreThe Happiest Hour
When it comes to dining out on New Year’s Eve, it’s easy to blow through an unspeakable amount of cash. But if you’d like to party hard this holiday without sacrificing your next three months rent, check out the cool, casual (but no less celebratory) specials at The Happiest Hour — a brand new bar opened by ACME and the NoMad’s Jon Neidich. Order the buzzed about, grass-fed, confit onion-topped Burger, as well as a side of fries and a sparkling cocktail by the Pegu Club’s Jim Kearns, all for a mere $20!
Read MoreTertulia
Seamus Mullen is also adding a bit of Spanish flair to the New Year’s Eve festivities at his West Village standby, Tertulia. For $95-130 (depending on the time of your seating), you’ll be treated to a family-style feast, including curls of Iberico Ham, a Crudo Trio, Shaved Mushroom Salad, Dry-Aged Duck Breast with creamy cauliflower, Split-Roasted Leg of Beef, and an appealing collection of sweets, including Sobao Pasiego; a traditional Spanish Rum Cake.
Read MoreTavern on the Green
Just a few months ago, we would have advised you to steer clear of the famously touristy Tavern on the Green. But with legendary California trailblazer, Jeremiah Tower, now at the helm, it’s the perfect place to spend a truly over-the-top New Year’s Eve. Festivities will feature a jazz band and DJ, a live feed of the ball drop in Times Square, as well as a fireworks display over Central Park at midnight. The $325 tickets also include a four-hour open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres (such as Wild Mushroom and Mozzarella Arancini, Hudson Valley Foie Gras on Toasted Brioche, and Miniature New England Lobster Rolls) as well as party favors. Still not swanky enough for you? Private tables are available, as well as some totally luxe upgrades.
Read MoreHyatt Times Square
For unbeatable views (minus the crazy crowds) of the iconic party in Times Square, book one of the exclusive “Ball Drop Rooms” at the nearby Hyatt, or check out the black tie gala at their posh rooftop lounge, Bar 54. The celebration will include a five-hour premium open bar, as well as three hours of passed appetizers. Still hungry? They’re also offering a special three-course prixe fix in their in-house restaurant, including Burrata with arugula pesto, beets and pistachios, and Flatiron Steak with duck fat potatoes, wild mushrooms and spinach, followed by Chocolate Mousse Cake or Passion Fruit Crème Brulee.
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