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| Get surreal at Ink on New Year's Eve |
TO DINE
Ink
Michael Voltaggio's Melrose New Year's Eve menu is inspired by Salvador Dali's cookbook, Les Diners de Gala, published in 1973 in honor of Dali's wife and love of gastronomy. The Top Chef winner will recreate a meal "as Dali would have liked," so not really literal translations, more like inspiration, of dishes like "Cauliflower with Roquefort" and "Peacock l"imperiale Surrounded by Its Court." No early or late seatings, just a regular night of reservations that begin at 6 PM and end at 10 PM. $150 per person. Ink.'s regular bar offerings and wine list will also be available (8360 Melrose Ave.; 323-651-5866).
Scarpetta
The Montage Beverly Hill's restaurant is offering a five-course menu at 6 PM ($85 per person) and a seven-course menu at 9 and 9:30 PM ($150). The latter includes a champagne toast at midnight and party favors. Choose your courses from the early seating, which includes dishes like yellowtail crudo, the famous Scott Conant spaghetti and vanilla budino, or indulge in caviar-topped deviled eggs, veal brasato and porcino and taleggio angnolotti later (225 N. Canon Dr.; 310-860-7970).
Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
The new WISC will usher in the New Year with some Southern-style good luck by offering complimentary black eyed peas to every table that comes in for the $75 four-course prix fixe menu (1031 Abbot Kinney Blvd.; 310-392-2425).
Ammo
This year the Hollywood restaurant will have live music with Max Whipple of the LA band Deux Sons. The four-course menu has dishes like rosted potatoes with creme fraiche and caviar, roasted fennel puree with parmesan crouton, dungeness crab with frisee and golden beets, and pan-seared halibut with baby leeks. $75 per person; $35 extra for wine pairings (1155 N. Highland Ave.; 323-871-2666).
Mo-Chica
Celebrate Peruvian-style with a six-course family-style feast at Ricardo Zarate's downtown restaurant. The menu includes signature dishes like uni and scallop tiradito, and quinoa fried chicken with rocoto aioli. Seatings are from 5:30 to 10:15 PM with prices ranging from $75 per person on the early side to $105 later. The later seatings include one cocktail and wine pairing. After 10:30 PM, there will be a DJ and open bar for $40 more per person (514 W. 7th St.; 213-622-3744).
Picca
On the Westside of town? It's a similar deal at Zarate's Peruvian cantina: an eight-course menu features signature items from the menu, like grilled shrimp tartare with rice crackers and wasabi-soy dressing, and a queso-stuffed Peruvian cucumber topped with aji amarillo honey. The early seating is $95 per person and includes wine pairings (6 PM), the later seating is $145 with one cocktail and wine pairing. A DJ spins after 10:30 PM with an open bar for $40 per person (9575 W. Pico Blvd.; 310-277-0133
Mozza Scuola
A special family-style truffle feast is planned for the Scuola, including dishes like parmesan risotto with white truffle, crispelle di prosciutto with black truffle, and roast veal breast with black truffle jus. $250 per person; wine or beer is extra, or bring your own for $30 per bottle corkage (two bottle minum for party of 4). (6610 Melrose Ave.; 323-297-1130).
Josie
Order from the regular menu at Josie LeBalch's Santa Monica restaurant during the early seating (5:30-7:30 PM), or the four-course special menu from 9:15-10:30 PM. The latter includes a free glass of bubbles (2424 Pico Blvd.; 310-581-9888).
Hungry Cat
Both the Santa Monica and Hollywood locations have something special up their sleeves, meaning special menus with wine or cocktail pairings. The full raw bar menu will be available a la carte, too. Check out the Eastside menu here, and the Westside menu here.
Patina Group
There are a slew of special menus at Joachim Splichal's downtown restaurants. A seven-course gala feast at Patina comes with a side of live jazz music all night long ($160 per person). Three courses at Nick & Stef's ($75 per person) starts early so you have time to get to your parties. And Cafe Pinot will feature a three-course menu for $70 per person, or four-courses for $90. A jazz trio will entertain you from 7:30 PM on.
Superba Snack Bar
Dishes from chef Jason Neroni's five-course menu include things like fried chicken, gnocchi with spigarello, lasagne all Romana, and a selection of starters. And this might be the only night you can reserve a table for any seating at the Venice restaurant throughout the night (533 Rose Ave.; 310-399-6400).
Wood & Vine
The Hollywood restaurant has the evening set for two. You have your choice of two prix fixe menus set for couples - $50 per person, which includes dishes like blood orange salad with toasted pecans, risotto, uni pasta and flat iron Wagyu with potato gratin; or $75 per person, which adds a truffle pasta and whole lobster into the mix. $50 wine pairings are optional (6280 Hollywood Blvd.; 323-334-3360).
Red Medicine
Jordan Kahn's six-course menu includes dishes like Indian eggplant, pork pate with crispy chicken skin, dungeness crab spring rolls, Nantucket bay scallops cured with kaffir lime, and chocolate cream in crispy devil's food "cage." The menu is available from 6-11 PM, the bar and restaurant will be open until 2 AM (8400 Wilshire Blvd.; 323-651-5500).
The Tasting Kitchen
Meat-eaters, vegetarians and pescatarians alike will find something at Casey Lane’s Venice restaurant. The New Year’s Even menu includes dishes like saffron arancini with gold flakes; porcini crudo and ricotta salata; buckwheat tajarin with caviar and crème fraiche; and hot chocolate pudding with toasted hazelnut ice cream. Six courses start at $100 per person, with additional wine pairings for $45 (1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd.; 310-392-6644).
Rivera
Chef John Sedlar pays tribute to L’Ermitage, where it all began for him, at his downtown restaurant for New Year’s Eve. The special five-course menu features dishes such as smoked salmon terrine with caviar; carre d”agneau with aubergine tempura; and aiguillette de canard with Bordeaux sauce. Call the restaurant for details and reservations. (1050 S. Flower St.; 213-749-1460).
BLD
There’s a budget-friendly prix fixe menu at Neal Fraser’s Mid-City spot, which includes dishes like smoked mushroom ravioli, crispy duck rillettes with pea tendrils, pan-roasted branzino with wild rice, and spicy chocolate truffle cake. $45 per person for the early seating (5:30-7:15 PM), and $55 for the late seating (7:30-8:45 PM). Plenty of time for parties after that.
Cecconi’s
Go for the four-course menu featuring duck terrine with brioche, spiny lobster tortelli, and beef filet with parsnip puree and porcini mushrooms. The later seating comes with champagne toast and a DJ. $80 or $150 per person (8764 Melrose Ave.; 310-432-2000).
TO PARTY
The Parish
Stop for dinner at Casey Lane’s downtown gastropub, or just come for the party from 10 PM to 2 AM. Pre-sale tickets ($30) include one drink token, passed appetizers, a midnight toast and guaranteed entry. Show up at the door and $15 gets you the toast and food only). Make reservations by emailing info@theparishla.com (840 South Spring St.; 213-225-2400).
Rock & Reilly's
Toast the New Year with rolling complimentary champagne toasts for every Dublin midnight throughout the evening - 4 PM for Dublin, Ireland; 9 PM for Dublin, Pennsylvania; 10 PM for Dublin, North Dakota; 11 PM for Dublin, Idaho: and finally a midnight toast at the raucous Sunset Strip Irish bar (8911 W. Sunset Blvd.; 310-360-1400).
Sassafras
The Southern Bell of Hollywood will have a New Year's Eve bash with live pands, premium open bar and champagne toast at midnight. $70 per person (1233 Vine St.; 323-467-2800).
Public Kitchen & Bar
Dine at the Hollywood Roosevelt restaurant - the six-course menu includes a chilled seafood tower, and lamb noisette with grilled artichokes and watermelon gremolata. $170 per person for the first seating (6 PM), and $200 for the late seating (9 PM), which includes a wristband for the hotel's Saints & Sinners party (7000 Hollywood Blvd.; 323-769-8888).
El CidTwo Flamenco floor shows will make for a lively New Year’s Eve in Silver Lake. Dinner is only $45 per person at 6:30 PM, and $65 for the five-course menu at 9:30 PM. The latter comes with a champagne toast (4212 Sunset Blvd.; 323-668-0318).
XEN
The splashy party menu at this new Valley lounge includes appetizers like crispy ravioli and macaroni and cheese. But you won’t go for the food; you’ll go for the bottle service, cocktails and craft beer. To reserve a table email marie@xenlounge.com (10628 Ventura Blvd.; 818-505-3513).
Delphine
The ground-floor of Hollywood's W Hotel becomes one big party with live music, dancing and drinks between the restaurant, Station and the Living Room. Tickets start at $100 for the open-bar event. Goes till 2 AM, party people (6250 Hollywood Blvd.; 323-798-1355).
Tony's Darts Away
All you can drink beer? Git it all night at the Burbank beer bar with limited edition kegs and other specialty brews. Tickets include passed appetizers, a buffet with dips and snacks, and a commemorative NYE glass to keep. $95 for reserved indoor seating; $75 for reserved patio seating (rain or shine): $75 for designated driver ticket. 8 PM-2 AM (1710 W. Magnolia Blvd.; 818-253-1710).
Golden Road
Head to the pub for all-you-can-drink Golden Road beer ($35 per person). The new private beer room, Chloe’s, will have limited edition brews and a live performance with the Mighty Cash Cats, a Johnny Cash tribute band ($50 per person). 8 PM-2 AM (5410 W. San Fernando Rd.; 213-373-4677)
Crustacean
Jeff Goldblum – yes, that Jeff Goldblum – and his jazz band will perform at the Beverly Hills stalwart at 9 PM. A four-course menu plus seating in the concert section is $250, or in the balcony for $185 per person. Seating is limited. (9646 S. Santa Monica Blvd.; 310-205-8990).
The Abbey
It’s a Havana Nights party at the West Hollywood restaurant and bar. The night includes DJs, food and drink – no cover all night long, unless you want the open-bar deal with endless appetizers and a champagne toast at midnight ($100) (692 N. Robertson Blvd.; 310-289-8410).