New Year's In Boston
Note: Unless otherwise noted, prices do not include beverages, tax, or gratuity. Please verify the menu and pricing when making your reservation.
Back Bay Harry's
Back Bay Harry's knows how to throw a party, and this New Year's Eve, they'll pit Katy Perry and Taylor Swift against each other in a DJ battle of the best of each artist's repertoire. The celebration includes a different three-course dinner for each pop star (guests may select one or the other, or a combination from both), a Champagne toast at midnight, and the in-house entertainment, all for $55. Fun and inventive menu items like "I Kissed a Girl tofu," "Shake It Off buttermilk fried chicken," and, "We are Never Ever Getting Back Together pan roasted salmon" will be on the menu.
Beat Hotel
From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., get your '70s disco shoes out for a final dance-off for 2014. DJ James Cerne, hostess Foxy Elyse, and Déjà Vu Go-Go dancers will heat things up and you can enjoy all of this alongside a delectable buffet of hors d'oeuvres at Beat Hotel. Think bottomless braised short ribs, a variety of flat breads, salad, and guac on guac on guac. It's $135 for the entire evening, or $80 should you be interested in the soirée without the buffet.
Bistro du Midi
Chef Robert Sisca and head sommelier Todd Lipman always roundup the best of the best dishes and wine pairings for their New Year's Eve celebration at Bistro du Midi. Overlooking the gorgeous Public Gardens and First Night celebrations, enjoy one of two seatings (with the later seating including a midnight Champagne toast). The first, at $95, includes a four-course prix fixe menu, and the second, at $165, goes big with seven courses; pairings are available at an additional cost for both. Guests can expect butter-poached Maine lobster, sea bass crudo, lamb tartare, espresso-scented rack of venison, and much more.
Bondir
Jason Bond loves a good celebration and will offer special menus at both of his outposts. In Cambridge, a seven-course menu ($120) will be the focus for the evening, featuring confit of East Coast halibut, Brook's Cloud lamb, and chocolate cremeux. In Concord, a four-course menu ($85) includes 12-week dry-aged Vermont Wagyu ribeye and chocolate soufflé made to order. Cheese wheels and foie gras are additional courses that should most definitely be added onto the evening's celebrations.
Craigie on Main
With seatings at 6:00, 6:30, and 7:00 p.m., Craigie offers diners a special five-course menu for $130 (additional wine pairings are priced at $69). The menu will be festive and interesting, as is chef Tony Maw's standard. A second round of seating at 9:00, 9:30, and 10:00 p.m. offers a six-course menu and Champagne toast at midnight for $160 (additional wine pairings for $79).
And on New Year's Day, head back in for their last annual Lucky Brunch. Who wouldn't want to spend the first morning of 2015 with their hands in a pastry basket full of housemade assorted treats, or enjoying yogurt or a smoothie? The brunch offers a choice of entrée, including duck confit and duck sausage hash, or bacon-wrapped grass fed beef tenderloin and mushroom quiche. Add a dessert and you are set up for a good year, all for $50 a person.
Earl's Kitchen and Bar
Assembly Row is hopping with new cool eats. The sixth Earl's Kitchen and Bar in the U.S. has set up shop and will be ringing in the New Year with a New Year's Day brunch. From 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., start 2015 off right with classic eggs Benny, chorizo and mushroom hash, croque madame, and a whole variety of sides.
Kirkland Tap and Trotter
Over in Cambridge, the team at Kirkland Tap and Trotter celebrate New Year's with an all-night bash. Food will be set up in a buffet-style at various stations throughout the restaurant and live music will bounce off the walls throughout the evening. With their stellar crew of bartenders, this may be the most well-balanced New Year's bash yet. Tickets are $49 for food and music ($59 at the door), but be warned: they will likely sell out fast.
Legal Harborside
Overlooking the beautiful Boston skyline and harbor, Legal Harborside's second floor presents their New Year's Eve three-course prix fixe feast. For $70 per person, you'll find their "Treasures of the Sea" (oyster stew and seared rare salmon) to start, surf and turf, veal chop, and boozy desserts like their frozen kier royal, or their pear Riesling trifle will set you up nicely for the evening that will follow.
Head up one floor to the rooftop, which will be open from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Enjoy the views on one of the best rooftops in Boston, complete with a cozy fireplace. The fireworks will be in full view and Legal Harborside has your bubbly libations covered. Tickets are priced at $75 a person or $550 for a group of six.
Met Back Bay
With the cruise-like atmosphere at Met Back Bay, you don't have to go anywhere to feel like you are traveling the world this New Year's Eve. From 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., indulge in a multi-course meal including rigatoni and cheese with Burgundy truffles, Met short rib Wellington, and chocolate bread pudding. With your fill of food and delicious drinks, you can proceed to dance the night away to The Greg Hopkins Swing Six and their live jazz and swing music. $125 per person, drinks not included.
Ribelle and North
What better way to spend the last day of 2014 than with two of Momofuku's alumni and a nine-course dinner? Tim Maslow and James Mark of Providence, R.I.'s Ribelle and North, respectively, are preparing a feast for dinner guests with nine different seatings from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. With only 100 tickets available, this will be an incredible evening celebrating a different ingredient in each course (think crudo followed by caviar followed by bisque, a foie gras course, and so on throughout the night). Tickets are $175 a person (not including a la carte beverages) and available through Eventbrite only.
Rosa Mexicano
Ring in the New Year with Mexican flair at Rosa Mexicano in the Seaport. With a very wallet-friendly $45-a-person price, indulge in their special prix fixe menu including their world-renowned guacamole, antojitos for the table, and choice of an individual entrée such as whole red snapper, carne asada con chipotle (chipotle seared bone-in ribeye), and Maine lobster ceviche. Finish off with churros and a trio of dipping sauces. Should you be in the mood — and you really should be — add free-flowing Rosa Royale cocktails for two hours with the purchase of dinner for and additional $25. Happy 2015!