NYC Gets Dinner And Dancing Started Early On New Year's Eve
Looking to get the party started early with dinner, music, and even dancing before — gasp — 9 p.m., for less than $100 a person? Not all of us want to wait until the wee hours to get our freak on, and we get hungry at a normal time, not cool Argentinian midnight time.
Here are some of your options:
Chelsea:
Impero Caffe (132 West 27th St.)
Chef Scott Conant's new Italian eatery in the Innside Hotel NoMad is doing a four-course prix fixe dinner and DJ dance party. The first seating, which features a jazz trio, starts at 6 p.m. ($75) and the second begins at 9 p.m. ($85) Menu highlights include Conant's signature pasta al Pomodoro, burrata with roasted winter vegetables, cavatelli with braised duck, a 16-ounce rib-eye, and salted caramel Budino with gianduja, a classic Italian chocolate and hazelnut dessert. Guests are welcome to bring their own bottles of wine or bubbly for $40 per bottle corkage fee. The DJ and complimentary Champagne toast is available for late seating guests only.
Union Square:
The VNYL (100 Third Ave.)
Three-course dinner seatings are available for 5 and 7 p.m. ($70). Upgrade to an open bar for an additional $50 from 9 p.m. until midnight, but only with a dinner reservation. DJ CFLO will be spinning during dinner in the Black Rose Room, and live band The Nitty Gritty will perform in the main room from 9 p.m. until midnight to accompany the ball-drop ceremony on the big screen. When it comes to dinner, choices for starters include bangers and mash croquette, avocado and zucchini carpaccio, candied bacon quinoa sushi, or chickpea and avocado dip. Mains will be filet mignon, VNYL poke bowel, or Lacinato kale salad; and dessert will be a cookie dough spring roll or apple pie wonton.
Financial District:
Clinton Hall (90 Washington St.)
Clinton Hall is featuring "Ball at the Hall" ($69) with an open bar from 9 p.m. until midnight, and the party includes passed bites such as mini hot dogs, fries, sliders, chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, Buffalo cauliflower, sliders, and fried pickles. There will be a live DJ for the night and surprise giveaways all night long, plus a complimentary Champagne toast at midnight. The TVs around the venue will show the ball drop, too!
South Street Seaport District:
Ambrose Beer & Lobster (18 Fulton St.)
The new South Street Seaport restaurant offers live music many nights and NYE will be no different. Music starts at 8 p.m., open bar opens at 9 p.m., and passed bites will include lobster lettuce wraps, wings, fried shrimp, and truffle fries. Regular and giant board games include Jenga and Connect 4, and if you're a beer pong fan, this is the place for you. The DJ will be mixing Top 40 hits with throwbacks, and a few lucky folks will win giveaways like bar tabs and gift cards throughout the night.
iPic Theater (11 Fulton St.)
If low key is more your thing, you can still go out to a multi-course dinner and a movie at the same time with waiter service in a private pod (aka a Premium Plus seat) at the new movie theater. On NYE, they're offering a special dessert: baked Alaska made with raspberry sorbet, vanilla gelato, warm toasted meringue, chocolate sauce, and pearls; and a glass of La Marca Prosecco ($12) or luxe it with a pour of Piper-Heidsieck Champagne ($17). Guests can also simply enjoy the elegant dessert à la carte ($8). All movie tickets can be purchased online.
The Tuck Room (11 Fulton St.)
Right next door to iPic, The Tuck Room's New Year's Eve countdown celebration will begin at 9 p.m. with live music, dancing, passed appetizers, and cocktails. Seated dinner is also available from 5 to 8 p.m. Pricing is $65 for non-members and $58 for members, and will include Ahi tuna crudo cone with tempura avocado, yuzu aïoli, togarashi, and chile oil; a root vegetable duo with gratin onion soup and salad; seared scallops served with cauliflower purée, brown butter-meyer lemon vinaigrette, and pea tendrils; a land and sea course comprising grilled petite filet mignon, butter poached lobster tail, crispy fingerlings, and truffled bernaise; and red velvet pavlova with crispy vanilla meringue, red velvet raspberry chunk ice cream, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce. For reservations, call (212) 776-8273.
East Village:
Professor Thom's (219 Second Ave.)
For $80 per person, you'll get a night full of unlimited nachos, passed apps like jalapeño poppers, loaded waffle fries, mozzarella sticks, and breakfast sandwiches. There's a bacon, egg, tots, and cheese brunch if you make it until 4 a.m. A live DJ and dancing starts at 9 p.m. The patio will be open all night for prime East Village people-watching, and there will be NYE giveaways leading up to the final countdown.
SoHo: 132 W Houston St.
East Village: 109 Avenue A
Both locations of Miss Lily's are offering a four-course prix fixe at 9 p.m. for $75 person. At 6 p.m., items from the prix fixe will be available à la carte in addition to the regular menu — but the DJ starts at 6 p.m. The evening features NYE party favors, a midnight Champagne toast (should you choose to stay until midnight), and a special DJ performance, with the option to add an open bar package for an additional $50. Miss Lily's is well-known for its fun party vibes and good times.