if you HAD to go out on NYE

[beresfordhill]

So, my beautiful wife is adamant that we go out in Manhattan this NYE.

I don’t know what’s gotten into her, but I am 1,000% sure I cannot talk her out of it.

Even though it’s almost always lackluster dining as well as obscene crowds, I’ve got to find something that doesn’t suck.

Anyway, looking for any suggestions for restaurants where the food is good and you can also stay to ring in 2011. Trying to avoid the club thing, it’s so expensive and ends in fist pumping, which I’m not much a fan of.

Anyone got some decent spots where you can party in style, sans Jersey Shore?

Thanks!
Chris

[uhockey]

Went to Picholine last year for New Years - the food was immaculate, the room impressive, the crowd elegant, and the service top notch and unrushed. Many were headed to Lincoln Center for an event to ring in the New Year and the crowd was certainly "older" but overall it was lovely and the Wood Pigeon one of my favorite dishes of the year.

http://uhockey.blogspot.com

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Picholine
35 West 64th St., New York, NY 10023

[jon]

We're going to northern spy. $45 for 3 courses and they have a $30 wine tasting too. They are definitely open past midnight. I'm guessing that it won't be filed with tourists.

http://www.northernspyfoodco.com/2010...

[sugartoof]

Are you planning on staying out for when the clock strikes? Will she be satisfied having a really indulgent meal earlier in the night, followed by drinks and dessert, and then home safe and sound before the ball drops?

That plan gives you the best of both worlds, and she'll feel as if she was out without needing to drop a lot of cash on a champagne prix fixe that you're investing in, and possibly stuck at all night.

I suggest a steakhouse, followed by one of the cocktail spots.

[kathryn]

Most of the good cocktail spots are doing a ticketed or package deal, so you won't be able to just drop in and order a drink or two. I know that Pegu Club will have a package deal but what it is I can't recall (there was a card in my check last week stating something).

Rye House, Raines Law Room, Death & Co, Mayahuel, Cienfuegos, Lani Kai, and Painkiller are all throwing ticketed parties. Flatiron Lounge had a party last year, I'd assume they are doing the same again this year. Milk & Honey is closed on NYE.

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Flatiron Lounge
37 W 19th St, New York, NY 10011

Pegu Club
77 W Houston St, New York, NY 10012

Raines Law Room
48 W 17th St, New York, NY 10011

Mayahuel
304 E 6th St, New York, NY 10003

Rye House
11 W 17th St, New York, NY 10011

Cienfuegos
95 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009

Lani Kai
525 Broome St, New York, NY 10012

[sugartoof]

The package deals usually start at a certain hour, which means they may have regular service earlier in the night. Same with restaurants. Another reason why going early is a good plan.

[kathryn]

Yeah, I guess from the OP's wife's perspective, it might not really count as "going out" to have dinner at 6pm, a drink after, and get kicked out at 8pm when the bar starts their party!

Not sure the same applies to restaurants -- a lot of them just have staggered seatings that get more expensive the closer it is to midnight.

An alternative: just got word on Facebook that Louis 649 is open for NYE and not doing any specials or packages or parties.

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Louis 649
649 E 9th St, New York, NY 10009

[LeahBaila]

I had an excellent prix-fixe meal recently at Macao Trading Co. I'm not sure what the later-night scene is like - or if it becomes Jersey Shore-esque - but my friend and I were very pleased with our experience. I know that they are having a NYE special, as well: http://www.macaonyc.com/menus/upcoming_events.pdf

www.thelunchbelle.com

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Macao Trading Co.
311 Church Street, New York, NY 10013

[loratliff]

Just literally got word that Little Branch is doing open bar from 9pm-2am with a champagne toast, live jazz and small bites. $125/per person. I'm a huge fan, so now I know where I'll be. :) Highly recommended if you like good cocktails and don't want the club thing.

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Little Branch
22 Seventh Ave South, New York, NY 10014

[beresfordhill]

thank you all!

I think little branch sounds awesome and looking into many of the other suggestions.
To all a good night

Chris

[kathryn]

Similarly, Death & Co is doing an open bar 8pm-2am? 4am? with small bites, champagne, etc. I think it's $150pp.

[loratliff]

Hadn't heard about theirs yet. Thanks for the tip.

[kathryn]

Painkiller is also having a party, a "New Year's Eve 1980's Lower East Side Luau." Open bar, Luau fare (with a whole roast pig), DJ, midnight Mai Tai toast! $120 (includes tax and gratuity). Please RSVP to [e-mail]

So is Mayahuel, 8pm-2am, email [e-mail] for reservations. Open bar, special menu, their Facebook page says. $150.

Apparently so is Cienfuegos, no details available, their Facebook page says email [e-mail] for details. I'm assuming similar pricing to D&C and Mayahuel since they're all run by the same people.

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Mayahuel
304 E 6th St, New York, NY 10003

Cienfuegos
95 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009

[sugartoof]

Cienfuegos would be the easiest of them all to get your moneys worth from. Although I wonder if you really got to sample all the various punches, if they start to taste the same?

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Cienfuegos
95 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009

[kathryn]

I've had a number of the punches there and they don't taste the same at all.

[sugartoof]

Sure, but an open bars worth, presuming you got to really go deep into the menu....

[kathryn]

Lani Kai is also having a party. $100 per person includes 4-hour open bar, passed hors d'oeuvres and a Champagne toast. Email [e-mail] or call 646-596-8778 for a table.

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Lani Kai
525 Broome St, New York, NY 10012

[Jess321]

I love Little Branch, but it is TINY...so if you're planning on going to this (which is an amazing deal seeing as how their drinks are usually at least $12-15 each and are incredibly well-made!), you should probably get there on the early side.

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Little Branch
22 Seventh Ave South, New York, NY 10014

[loratliff]

They require an RSVP.

And, actually, don't delude yourself into thinking it's a great deal—their drinks are $13/14 each, so you'd have to be able to drink nine drinks to get your money's worth.

[princeofpork]

The smaller the place the less they will be impacted by NYE festivities.

[coasts]

going out on New Years Eve doesn't have to mean Times Square or Jersey Shore. I go out every year and have never encountered any of this fist pumping, lackluster dining or even obscene crowds that you speak of.

this year we'll be celebrating at Hearth. I made reservations for 10:30, expecting to stay until midnight. last year we had dinner in KTown (Ms. Coasts is Korean so it seemed celebratory) and the year before that, we were at Smith's on MacDougal.

[Nancy S.]

We're going to Motorino -- they are taking reservations for NYE.

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Motorino
349 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003

[ESNY]

I've done Otto a few times with a bigger group Regular menu, good wines, olive oil gelato.

Besides that, I avoid any place with a "special" menu.

[loratliff]

Does Hearth have something special for NYE? We were debating doing their Christmas Eve dinner, but if they have something fun for NYE, I'd be interested.

Raines Law Room has a black tie thing going on that might be worthwhile...

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Raines Law Room
48 W 17th St, New York, NY 10011

[coasts]

honestly, i should really call them to be sure how late they'll stay open. i made the reservation without giving it much thought, just to have something lined up. i've never been, but it's been on my list for a while. figured NYE was as good of a night as any, although that might not be true.

[reatard]

Open from 9pm to 2am as per their Facebook post.

[coasts]

thank you...there's nothing on their website, but i imagined they'd be open past midnight if they're taking tables at 10:30.

[Jane A.]

Check the good hotels - those large rooms which are usually booked for weddings always used to have big NYE parties open to the public at some silly price, but at least were festive and dressy. As you can tell, I haven't travelled that route for a while.