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NYE 2006: Munch Your Way to MidnightSaturday Dec 31, 2005.
By Kate Schwartz
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2005-06 NYE GUIDES Nightclubs ~ Bar Parties ~ Live Music ~ Stage/Theatre ~ Hotel Bashes ~ Wining & Dining ~ NYE updates & changes announced in our CRUMB newsletter 
SIX COURSE MENU + WINE PAIRINGS + EXCELLENT DJ! click to read the details... Nothing makes a special evening like an eight-course, prix-fixe menu. Our roster of New Year's Eve dining options may leave your head spinning with champagne fervency. But whichever you pick, call soon: Reservations are going like hotcakes. We've also added a handy, single-glance way to tell if you'll be forking over $75 or more a head (sans alcohol, generally), and if you have the option of hanging out well into the first day of 2006.
Adobo Grill (Old Town) What's New Year's Eve without tequila? You'll get plenty of it (in the form of unlimited margaritas and a midnight tequila toast) at Adobo Old Town. Dining begins at 9 p.m.; the $95 four-course menu includes Adobo's famous guacamole, prepared tableside; your choice of antojitos like corn and lobster soup and ceviche; entrees like grilled lamb loin and sugar-cane-skewered scallops; and desserts like tres leches cake. In addition to the tequila, you'll also have access to an endless supply of beer, wine and soft drinks, perfect to keep you going as the mariachi band plays. As a bonus, you'll get a $10 for a future brunch. Adobo Grill (Wicker Park) Take your pick of three back-to-back reservations at Wicker Park's Adobo outpost: 9:15, 9:30 or 9:45 p.m. For $89 you'll get a three-course meal with your choice of appetizer (like empanadas stuffed with veal), entree (like crab-meat-stuffed rainbow trout) and dessert (the crustless cheesecake flavored with oven-roasted acorn squash is certainly intriguing). You'll also enjoy unlimited margaritas, beer, wine and soft drinks; a midnight tequila toast; and DJ and dancing to salsa, merengue and more until 2 a.m. Plus, you'll get that ever-valuable $10 brunch coupon.
Aria The three-course, a la carte menu at "culturally inspired, comfortably American" aria includes lobster and bay scallop risotto, smoked and seared Hudson Valley foie gras, pan-roasted halibut, grilled venison loin and warm chocolate chibouste. Reservations are required; seatings available 5-11 p.m. Avenues Avenues, located in the Peninsula Hotel, begins with a pre-theatre dinner at 5 p.m. The four-course menu costs $95 per person, $145 with wine inclusive. The Gala Dinner begins at 8:30 p.m. with a champagne reception. The seven-course signature meal, created by chef Graham Elliot Bowles, costs $230 per person, $295 with wine inclusive. Bin 36 You'll have your pick of two seatings at wine-favorite Bin 36. The first, from 5:30-7:15 p.m., serves as $65 four-course dinner (with optional wine pairings); the second begins at 9 p.m. and costs $105 for five courses (again, wine extra). Here's a sampling: warm oysters with spinach, venison two ways, artisanal cheese and a chocolate mousse bombe with mandarin sorbet. The later seating gets a few more plusses: live music by the Michael Raynor Group, hats, horns and a midnight champagne toast.
Bistro 110 Bored by the idea of another midnight toast? Trade the flute for a flight with Bistro 110's Premium Bonne Annee Champagne flight, priced at $20.06. The flight includes pours of Dom Perignon 1996, Moet & Chandon Rose N.V. and Mumm Joyesse N.V. Demi-Sec. Food-wise, you'll choose from an a la carte menu specially prepared by executive chef Dominique Tougne. Reservations taken until 11 p.m.
Brasserie Jo If you're planning to hit the town late-night, head to this French eatery early for an incredibly well-priced dinner: The three-course menu costs just $39 between 5 and 6:30 p.m. The second seating begins at 7 p.m. and offers a four-course menu of starter, main course, cheese, dessert and midnight toast for $59. The Manuel Arrington Motown band will play from 8 p.m.-1 a.m.
Carnivale In addition to the regular menu, chef Mark Mendez will offer a one-night-only special entree menu, finished by pastry chef Christine McCabe's one-night-only dessert menu. Carnivale will have a champagne list available for the evening with selections not regularly carried on its champagne menu. Party favors and champagne toast will help ring in the new year, as will ABC Channel 7, who will shoot live from Carnivale before, during and after midnight. Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba Tapas-great Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! continues its tradition of two-day bashes with its New Year's Eve party and pajama brunch. On the big night, fork over $15 after 8 p.m. to enjoy a bash that goes way beyond food, complete with DJ entertainment and a cava sangria toast. But no worries, tapas will abound. Wake up on the first and head in for Pajama Day brunch, which features complimentary churros and orange juice. You'll also receive a gift certificate equal to the price of your meal to use at a future date. What a thrifty way to start '06. China Grill Settle in for a long one at China Grill, located in the Hard Rock Hotel. Your $100 chef's tasting menu will include delicacies like blue fin tuna, filet of beef, lobster salad, diver scallops and dessert. Cite Take your New Year's Eve sky-high via the 70th floor of Lake Point Tower. French-American eatery Cite offers a four-course menu prepared by executive chef Michael Hazen. Guests may choose seating times between 6:30 and 10:30 p.m., with reservations taken on the half hour. Cost is $195 per person and includes your choice of dishes like Maryland crab cakes, lobster bisque with poached rock shrimp, king salmon with lobster quinoa risotto, rack of lamb with mushroom moussaka and chestnut cheesecake. You'll also enjoy entertainment by smooth jazz, Latin and pop music guitarist Brian Lubeck, party favors, a complimentary champagne toast and views of the Navy Pier and Grant Park fireworks.
This neighborhood favorite located at the north end of Southport offers a value packed six-course, prix fixe menu including wine pairings and champagne toast at midnight. $75 per person. Reservations are required; DJ "Play To Win" starts at 11:00 p.m. Come in after 11:00 p.m. at no charge and just enjoy the music and complimentary hors d' oeuvres.
Embrace If you're looking to spice things up in downtown Hinsdale this New Year's Eve, head to Embrace, where a four-course dinner is $125 per couple or $62.50 for individuals. You'll enjoy an appetizer, choice of soup or salad, entree and shared dessert. Then get ready to bop to the sounds of The Weeds, a '60s-through-today bands that starts rocking at 9 p.m. Seatings available at 6, 8 and 10 p.m. Gioco Isn't it, though...Italian eatery Gioco presents La Dolce Vita. Your "sweet life" will include an $85 prix-fixe menu (regular menu also available), Italian candies on each table and a special, one-night-only "sweet life" dessert menu. Stick around to take part in the champagne toast and party favors at midnight. Reservations available from 5 p.m. on, and children under 12 eat free from a special kids menu from 5-7 p.m., with a 6:30 and 8 p.m. kiddie countdown. Hot Chocolate Make your reservation for a sinfully sweet New Year's Eve at Hot Chocolate. The known-for-its-goodies restaurant will offer its regular dinner and dessert menus, which features too-good cups of hot chocolate (spiked, if you please), warm chocolate souffles and other just-one-more-bite cakes and cookies. Guests will receive a complimentary glass of champagne for ringing in the New Year. Karma Chef Hagop's menu is an a la carte Asian-meets-French wonder, with appetizers like duck confit cake with mushroom ceviche ($8) and Asian-influenced lobster bisque ($5). When you're ready for your entree, choose between dishes like grilled venison chop and braised osso buco ($24) and pan-roasted California sturgeon with pearl rice, grilled asparagus and plugra butter sauce ($22). Desserts include the molasses spice cake with ginger cream and Chocolate Obsession for Two. Karma' will stay open late and will pour signature drinks like the Gingertini in addition to champagne. Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club Nothing says glitz like Hollywood, and no where in Chicago is closer to the diva-riffic hotspot than Kit Kat Club. Kit Kat divas Delores Van Cartier and Kayla Crawford will sass up New Year's Eve party while you enjoy a five-course prix-fixe dinner with a champagne toast. Three seatings are available: 6:30 p.m. for $65 per person, 8:30 p.m. for $85 per person, and 10:30 p.m. for $95 per person. Kitsch'n (Roscoe) After a night of (magnums?) of champagne, you can't beat Kitsch'n's 8th Annual New Year's Day Hangover Brunch. As always, it will feature a hair-of-the-dog-worthy full bar, retro music, New Year's Day football coverage and pajama door prizes. And, because no one will really be up and at 'em at 9 a.m., brunch runs through 4 p.m...and pajama dress is encouraged. Brunch specialties include chilaquiles levanata los muertos, the "perfect dish to raise the dead," a spicy mix of scrambled eggs, marinated tortillas and smoky Chipotle salsa, topped with Monterrey jack-jalapeno cheese and served with apple-wood smoked bacon and Texas toast. La Mora Choose from seatings at 5:30, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at this Roscoe Village Italian eatery. The five-course dinner, which runs a reasonable $45-$60, includes champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, West Coast mussels, caprese salad, entrees like sweet pea ravioli and chipotle tenderloin filet, and homemade tiramisu. Reservations are essential. Le Francais Pick you time and pick your experience: Chef Roland Liccioni will offer a five-course degustation menu for $125 per person at 6 p.m.; those looking for a later evening can enjoy a seven-course degustation menu that includes a Krug "Grande Cuvee" champagne toast for $160 per person at 9 p.m. Reservations required. Le Lan French-Vietnamese great Le Lan offers options for those on a schedule and those with a more willy-nilly dining attitude. The first seating, which runs 2 1/2 hours, is a five-course prix fixe for $90. Choose to dine at 5:30, 5:45, 6, 6:15, 6:30 or 6:45 p.m. For those who don't want a limit on dine time, the second seating is for you: a seven-course prix fixe that includes a Dom Perignon toast and party favors for $130. Marche In addition to Marche's $85 prix-fixe menu, you'll enjoy a champagne toast at midnight, party favors and masquerade masks at each place setting...seems like the perfect out for a bad date, but at a restaurant this good, you'll want to bring a date (and face) you love. Reservations available after 5 p.m., and kids, who eat for free, can enjoy a 6:30 and 8 p.m. kiddie countdown.
Mas Sparkling wine is at the forefront of the NYE menu at Mas. The five-course prix-fixe contemporary Latin menu comes paired with plenty of the bubbly libation. Two seatings: an early seating at 7 p.m. for $75, and a late seating that runs 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. for $85 per person. The second seating will also include a split of champagne for each guest, as well as hats, horns and noisemakers to ring in the New Year.
Meritage Cafe & Wine Bar Welcome the New Year with at Bucktown's wine-o-riffic Meritage. Take your pick of three seatings, each of which offers a multi-course menu from chef Troy Graves. The 5:30-6 p.m. seatings offer a five-course meal for $66; 6:30-8 p.m. offers a six-course meal for $86; the late 8:30-10 p.m. option features a seven-course meal and champagne toast for $106. Follow up with a New Year's Day brunch, served from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., featuring regular Sunday brunch menu items like smoked bay scallop benedict and banana and chocolate French toast. Reservations required.
Minx Minx kicks off the evening with two dinner seatings, the first from 7-9 p.m. and the second from 9:30-11:30 p.m. The $55 per person four-course meal includes your choice of soup, appetizer, sea bass or prime rib entree and, of course, dessert. Bump it up to $110 per person to enjoy all-you-can-drink champagne and premium spirits. Advance payment required by Dec. 29. Not into dinner? The $75 open bar package lets you tipple away from 9 p.m.-2 a.m.
Opera You don't need to be a fan of Carmen to love "A Night at the Opera." In addition to the $85 prix-fixe menu, this South Loop eatery will feature staff dressed as opera attendees and performers and a champagne toast and party favors to ring in the midnight hour. Reservations welcomed beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Parlor Put on your best F. Scott Fitzgerald and head to Parlor for a totally '20s bash. Parlor, in tandem with Silver Moon, presents a "Great Gatsby" theme party, complete with champagne, flapper frocks and pinstripes. Silver Moon will offer a 10 percent discount on costumes for the event, so dress the part and then choose your seating: The 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. seatings include a four-course prix-fixe menu for $65 ($90 with wine pairings). For those looking to stay the duration, make a reservation for the 10 p.m. seating and party until 3 a.m., with a four-course menu for $75 ($100 with wine pairings), plus a complimentary split of champagne for the midnight toast. Red Light Take part in Red Light's $85 prix-fixe menu or order off the regular menu. Though you don't have to dress the part, the staff will be dressed in traditional Asian attire. A champagne toast and ever popular party favors will help you ring in the New Year. Reservations welcomed beginning at 5:30 p.m. Sangria In the why-deal-with-a-nasty-bar spirit, Sangria the restaurant and bar will turn into Sangria the nightclub after 9 p.m. That means dinner's an early one, folks. Choose from seatings between 5 and 7:15 p.m., which must be secured with a reservation. You'll also need to select your meal ahead of time: The $40 tapas celebration dinner includes a glass of sangria, unlimited chips and salsa, soup or salad, two cold tapas, two hot tapas and dessert; the $50 premium celebration dinner tacks an entree onto that roster of eats. Dinner guests must leave at 9 p.m. unless they've purchased entrance to the "nightclub." It's $20, or $45 for premium open bar from 9 p.m.-midnight. Tsuki Love sushi but can't find a sitter? Bring in the kids for Tsuki's Kids New Year's Eve, complete with specialty menu for the wee ones, kiddie cocktails and a countdown to midnight...at 7 p.m. The 12 and under crowd will eat for $9.95; seatings from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Those not toting toddlers will want to make a post-8 p.m. reservations for the seven-course prix-fixe menu, offered for $85. The meal, which includes a complimentary carafe of hot sake, includes a Matsutake mushroom appetizer; Japanese shiitake, shimeji and enoki mushroom soup; sashimi; aged filet mignon on a bed of mashed Japanese Satsumaimo potato; hamachi ceviche maki; and more, plus Hemmi's Kiss, Chef Hemmi's "chocolate ecstasy." Diners may also order off the regular menu; DJ and dancing will take over the lounge until 3 a.m. Vermilion Spice things up at Latin/Indian eatery Vermilion. Three seatings are offered: 5 p.m. ($60); 7 p.m. ($75); and 9 p.m. ($95), with wine pairings offered for $45. Like every girls' dream, the restaurant will be decked out in roses and votives, setting the romantic, pampered mood. The five-course meal (self-described as an "extravaganza") includes a degustation of four tapas (five-spice crusted scallops; kumomoto oysters); roasted "calabaza" soup; its flagship lobster portuguese; tandoori skirt steak; and chocolate and godiva tres leches. Continue the festivities at home with Vermilion's signature cardamom saffron liqueur, or stick around for the in-house midnight champagne toast. Those who go the distance will be able to dance into the wee hours with dancing until 3 a.m., compliments of DJ Tito's Bollywood, club and Bhangra beats. Diners from the 9 p.m. seating can stay on; new revelers will have to fork over $20 after 10 p.m. Vinci Dinner runs from 9 p.m. to midnight at Vinci, and takes the shape of a $75 five-course dinner. In addition to the sounds of the Grady Johnson Orchestra, dancing, party favors and a midnight champagne toast, you'll get your fill of antipasto freddo, your choice of antipasti (Vinci's caprese, seared quail stuffed with mushrooms), primi (butternut squash gnocchi, risotto with veal), secondi (roast rack of lamb, bass cooked in parchment) and dessert (lemon curd tart, tiramisu).
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