2014 Washington, D.C., Dining Guide for Christmas & New Year’s Eve
Where should you eat on Christmas Eve in Washington D.C.? What about New Year’s Eve? Which restaurants are open on Christmas Day in D.C.?
Alright, nobody panic. You still have time, and there’s an abundance of quality choices. Check out the info we have here and find your go-to for the holidays.
*We’re focusing on restaurant offerings, so you won’t find anything in the way of the big all-inclusive D.C. New Year’s Eve parties hosted at hotels, convention centers, etc. That said if you know of any other restaurants or bars with a special event or menu for either Christmas or New Years, then drop us a line and let us know!
1789 (NYE)
1789 Restaurant in Georgetown is offering their a la carte menu, as well as a special six-course tasting menu priced at $125 per person, with optional wine pairings for $50 per person. The restaurant will be open from 5pm to 1am, with the last reservation time available at 11pm.
Executive Chef Samuel Kim’s tasting menu includes Caviar Raviolo, Wagyu Tataki, Cappelletti with bone marrow and octopus, followed by Maine Lobster with Chinese black imperial rice and glazed baby bok choy and a 35 Day Dry Aged NY Strip with black truffle pomme purée. For dessert, you’ll have a Silky Champagne Panna Cotta with Champagne gelée, pomegranate sorbet and Italian meringue.
Ambar (NYE)
Ambar is offering an early seating from 5 to 8:30pm with a three-course prix-fixe menu at $45 per person, which also includes a bread basket and kajmak bar. The second seating, from 9pm till close, is priced at $65 per person and also includes a champagne toast. Specialty dishes available for the second seating include Veal & Vegetable Soup, Roasted Mushroom Crepes, Shrimp Skewers, Sesame Crusted Salmon, and Slow Cooked Pork.
If the evening didn’t hit you too hard, then come back on New Year’s Day for an unlimited food & bottomless beverage brunch from 10am to 5pm, priced at $35 per person.
America Eats Tavern (Christmas & NYE)
America Eats will be open from 7am to 2:30pm on Christmas Day, offering their signature brunch dishes, specials, and separately, a cookie buffet for $12. Who knew there was such a thing?
On New Year’s Eve, dinner will be available from 4:30 to 10 pm. You can opt to order from the regular menu, or try a special tasting menu for the evening.
Ardeo + Bardeo (NYE)
Enjoy a 3-course prix fixe from 5 to 11pm on New Years Eve for $65 person, including a champagne toast at midnight. Begin with an amuse of Beau Sole Oyster with yuzu mignonette followed by starters such as Celery Root Bisque with lobster mushroom and smoked olive oil; Octopus Carpaccio, as well as Beef Tartare. Entrées include Duck Breast with artichoke risotto and orange and cherry marmalade; Atlantic Halibut with blue crab cous cous, and the Rack of Lamb with crispy lamb belly, salsify, braised leeks and olive caponata. For dessert, enjoy the Dessert Trio of Chocolate Pot de Crème, Cranberry-Pear Tart with caramel ice cream and Snickers Crumble.
Arcuri (NYE)
Arcuri is offering a three-course prix fixe from 5:30 to 11pm, priced at $68 per person or $93 with drink pairings. The menu begins with Jonah Crab with celery, apple, blood orange and American caviar paired with a Holiday Punch made followed by Butternut Squash Agnolotti paired with Damilano Langhe Arneis and Pan Roasted Quail paired with Chionetti San Luigi Dolcetto di Dogliani. For the perfect ending, guests can enjoy Maple Pudding Budino with blood orange granita and pecans. For unlimited libations late night, swing by Arcuri for an open bar of draft beer, rail drinks, house wines and a Champagne toast for $50 per person, with the open bar serving from 11pm to 1:30 am.
Bastille (Christmas & NYE)
Enjoy a French “Reveillon de Noel” Christmas Eve dinner at Bastille, a four-course prix fixe feast for $85 per person. Menu highlights include lobster bisque with poached oysters; pan-roasted foie gras; tartare of Skuna Bay salmon; grass-fed Angus beef filet roasted whole in salt crust; Hudson Valley Moullard duck breast; and an authentic chocolate hazelnut “Buche de Noel” with cranberry ice cream.
Come back on New Years Eve for Bastille’s “Reveillon de la Saint Sylvestre” dinner. The first seating from 5 to 6:30pm is a three-course prix fixe for $79, including a market surprise amuse bouche, menu highlights including butternut squash risotto and parmesan broth; braised lobster in a curried coconut emulsion; bacon-wrapped rabbit loin; and coconut cake with caramelized pumpkin butter and curry ice cream. At the second seating from 8 to 10pm, guests will enjoy a four-course prix fixe for $99, or $139 with wine pairings.
Bibiana Osteria-Enoteca (Christmas)
Visit Bibiana for a traditional Feast of Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve, from 5 to 9:30pm, priced at $65 per person. Menu highlights include Grilled Eel with onion compote and red wine vinaigrette; Fried Shrimp with calamari, smelts, oysters, cauliflower and lemon; Black Spaghetti with Catalina Island sea urchin and ‘aglio olio d peperoncino’, as well as Seared Cod with tomatoes, olives, raisins, capers, pine nuts with olive oil crusted potatoes, and Amalfi Coast Sponge Cake filled with lemon cream for dessert.
BLT Steak (Christmas & NYE)
BLT Steak is offering a special Blackboard Menu of holiday dishes for Christmas Eve dinner, available from 5 to 10:30pm. Expect some traditional holiday fare along with some more modern takes. The restaurant will be closed for Christmas Day.
On New Years, indulge in all-out luxury, with a selection of at least six vintage Champagnes to drink and celebrate in style. Available by the glass, sparkling sips may include 2004 Veuve Clicquot La Grand Dame Blanc, 2002 Dom Ruinart Rosé, and 1999 Billecart-Salmon Cuvée Nicolas François. The restaurant will also showcase its buzzed-about high-end Wagyu beef program, featuring a special progressive tasting flight of domestic and premium Wagyu cuts.
Blue Duck Tavern (Christmas & NYE)
On Christmas Eve, Blue Duck Tavern is serving an a la carte dinner from 5:30 to 10:30pm.
On Christmas Day, enjoy a three-course holiday meal from 11:30am to 9pm for $100 per person, or $45 for children ages 6-12. Brunch begins with an array of starters set throughout the open kitchen, including seasonal salads, breads, cheese and meats, followed by choice of a plated entrée and side dishes showcasing produce from regional farms. Holiday desserts prepared are on display in the Pastry Pantry to complete the meal.
You can also bring the holiday home by ordering a feast for 6-8 people from Blue Duck Tavern for $350. Place your order by December 19th at 5pm. The star of the dinner is a 10 to 12 lb. free-range roasted turkey, along with two freshly baked breads, four traditional sides, and two seasonal pies. Place your order online here.
On New Years, you can hang out at the Blue Duck Lounge for a premium open bar with specialty cocktails from 9pm to 2am, as well as live music, small plates, desserts, and a champagne toast. Admission costs $185 per person, and you can buy tickets online here. Alternatively, in the restaurant, you’ll find a $120 four-course dining menu from 5:30 to 11pm.
They’re not done yet! Don’t forget Blue Duck’s New Year’s Day brunch.
The Bombay Club (NYE)
The Bombay Club is offering an early seating from 5:30 to 7:30pm, with a three-course prix fixe menu priced at $50 per person. During the second seating, from 8 to 11pm, there will be a five-course menu for $75 which includes a Champagne toast. Standouts include Tandoori Shrimp; Malai Lamb Chop, or the Fish Caldin, rockfish with cilantro, garlic, coconut and okra, along with a dessert sampler of Chocolate Mousse; Pistachio Kulfi, and Mango Crème Brûlée.
Boqueria (NYE)
Boqueria is hosting a New Year’s Eve family style tapas feast, with unlimited tapas and drinks. There are two seatings, from 6 to 9 pm for $85 per person, and from 9:30-12:30 am, for $115 per person.
A dozen different tapas will be available from classics like heir ridiculously tasty pan con tomate, albondigas and croquetas, to some unique offerings, like a Montado de Foie, a montadito-style tapa served with foie gras and caramelized red wine onions. The unlimited drinks include sangria, cave, wine and beer.
They’re also doing a weeklong bottomless brunch celebration, including weekdays, from Dec 27th-January 4th.
Boss Shepherd’s (NYE)
On New Year’s Eve, enjoy a four-course menu for $89, with live music starting at 9pm, and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. Selections include Chef Jeremy’s famous fried chicken, almond gazpacho with oysters, chicken skin remolata, tarragon and apple; a second course of smoked scallop and champagne; entrée options including a pork rib chop with duck fat banana fingerlings and savory marmalade; and a cast iron strip with potato gratin, and multiple dessert options.
If you’re in the mood to pop some bubbly on Christmas Eve, then you’ll find bottles of Dom Perignon available here for $199.
Casa Luca (Christmas & NYE)
Indulge in rustic elegance and bold Italian flavors with the Christmas Eve Tasting menu at Casa Luca, with a four course, $85 menu, and an optional $55 wine pairing. The four-course New Year’s Eve menu is available for $95 per person.
City Perch (Christmas & NYE)
On Christmas Day, City Perch is doing a special 3-course Prix Fixe Christmas Day menu, costing $45 for adults and $20 for children. Wrap yourself in holiday comfort with delicious appetizers like Sweet Potato Gnocchi or Brioche Encrusted Crab Cakes with Old Bay Remoulade. Follow up with hearty entrees such as Roasted Christmas Duck, and finish off the evening with a visit to Chef Sherry’s Dessert Table, choosing from a wide array of holiday favorites both new and old.
On New Year, they’re doing a 3-course prix fixe which costs $65 for adults and $25 for children, complete with Bubbles, Breads, and Butter! Enjoy appetizers like Seared U-10 Scallops and Cacao Nib Encrusted Foie Gras Terrin, entrees which stick true to the restaurant’s rustic roots with Salmon Koulibac and Roseda Farms Braised Short Ribs, and Chef Sherry’s signature Baked Alaska (raspberry sorbet, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sorbet, toasted meringue).
Both City Perch holiday options include “A Little Something from Chef Matt” amuse-bouche to whet your palate.
City Tap House (NYE)
Check out City Tap House for a prix-fixe from 6:30 to 9:30 pm with three-courses, and a glass of champagne for $70 person. Start with an amuse bouche of Smoked Salmon with chive potato blinis, or Sunchoke Soup with pine nut and parsley pesto followed by appetizer such as Roasted Kabocha Squash Salad; Chicken Liver Mousse with red onion jam, spiced port wine jelly and grilled baguette, or the Diver Sea Scallops with truffled parsnip puree, curry apples, leeks and sea urchin sauce. Entrées include Black Sea Bass with curried buy lentils; Black Angus Beef Tenderloin with bone marrow crust, as well as Gnocchi Gratin. Desserts include Dark Chocolate Terrine or the Pineapple Upside Down Cake with coconut gelato and dark rum-raisin sauce.
Late night, stop by for a premium open bar, live music, and a midnight Champagne toast. Tickets cost $40 for the open bar, or $100 to enjoy the three-course dinner and stay for the open bar.
Work off that hangover on New Year’s Day with a recovery brunch from 11am to 3pm. Order from their a la carte menu with options such as Ham & Cheese; Strawberry-Almond French Toast; Biscuits & Gravy; House Smoked Salmon Hash; as well as The Big Chick, buttermilk biscuit, fried chicken, Benton’s bacon, sausage gravy and a fried egg. City Tap House features a bottomless brunch bar, which includes endless Bloody Marys, Mimosas and Beer-Mosas for $18 per person.
Cuba Libre (NYE)
Try a festive Cuban feast to celebrate the New Year. The early seating will be from 4 to 8 pm and guests can select from the a la carte menu. Make a reservation before 6 p.m. and receive a $25 gift card per couple . The late dining option, with seatings between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., will feature a five-course prix fixe menu priced at $99 per person, with a Champagne toast and party favors for the celebration.
Dishes include Grilled Oysters; Ham and Pear Arugula Salad; Porchetta with Moros y Cristianos and onion-sour orange mojo; Yellowfin Tuna, and for dessert, enjoy Banana Bread Caramelo, butter-toasted house-made banana bread with vanilla ice cream and warm butterscotch sauce. Diners at the second seating will be able to keep their reserved table throughout the evening, and they will also receive a $25 gift card per couple.
Daikaya (NYE)
Daikaya is offering bountiful small plates with a Japanese twist on New Year’s Eve, with two seating options available. The first seating is from 5 to 8 pm, and the second seating is from 8:30 to 10:30. Both include a choice of Lil Bites, Lil Bites Round 2, Green Things, Fish and Meat Things, Skewers, Rice Things, Dessert and glass of Champagne for $75 per person.
The menu includes favorites such as Shiso Leaf Wrap with sea urchin, nori and wagyu beef; Lobster Korokke with Japanese curry sauce; Grilled Avocado with tomato-ponzu, jalapeño-yuzu kosho and micro cilantro; Sweetbread Karaage; Pineapple Wrapped Eel with avocado-negi purée,as well as Salmon Dunburi. DJ Denman will be spinning “Exotica” from 11pm to 2am, and Daikaya’s ramen shop will also be open and serving from until 10pm on New Year’s Eve, with karaoke available in the ramen shop starting at 10.
DBGB (Christmas & NYE)
On Christmas Eve, DBGB will showcase a three course prix-fixe tasting menu for $65, and $35 for children. The menu is available from 5 to 10pm, and showcases new seasonal appetizers such as Squash Soup, and Pork and Chestnut Pate, with signature entrees such as Roasted Duck Breast and Truite au Lard et Sauge, a pancetta-wrapped river trout. Finish the evening with a Buche de Noel.
On New Years Eve, DBGB will offer its a la carte menu from 5:30 to 7pm. From 8:30 to 10pm, you can try a 4-course prix-fixe menu for $90, including a champagne toast at midnight and a live DJ.
DC Harvest (NYE)
Head to DC Harvest for a three-course prix-fixe New Year’s Eve menu. Dinner reservations available through 10:30pm, and the bar will stay open until 1am. The menu costs $50 per person, with wine pairings available for $30 per person. Start with your choice of Frisse & Arugula Salad, Kona Kampachi Tartar, and Yellow Carrot & Fennel Soup, entrees including Grilled American Wagyu Steak, Pennsylvania Duck Leg Confit, Pan Roasted Arctic Char or Winter Squash Farrotto, and finish with desserts like a house-made Whatchamacallit, an Olive Oil Cake, or a Farmstead Cheese Plate.
Derek Brown Shaw Trio (NYE)
Visit the Derek Brown trio of spots in Shaw for a New Year’s Eve bar crawl. Visit Mockingbird Hill, Eat the Rich and Southern Efficiency, and enjoy food and drink pairings at each stop. Tickets cost $150. If you’re somehow still hungry and looking for more, you can add tickets to Pearl Drop at Eat the Rich for a discounted $45.
Dino’s (Christmas & NYE)
Dino’s is offering their own Feast of the 7 Fish on Christmas Eve. But they promise somewhere in the range of 11 fish for the feast. They’re actually offering that menu from December 18th through Christmas Eve, and it costs $49 all week, and then $59 on Christmas Eve. They’ll be closed on Christmas Day.
On New Year’s Eve, Dino’s is offering several seatings with different prix-fixe meals. From 5 to 8pm, enjoy a three-course meal for $45. After 8:30, you’ll get a 5-course meal, plus desserts and a glass of prosecco for $89. Tacky party items will be provided. They’ll also have wine flights available for your meal.
Dogfish Head Alehouse Gaithersburg (NYE)
Dogfish Head is doing a 5-course prix-fixe beer dinner on New Year’s Eve. The 1st seating, from 7 to 9pm, costs $55 per person, and the second seating from 10pm to midnight costs $65 and includes a midnight toast.
Eat the Rich (NYE)
Visit Eat the Rich for their first annual Pearl Drop. Be prepared for bottomless oysters and karaoke, with plenty of NYE party favors, and a champagne toast at midnight. Tickets cost $65.
El Centro (NYE)
Both El Centro locations are offering tasting menus for New Years. The first menu is offered from 5 to 7:30pm, and includes tableside guacamole, an appetizer, entree and dessert for $45 per person. The second option is available after and includes a champagne toast, and is available at $65 per person, and includes specialties not on the typical menu, such as Beer Battered Lobster Tacos, Spicy Grab Guacamole, Braised Short Rib Flautas and NY Strip Alambre.
Still going strong? Come back on New Year’s Day for a bottomless brunch priced at $35 per person including unlimited drinks and dishes.
Entyse at Ritz-Carlton Tysons (NYE)
Hang out at the Entyse for a New Year’s Eve celebration from 9pm to midnight. Enjoy a live jazz ensemble, and a complimentary champagne toast. The regular a la carte menu is available, and there’s a $100 food and beverage minimum per person.
Et Voila! (Christmas & NYE)
Et Voila! will be open for regular hours on Christmas Eve & Day, as well as New Years Eve & Day. They’ve put together a lineup of a la carte holiday specials. Highlights include the Fois Gras Terrine with quince compote and brioche; Veal Sweetbread Cromesqui served on a bed of spinach mousse and red wine sauce; Lobster Cocktail with chestnut pear and lime; Muscovy Duck Breast with baby turnips, faro, hazelnut, homemade duck sausage and orange sauce, and the Dover Sole with Champagne mousseline, grey shrimp from the North Sea, baby leeks, and a croquette of Yukon gold potatoes.
Fainting Goat (NYE)
For a no-fuss, no-cover, laid back New Year’s Eve check out Fainting Goat’s three-course tasting menu for $55, with delicious celebratory dishes like Steak Tartare with garlic confit, rye crisp and quail egg; Cote de Boeuf with bone marrow bread pudding and béarnaise; and Chocolate Torte with cherries, walnuts and sour cream ice cream. You’ll also get a free Champagne toast at midnight.
Fiola (Christmas & NYE)
It’s the 4th annual Fiola Feast of Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. The 7-course feast plus dessert costs $160 per person, with an $80 wine pairing or $110 premium wine pairing.
On New Year’s Eve, Fiola is doing a five-course tasting menu for $175, with optional $80 or $110 wine pairings. Menu highlights here include Foie Gras & Duck Prosciutto and Pine Smoked A5 Kagoshima Wagyu Beef.
Fiola Mare (Christmas & NYE)
Fabio Trabocchi is serving up a five-course Christmas Eve seafood tasting menu for $160 per person, and you guessed it, $80 or $110 wine pairings.
Then, on New Years Eve, they’re doing a different five-course tasting menu for $175 per person with those same wine pairing choices. Look for standout choices such as Venetian Whipped Cod Baccalà Crema and Acquerello Risotto with Alaskan King Crab, Celery Leaves and Caviar.
Flight Wine Bar (NYE)
Flight Wine Bar is offering a 4-course prix fixe menu with both customer favorites and new dishes for $65, with an early seating at 6pm, and a second seating at 8:30pm. An optional wine pairing can be added for $45, including old world wines. As an example of what to expect, you could start with a sparkling rose from Italy, pair the salad with a crisp, mineral driven Austrian gruner veltliner, followed by full bodied viura blend from Spain, and finish with a sweet dessert wine from Greece. Red and white wine pairing suggestions are offered for every item on the menu so there’s something for every type of wine drinker.
G (Christmas)
G is also a Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. Actually it’s available from December 17th-20th, and 22nd-24th. It’s a five-course menu with seven seafood delicacies, and it costs $65 per person. You can also add a $39 pairing of Italian wines to your meal.
Georgia Brown’s (Christmas)
Georgia Brown’s is offering a southern Christmas feast to go. You can get Carolina gumbo with red rice, turkey with all of the fixings, Charleston She Crab soup, and numerous delightful desserts. Order online and then kick back, relax, and pick it up on Christmas Eve anytime from 10am to 8pm.
The take-home feast is actually ordered a la carte, so stuck up on whichever go-to items you want. Order by 5pm on the 22nd.
Graffiato (NYE)
In addition to their regular a la carte menu, Graffiato is offering a 5-course prix-fixe for $65 per person from 5 to 7 pm, or for $75 after 7:30, including a Prosecco toast.
The Hamilton (NYE)
The Hamilton is offering a variety of options to ring in the New Year. First up, the Old 97’s will be preforming their alternative country-rock hits at The Hamilton Live. Doors open at 7:30 pm and tickets are priced between $60-$85, which includes a Champagne toast and gumbo dinner. Guests can enjoy The Hamilton’s regular a la carte menu between 6:30 and 7:30, and at 9pm, the kitchen closes, the show begins and you wait until intermission for your gumbo dinner. Buy your tickets here.
At The Hamilton Loft, the local 19th Street Band will preform New Year’s Eve from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fans will pay a $10 cover charge to enjoy great music and a cash bar throughout the evening. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door.
Il Forno (NYE)
Il Forno is offering two seatings, the first from 5 to 7:30pm, and the second from 8 to 10pm. There’s a choice of a three-course prix-fixe for $55 available during both seatings, or the 5-course meal for $75 with champagne toast available only for the second seating.
Entrees for both include options such as Berkshire Pork Loin, Ribye Filet, Lobster Fra Diavlo, and Foraged Mushroom Risotto. Desserts include Chocolate Truffle and Panettone, along with assorted last minute sweets presented to diners with the check.
Jack Rose (NYE)
Jack Rose Dining Saloon offers two ways to celebrate this New Year’s Eve: an all-you-can-eat-and-drink Neighborhood Cookout Pre-Bash party on the terrace, and an all-out three-floor party complete with open bar and a live DJ.
Jack Rose is firing up the grill for a neighborhood cookout featuring Beer, Bourbon and BBQ. For $45, guests can eat all the BBQ they can handle and enjoy complimentary brews and select bourbons, from 5-8pm. Then, from 8pm to 1am, Jack Rose is throwing its annual all-out New Year’s party with an open bar, a live DJ, cigar specials and a photo booth for guests to capture the night’s memories. Plus, there will be complimentary passed hors d’oeuvres from 8:30-10:30 and a Champagne toast at midnight. The NYE party costs $125 per person and tickets to both events are available online here.
Jaleo (NYE)
All three DC-area Jaleos will celebrate the New Year with a dedicated menu of authentic tapas; a featured Feliz Año cocktail with fresh clementine syrup, rum and orange bitters; party favors and a midnight Cava toast. Guests will be invited to participate in the fabled “Twelve Grapes” tradition, celebrated in Spanish-speaking countries around the world to ensure a year of prosperity.
Starting at 8:30pm, for $90 in DC or $85 at Crystal City or Bethesda, the menu will include cava and a prix-fixe selection of unlimited tapas. Each location has live music, with a DJ in DC, a flamenco band at Crystal City, and another band at Bethesda.
Kapnos (NYE)
Kapnos has two seatings for New Year’s Eve. From 5 to 7 pm, try a $65 5-course tasting menu. From 7:30pm, the 5-course menu costs $75. There will be multiple champagnes as well as sparkling wines available throughout the evening.
Le Diplomate (NYE)
Enjoy an elegant evening at Le Diplomate with a special three-course prix-fixe dinner for $75 in addition to its regular dinner menu throughout the night. Surrounded by balloons and celebratory décor, you’ll also enjoy a complimentary Champagne toast at the start of the New Year. The special dinner menu will include Truffled Potato Gnocchi, Whole Seared Turbot and a rich Tarte Souffle for dessert.
Lupo Verde (Christmas & NYE)
Enjoy a traditional Feast of Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve at Lupo Verde from 5 to 11pm for $85 per person. The meal will consist of fish and pasta, with highlights such as Fresh Swordfish Crudo with radicchio, blueberry, burrata and fennel oil; Breaded Cod with rapini, sweet pepper and white wine; Squid Ink Ravioli with fresh prawns, chickpeas puree and black olives; Almond-Honey-Herbs Crusted Halibut with red wine glazed vegetables; Homemade Spaghetti with anchovies, mussels, pine nuts and parsley pesto, as well as Farro and Fresh Gurnard Soup with tomato confit and fresh herbs.
On New Years Eve, after 6pm you’ll get to choose five items from the regular a la carte menu for $95 per person, or enjoy a pre-selected six-course prix-fixe for the same price with a champagne toast at midnight. The special menu will include Stuffed Culatello and Ricotta Cannelloni with frisee salad; Scallops au Gratin with trio of pestos; Homemade Trotelloni with duck ragu, artichoke veloute and shaved black truffle and more, with the traditional Italian Panettone, a traditional sweet Italian bread loaf mixed with fresh fruit for dessert.
Masa 14
From 5 to 8:30pm, enjoy a prix-fixe at Masa 14 for $55, including three plates from the featured menu and a dessert. From 9pm on, the menu is priced at $75 and includes specialty NYE dishes and a champagne toast. Standout dishes include Kobe Flatbread, Spicy Tuna Bucuchiku Roll, Hamachi Crudo and Coffee Seared Lamb Porterhouse.
Check out the New Years Day brunch from 10am to 5pm, for $39 per person including unlimited cocktails and mimosas, and unlimited menu choices.
minibar & barmini (NYE)
If you’re really looking to go big on New Year’s Eve this year, then chef Johnny Spero has you covered with two seatings at minibar, 6pm for $275, and 9pm for $350. The second seating also gets you into barmini’s celebration.
Looking to go even bigger? Six guests can dine at Jose’s Table, with a $6,000 food and beverage minimum. All of Minibar’s imaginative and unique fare will be available.
Meanwhile, Barmini’s New Year’s Eve Party costs $275 per person. Starting at 9pm you’ll receive a progression of Golden Era cocktails, accompanied by savory snacks including the famed Foieffle with Foie Gras, Peanut Butter and Honey. There will also be a live DJ and a champagne toast at midnight.
Mio Restaurant (NYE)
Mio is offering a 4-course prix fixe showcasing the best of Puerto Rican cuisine. The menu is priced at $85 per person and includes a Champagne toast. Mio will serve from 5 to 10pm on New Year’s Eve. You can also skip dinner and head straight to some late night fun, which includes a cash bar, a DJ spinning lively tunes and a complimentary Champagne toast with admission costing $35, and the party lasting from 11pm to 2am.
Mockingbird Hill (NYE)
Come celebrate a Spanish New Year’s Eve at Mockingbird Hill, starting at 9:30pm. Enjoy flamenco dancing, Sherry specials, Mahou beer, a grape eating contest, and other festivities, with a midnight toast of Cava. Admission is free.
Nage Bistro (NYE)
Nage Bistro is hosting a Starry, Starry Night in conjunction with the Courtyard Marriott Embassy Row. The hotel, which is home to Nage Bistro, is offering two packages for guests New Year’s Eve that include dinner, the deluxe room and parking. The first option includes dinner for two featuring a four-course prix fixe at Nage, a glass of bubbly, overnight parking and accommodations for $259 per night. Upgrade that to a bottle of bubbly for an extra $20, and upgrade to a suite for an extra $100 from there.
The prix-fixe will include an amuse bouche of Carmelized Onion Tart, followed by a choice of appetizers including Lobster Crab Cake; Winter Citrus Salad, or the Tuna Tartare Hamachi. Entrees include 45 Day Dry Aged Beef Loin; Whole Roasted Loup de Mer, or the Berkshire Pork Poterhouse with hoppin’ johns, black kale and delicata squash. End the meal with desserts such as Sweet Potato Doughnuts with cinnamon, brown sugar and whipped cream, PB&J, peanut butter pie with concord grape sorbet and candied peanuts, or the Champagne Crème Brûlée with raspberries.
On New Years Day, come back for Blurry, Blurry Days brunch from 11am to 2:30pm. A la carte dishes include the Kill It Skillet, mac n cheese, chorizo, bacon, truffle frites and a fried egg; Ricotta Pancakes; Baked Avocado Huevos Rancheros; Chesapeake Benedict; and more. Plus, cure that hangover with electrolyte-fueled Gatorade cocktails. Try the No Painsville No Gainesville, lemon lime Gatorade margarita with Jack Rudy grenadine; I Can See Clearly Now, glacier freeze Gatorade and gin martini with frozen grapes, as well as the See Ya Later Gator, orange Gatorade with apple pucker, vodka, tequila, rum, triple sec, and gin. Or opt for bottomless Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas for an additional $15 per person.
nopa Kitchen + Bar (NYE)
nopa is offering two seatings, the first is at 5 p.m. featuring a seasonal a la carte menu. A second seating, starting at 8 pm, offers a three-course, prix fixe menu priced at $75 per person along with Champagne toast at Midnight. Standout dishes include Pan Roasted Carolina Quail Confit with cranberry-chestnut puree; Foie Gras Pate with dijonnaise; Farro & Black Quinoa Risotto with sage-pumpkin seed pesto; Grilled Barrel Cut Rib Eye with crispy fingerlings; as well as Pan Roasted Diver Scallops with Meyer lemon, parsnip puree and Skuna Bay caviar sauce.
Guests can add shaved Burgundy truffle to any dish for an additional $8. The dessert selection includes tempting Chocolate Porter “Bon Bons”; Smoked Almond Nougat Glace, as well as Poached Forelle Pears.
Old Ebbitt Grill (NYE)
The historic Old Ebbitt Grill will showcase festive holiday specials in addition to their regular a la carte menu on New Year’ Eve. Standout dishes include Polenta Gnocchi; Roast Prime Rib of Beef with pommes anna; Roasted Duroc Pork Rack with parsnip puree; Stuffed 1 ¼ Pound Maine Lobster with blue crab-brioche and leek stuffing, as well as Grilled New York Strip with potato puree, sautéed Swiss chard, braised wild mushrooms, bone marrow and bordelaise.
They’re also hosting a New Year’s Eve dance party with DJ Charity beginning at 9:30 pm. Cost is $99 per person and includes a premier open bar and heavy hors d’oeuvres including a Farmhouse Cheese Board; Rib Eye Carving Station; Meat Lasagna; Vegetarian Gratin; Mini Crab Cakes; Braised Short Rib Sliders; Fried Oyster Sliders; Mini Potato and Kale Cakes; Butternut Squash Crostini; Porchetta Sliders, and an assortment of mini desserts. At Midnight, guests will enjoy a balloon drop and complimentary Champagne toast. Buy tickets here.
The Oval Room (NYE)
The Oval Room is offering a four-course, prix fixe menu from 5:30 10 10 pm, priced at $85 per person or $125 with wine pairings. Dishes to be presented include Oysters and Caviar, Pan Seared Foie Gras with warm carrot cake; Braised Beef Cheek Ravioli with basil fed snails; Black Cod with cockles, bacon, marble potatoes and razor clam vinaigrette; Tamarind Glazed Squab with fairytale pumpkin, chili and chocolate mole, as well as Juniper Scented Loin of Venison. A variety of sweet confections will also be available.
Oyamel (NYE)
Oyamel is offering a prix-fixe menu from 5 to 8:30pm for $78 on New Year’s Eve. That’s followed by a New Year’s Party from 10:30pm—2:00am. The party will cost $95, and you’ll get an assortment of food and beverage stations, such as DIY gin infusions, bubbles and liquid nitrogen margaritas, along with party favors and TVs to view the ball drop.
Once we’re in 2015, in anticipation of Día de Reyes, or Three Kings Day, a traditional Rosa de Reyes cake will be available by the slice from January 2nd-6th.
Ping Pong Dupont (NYE)
Ping Pong is offering a $39 per person ticket package which includes a 3-hour open bar from 10pm to 1am, including everything but shots. There’s a champagne toast at midnight, a live DJ, and a photo booth to keep you entertained. It’s best to get there earlier though to fill up on dim sum to power through the evening.
Rasika & Rasika West End (NYE)
Rasika will serve a special New Year’s Eve menu with two seatings. A three-course menu priced at $55 per person or $85 with wine pairings will be available from 5:30 to 8pm. During the second seating from 8 pm to close, a four-course menu will be available priced at $85 per person or $125 with wine pairings.
Menu highlights from the four-course offering include Foie Gras Galouti with smoked lamb; Lobster Hawa Mahal, lobster souffle with makhni sauce; Black Cod with coconut milk, fennel and lemon rice vermicelli; Duck Roast with green chilies and curry leaves, as well as Paneer Ke Mattar, cottage cheese dumplings with tomatoes and dry fenugreek.
At sister restaurant Rasika West End, the New Year’s Eve menu will include the same seating times and prices, with different menu choices. Here, find flavorful dishes such as the Crab Chili Garlic, lump crab meat, onions and chili-balsamic; Black-Eyed Pea Quinoa Tikki; Sea Bass Amritsari with carom seeds, malt vinegar and onion pakoda; Raan-E-Rasika, lamb shank with kashmiri chili and rum; Bhuna Baingan, smoked eggplant, cumin, onion and tomato, as well as Chicken Hot Pot, homestyle chicken curry with jeera aloo.
Ripple (NYE)
Enjoy one of two prix-fixe options from Chef Marjorie Meek-Bradley. The early four-course tasting menu costs $85 per person, with selections including sweet potato soup with venison carpaccio; chestnut agnolotti with Brussels sprouts; roseda farms short ribs; and chocolate panna cotta. Later on, go for the five-course menu for $100,including items such as head on shrimp; butter poached lobster tail; and rack of lamb with creamy polenta. Drink pairings will be available for an additional $40 per person, and with the 5-course menu for an extra $50 per person. In lieu of the grilled cheese bar, the a la carte menu, cheese and charcuterie will be available at the bar from 5:30pm until close.
Roof Terrace Restaurant (NYE)
Join the Roof Terrace Restaurant for their annual New Year’s Eve celebration. Soak up all of those views, and enjoy dancing, live jazz, a champagne toast, and a four-course prix-fixe dinner for $135 per person. Dinner includes access to the glamorous after party at The Kennedy Center’s acclaimed Grand Foyer Celebration. Seatings begin at 5pm.
Rosa Mexicano (Chrismtas & NYE)
On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, you can spice up your ¡Felices Fiestas! with a $35 prix fixe menu available at all of Rosa Mexicano’s DC-area locations. The menu will include their signature guacamole and Antojitos for the table, followed by an individual choice of entree and a sweet finish of churros for the table.
If you’re looking to spice up your New Years Eve, too, then you can ring in a Feliz Año Nuevo with a $45 prix fixe menu, a live DJ, festive party favors, and the option of “Free Flowing Bebidas” for $25 with the purchase of dinner (2-hour limit).
Proceeds from the featured Rosa Royale cocktail (pomegranate, Cava, cointreau and agave) will be donated to the Orphaned Starfish Foundation. The prix-fixe menu will include their guacamole and Antojitos for the table, an individual choice of entree, and churros for the table.
Second State (NYE)
Second State is offering a special four-course prix-fixe meal for New Years Eve. The menu costs $69.99 per person. Follow your meal up with an unlimited Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey and Veuve Clicquot open bar for $40 from 10pm to 1am. Menu choices include Manhattan Clam Chowder; Beer Truffle Salad; Potato and Cheddar Pierogies sautéed with bacon, caramelized onions and brown butter; Root Beer Braised Short Ribs, as well as Roasted Pheasant with pan roasted pearl onions, apples and a cider jus.
Slate (NYE)
Slate is offering two seatings on New Years Eve. The early option is from 5 to 6:30pm, offering three courses for $35 and optional wine pairing for $15, and sparkling wine tasting for $40. The second seating, from 7 to 10pm, showcases five courses for $50, with wine pairings for $25 and the sparkling wine tasting for $40.
Sonoma (NYE)
Sonoma Restaurant & Wine Bar will transform its lounge into a white winter wonderland this New Year’s Eve. Enjoy a lavish four-course dinner with high-end wine pairings, beginning with a complimentary amuse and a glass of Champagne, followed by an exquisitely prepared meal with dishes such as Truffle Risotto with Wild Mushrooms; seared Foie Gras with Caramelized Apples, Filet Mignon, Pomme Puree, Wild Mushrooms, Bourbon Shallot Butter, and Watercress Salad; and Prosecco and Berry Soup with Mint Glass. Early dinner seatings before 6:30pm cost $55 and $69 after that time, with wine pairings available for $48. Guests will also have the option to add shaved white truffles to any dish for an additional $50.
Beginning at 9pm, Sonoma’s Lounge will be open for a Winter White Party featuring a DJ and photobooth. Guests are encouraged to arrive dressed in their best all-white attire. The restaurant will be offering beverage packages at three different levels: The Snow Drifter package offering unlimited wine, beer and rail liquor with an open dessert bar and complimentary midnight toast for $65 per person; Snow Much Fun includes the full Snow Drifter package plus anything from behind the bar, excluding single-malt Scotch for $105 per person; and for $1,000, parties of 6 can enjoy the Premium Snow Baller Package at a private table with a bottle of top shelf liquor with mixers, a bottle of Champagne at midnight, a full board of charcuterie and cheese and a special Foie Gras hors d’oeuvre.
Station 4 (Christmas & NYE)
Station 4 is offering a three-course prix-fixe menu for $40 per person on Christmas Eve. Dinner will be available from 5 to 11 pm. Highlights include an amuse of Foie Gras Tartalette, a choice of starters such as Crab Tartar; Burrata with Prosciutto Di Parma,or th Cream of Butternut Squash Soup. Main courses include Homemade Lobster Ravioli, Beef Tenderloin with a bone marrow sauce, or the Butternut Squash Farro Risotto.
On New Years, come back for a $65 per person prix-fixe from 5 to 11 pm. The menu starts with an amuse of Smoked Trout Mousse with California Beluga caviar, a choice of starters such as Roasted Chesnut Soup with duck confit; Chesapeake Golden Oyster, or the Shaved Fennel Salad. Main courses include Roasted Prime Rib; Pan-Roasted Chilean Sea Bass, or the Homemade Vegetable Lasagna. For dessert, guests can choose holiday favorites such as Double Dark Chocolate Ganache Tart or the Coffee Amaretto Crème Brûlée with almond biscotti.
Toro Toro (NYE)
Toro Toro is offering two New Years Eve seatings. From 5 to 8:30pm, get a prix fixe menu which includes four-courses for $90 per person. The second seating beginning at 8:30pm includes a champagne toast and additional dishes not typically available for $120 per person. Menu highlights include Aji Panca Butter Poached Tiger Prawns, the Churrasco Platter, and Arepas. You can also add French Burgundy Black Truffle to any dis, priced at $20 for three grams. Unique champagne pairings are also available.
On New Years Day, stop in for brunch from 11 to 5pm. For $39 per person, include a variety of small plates, as well as the buffet, the Bloody Mary bar, and bottomless mimosas.
Trummer’s on Main (NYE)
Experience a feast for the senses at Trummer’s On Main’s Moulin Rouge-inspired celebration. Start at the absinthe bar on the main level, and enjoy the green spirit neat or in a variety of unique cocktails, and will then continue upstairs to the dining room for a French feast, with an early seating costing $84 for a three-course menu, and a second seating from 8:30 to 10pm offering a six-course tasting menu for $145.
For the second menu, try dishes such as Mushroom Consumme Capuccino with Truffle Crema, Lobster Mushrooms, Kombu Dashi and Arctic Chard Caviar; Chilld Maine Lobster with Champagne Grapefruit Gelee, Tardive, Hearts of Palm and Avocado, and a Flaming Baked Alaska for Two, followed by a Champagne toast and surprise live entertainment at midnight.
Ulah Bistro (Christmas & NYE)
Ulah Bistro has a three-course prix-fixe menu available on Christmas Eve for $40, with highlights including Turkey-Barley Soup, Pear and Burrata Salad, Prime Rib Au Jus, and Lobster Pot Pie. Christmas Eve dinner will be served from 4pm to midnight, and the prix-fixe menu includes a complimentary glass of champagne.
On New Years, try a three-course prix fixe menu from 5pm to midnight, priced at $100 per couple, including a complimentary bottle of champagne to toast with. The menu includes choices such as Duck & Dumpling Soup; Brussels Sprout Salad with warm pancetta vinaigrette, shaved boiled eggs and blue cheese; Pork Nuts Stuffed Roasted Quail with brussels sprouts, and Dry Aged Prime Rib. For a sweet finish, guest can select from Hazelnut-Chocolate Mousse with orange jam and cocoa nibs, or the Pecan Pie with vanilla gelato and salted caramel syrup.
Vinoteca (NYE)
Vinoteca welcomes guests for New Year’s Eve with a 5-course prix-fixe menu. There will be two seatings available, at 6 pm for $65 and at 9 pm for $75, or $105 with wine pairings. The later seating is invited to keep their table for the night and enjoy the party. Try specialty dishes such as Pickled Shrimp with Jerusalem artichoke, celery and green olives; House-made Lamb Sausage with Gnocchi, Ramp Pesto and Asiago; Duck with Roasted Squash Grits, Golden Raisin, Almond, Soft-Poached Egg and Hot Sauce; and House-made Bacon and Pumpkin-Caramel Chocolate Truffles.
Zaytinya (NYE)
Zaytinya will be open for New Year’s dinner starting early at 4:15pm with their regular menu. At 8:45pm, you can hang out with one of two special tasting menus, either the Zaytinya Classics menu for $70, or the Chef’s Experience for $90. At the second seating you’ll get a midnight toast, party favors, a special sweet treat to go, and a live DJ.
Zengo (NYE)
Zengo is offering a choice of two tasting menus. From 5 to 8:30 pm, get a four-course menu for $55 per person. The second is another four-course including extra house specialties, and a champagne toast for $75. That’s available during the first seating as well, but it’s the only option after 9pm.
The NYE menu includes the Angry Zengo Roll, Mofongo Shumai Dumplings, Lobster Fritters, Wok Seared Scallops, Hoisin Barbecued Colorado Lamb Chops, and desserts such as Mexican Chocolate Tart, and Asian Pear Empanada.
Come back the next day for Zengo’s famous bottomless brunch for $39 per person, including bottomless beverages and unlimited tapas.
