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“The Strong Buzz Guide To Christmas and New Year's Eve Dining”

With the economy in the pits, for many this year’s holiday festivities will likely be toned down a notch or two. But perhaps that’s what it’ll take to bring us back to the basics: family, friends and loved ones. What better way to celebrate with all these groups than over good food and drinks? The Strong Buzz team has put together a list of New York restaurants to help you celebrate Christmas and ring in 2009. Perhaps you’ll be looking for a New York chic (think Public as you sip on fancy cocktails and nibble on canapés) or a cozy neighborhood joint (perhaps Village with its French-American fare) to celebrate. Whatever you decide to do, we wish you all very happy holidays!

— Bao Ong

Aroma Kitchen & Winebar

Where: 36 E. 4th St. (between Bowery and Lafayette), 212-375-0100, http://www.aromanyc.com

On the menu: Christmas is all about the traditions — from window shopping along Fifth Avenue to the dreaded fruitcake your great aunt sends you every year. At Aroma Kitchen & Winebar, you can celebrate what the Italians call “la viglia di natale,” the Christian tradition of giving up meat for Christmas. For $60 per person (it’s $35 additional for the wine pairings), Aroma will let you indulge in a four-course menu in what traditional Italians dub the Feast of the Seven Fishes from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. Owners Alexandra Degiorgio and Vito Polosa created a menu that includes dishes like “zuppa di ceci” (tender Spanish baby octopus and succulent New Zealand cockles in a lobster broth) and a pan seared halibut with braised fennel and kennel served with Mediterranean fregola.

Convivio

Where: 45 Tudor City Place (between 42nd and 43rd Streets),
212-599-5045, www.convivionyc.com

On the menu: Convivio wants to give you a dose of what you crave during the holidays: a warm, familial feel with its Southern Italian cuisine and the opportunity to feel leisurely. Restaurateur Chris Cannon and chef-partner Michael White will offer a special six-course seafood theme menu for $79 per person — which gets you dishes such as red grilled snapper with lemon, wild oregano, red peppers and Castelvetrano olives and a warm seafood salad. You also get to feel good about your tab since 10 percent of sales for the night will be donated to Citymeals-on-Wheels program.

Village

Where: 62 W. 9th St. (at 6th Avenue), 212-505-3355, www.villagerestaurant.com

On the menu: Village proves you can have fun and not break the checking account in New York. For Christmas Eve dinner, chef/owner Stephen Lyle will serve a smoked trout salad, venison with mushroom risotto and Champagne at half-price. In this vintage space that mimics the 1920’s with its turn-of-the-century skylight and warm wood finishes, a friendly New Year’s celebration is sure to take place. From 6 p.m. to midnight on New Year’s Eve, there’s a $65 per person minimum from 9 p.m. on but you get access to a festive specials, a Champagne toast and music all night long. Reservations recommended.

Char No. 4

Where: 196 Smith Street (between Baltic and Warren), 718643-2106

On the menu: Fans of this Cobble Hill whiskey bar and American smoke joint (that would be all of us here at the SB) get ready to rejoice over their prix fixe New Year’s Eve Whiskey-Pairing Menu (served in addition to their regular a la carte options). The four-course menu ($55 per person) by chef Matt Greco starts with oysters on the half shell with pickled onions, and moves on to smoked lobster and hen of the woods mushrooms over white corn grits with lobster sauce and a whole smoked pig stuffed with hickory nuts and sage served with braised kale. For dessert, warm walnut cake with homemade bourbon and raisin ice cream. A flight of three whiskeys (Hancock’s Reserve Single Barrel, Rowan’s Creek, Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year) or three wines Cremant de Bourgogne, Joillot, Burgundy, France NV, Riesling Spatlese, Steinmetz “Mulheim Sonnenlay”, Mosel, Germany 1994, Volnay, Delegrange, Burgundy, France 2006) is an additional $25 per person.

Buddakan

Where: 75 Fifth Ave. (between 15th and 16th streets), 212-989-6699, www.buddakannyc.com

On the menu: You won’t find tacky Christmas sweaters at this sleek restaurant/bar (not even in the ironic sense). Once you enter this 15,000 square feet space with its over-the-top European tapestry and Asian inspired décor, you’ll hear the thumping of a DJ spinning throughout your last hours of 2008. In addition to the extensive a la carte menu, Chef Lon Symensma will offer a selection of special dishes — including a 10 oz Wagyu New York strip steak and a chilled seafood tasting of Maine lobster, jumbo shrimp, Cape May oysters and king crab. There will also be a complimentary Champagne toast at midnight. To join the party, make reservations early.Phone:

Forge
Where: 134 Reade St. (near Hudson St.), 212-941-9401, www.forgenyc.com

On the menu: You’re back in the City after ditching the family and in-laws in the boonies after the Christmas gathering. But you’re still craving that homey and warm, cozy atmosphere. Why not ring in the new year at Forge? You can enjoy at seven-course prix fixe menu ($145 per person; $185 with wine pairings) in the laidback and comfy American rustic setting. Chef Mark Forgione will serve dishes such as smoked lobster bisque with Nantucket Bay scallops and risotto “Carbonara” with shaved black winter truffles. Reservations will only be accepted for up to 75 people, so book now.

Public and Double Crown

Where: Public, 210 Elizabeth St. (between Prince and Spring Streets), 212-254-0350; Double Crown, 316 Bowery (at Bleeker St.), 212-343-7011

On the menu: Public and Double Crown have a mission: to help you celebrate the end of 2008 in style with lots of fun. The AvroKo-inspired designed restaurants ire putting on New Year’s Eve bashes that begin at 9 p.m. For $130 per person, you have access to an open bar from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Public and until 1 a.m. at Double Crown. Party goers can nosh on canapés (think along the lines of curried lentil spring rolls with tamarind chutney or sea trout ceviche with blood orange-hibiscus sauce).

Mercadito Restaurants

Where: Mercadito, 179 Ave. B (between 11th and 12th Streets), 212-529-6490; Mercadito Grove 100 Seventh Ave. S. (at Grove St.) 212-647-0830; Mercadito Cantina, 172 Ave. B (between 10th and 11th Streets), 212-388-1750.

On the menu: Soon enough you’ll be dreaming about the warm weather and sandy beaches of Mexico. Why not celebrate el ano Nuevo at your favorite Mercadito restaurant? Mercadito and Mercadito Grove will offer a four-course menu for $50 or $100 (for food and open bar) per person with a guacamole tasting, ceviche or botona tasting and other Mexican cuisine. At Mercadito Cantina, a three-course family style menu features a guacamole and salsa tasting, tacos and desserts for $40 or $80 (food and open bar) per person. The fiestas start at 9:30 p.m.

Inside Park at St. Bart’s

Where: 109 E. 50th St. (at Park Ave.), 212-593-333, www.insideparknyc.com

On the menu: Dine and dance in the new year at Inside Park at St. Bart’s. The first seating ($125, not including drinks) begins at 5:30 p.m. and the second seating ($200, also not including drinks but does include a complimentary Champagne for the midnight toast) starts at 8:30 p.m. Guests can dine on Chef Matthew Weingarten’s celebratory menu, which includes East Coast oyster and butter clam chowder, grass fed beef rib eye roulade with wild mushrooms and holiday trifle with persimmon, ginger and pomegranate. Tunes of Cole Porter, Noel Coward and George Gershwin are sure to liven up the atmosphere and get you on your feet for the night.

New Leaf Restaurant
Where: 1 Margaret Corbin Drive (Fort Tryon Park), 212-568-5323 www.nyrp.org/cafe

On the menu: You can indulge and not feel guilty at the New Leaf Restaurant, which promises a romantic dinner courtesy of Executive Chef Scott Campbell. For $99, you can feast on a four-course prix fixe menu (seared sea scallops with lobster cappuccino, duck filet and cranberry ginger chutney, homemade marshmallows) with champagne and entertainment. The restaurant’s cuisine emphasizes local and seasonal ingredients, many from small farms in the local New York area. Your evening will also give back to New York City as part of Bette Midler’s New York Restoration Project to restore and maintain Fort Tryron Park and 57 community gardens sprinkled throughout the city’s five boroughs.

Telepan

Where: 72 W. 69th St. (near Columbus Ave.), 212-580-4300, http://www.telepan-ny.com

On the menu: At Telepan, you might feel like you’re at chef/owner Bill Telepan’s home on the Upper West Side. He’s ever gracious and focuses on the guest as he delivers a seasonal menu — yellowtail tabbouleh, sweet Maine shrimp frittata, dry-aged rib eye and sticky toffee pudding this time around. For New Year’s Eve, he’s offering a four-course prix fixe menu for $150 per person that includes entertainment and a Champagne toast. This is the spot if you’re looking for reliable, high quality meal to celebrate the holidays while you jump into the new year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

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Posted: December 19, 2008

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