Whether it’s a pre-party nosh or an all-night feast to ring in the New Year, Boston restaurants have the menus to delight and excite the palate.
Steal away to Clink at The Liberty Hotel in Beacon Hill for a five-course feast with offers of caviar and lobster (seatings at 9, 9:15 and 9:30 PM; $125 per person; 617-224-4000); afterwards, check out the Rotunda Revelry party, which includes a DJ and champagne toast (7 PM–2 AM; $40 cover). The “All Night Long” package includes luxury king bed accommodations, access to the Rotunda Revelry party and brunch for two ($357 for the night; 617-224-4000).
Chef-owner Dante de Magistris of dante, in the Royal Sonesta Hotel along the Charles River in Cambridge, has created an elegant Italian five-course New Year’s Eve countdown menu that includes caviar, black truffles, beef Wellington "Italiano" and a champagne toast at both an early and late seating (5–6:30 PM, $100 per person; 8:30–10 PM, $125 per person; 617-497-4200).
L’Espalier, the elegant French restaurant that’s been tucked away on Gloucester Street for decades, will celebrate its final New Year’s Eve in its townhouse location before moving to the new Mandarin Oriental, also in the Back Bay, next year. Chef Frank McClelland has created several menus, with early seatings at 5:30, 6 and 6:30 PM and late seatings at 9, 9:30 and 10 PM. The early seatings – currently the only available – will feature a choice of two tasting menus (4–5 courses, $125 per person; 7–8 courses, $195 per person; 617-262-3023).
Provençal-themed Miel, in the InterContinental Boston on the Fort Point Channel, begins its New Year’s Eve dinner with a champagne cocktail. Choose from a five-course ($105), four-course ($85) or three-course ($75) dinner (617-747-1000).
The Back Bay's Rattlesnake Bar & Grill rings in the new with a fun, casual $20-per-person party with a DJ (8 PM; 617-859-8555,
reservations recommended).
Rocca in the South End kicks off with a three-course pre-celebration menu served from 5–7 PM ($45 per person), followed by a four-course New Year’s Eve celebration menu from 7 PM–midnight ($65 per person, includes prosecco toast). For reservations, call 617-451-5151.
Hingham's Scarlet Oak Tavern features a four-course festive dinner with the likes of lobster bisque, lavender honey-glazed duck and figgy pudding (that’s right) for dessert. Cost is between $50 and $75 per person, depending on entree (5–10:15 PM; 781-749-8200).
The six-course prix fixe at Sel de la Terre, both in its Downtown Boston and suburban Natick locations, starts with a sparkling wine toast (the Cuvee L’Espalier, named for its sister restaurant) as early as 4 PM; live jazz begins at 6:30 PM and plays through 12:30 AM ($95 per person; Boston, 617-720-1300; Natick, 508-650-1800).
UpStairs on the Square in Harvard Square celebrates on two floors with two menus and live music from 10 PM. In the Monday Club Bar and Zebra Room from 5–6:30 PM, a four-course menu will be served ($75 per person), with later seatings starting at 8:30 PM ($125 includes four-course menu, live music and midnight champagne toast). The Soiree Dining Room, in its pink and gold glory, begins an early seating at 5:30 PM ($85 per person for a four-course menu) and a late seating at 8 PM ($150 includes a five-course feast with “flowing champagne” at midnight and live music). For reservations, call 617-864-1933.