Something for Everyone on New Year’s Eve

Going out for New Year’s Eve can be a daunting task, with so many restaurant and bar options to sift through. Fortunately the sheer mass of offerings means there’s something out there for everyone, be it a leisurely dinner or a full-fledged degustation adjoined with booze. One nifty way to categorize the infinite options is by cuisine, from Pan-Asian fetes to Italian dinners, tiki soirees, and even New Year’s cupcakes. Here’s your guide to New Year’s Eve in Chicago by cuisine.

Pan-Asian

Glamorous diners with deep pockets and an affinity for Pan-Asian cuisine will be smitten with Jellyfish this New Year’s Eve. The Gold Coast restaurant lives up to its ritzy ’hood with a top-shelf open bar, fanciful passed appetizers, Champagne, a DJ, and various chefs’ stations.

Three courses of French-Vietnamese cuisine can be had at Le Colonial. The nice thing about this degustation is that diners have the flexibility to choose dishes off the entire menu, along with several specials for each course. Dinner seatings take place every half hour on New Year’s Eve.

Italian

Bid adieu to 2013 with the help of beef tartare, pumpkin arancini, pasta, grilled strip steak, and other contemporary Italian delights at Balena. The multi-course affair is a special menu crafted by Chris Pandel.

Pizza and Prosecco make for an apt Italian celebration at Pizzeria Via Stato. Beginning at 9:30 pm, the restaurant will roll out a buffet of pizzas with a variety of toppings. To drink, Prosecco reigns supreme, along with Italian wines and craft beers available all night, plus a complimentary midnight toast.

Another Italian outing can be had at tesori, where guests can partake in one of a few New Year’s routes. Go super casual at the bar, open regular hours from 11:00 am until close, serving its full bar and pizza menu, plus wine, beer, and cocktails. “Buckets of Bubbles” are also available, and apropos. Those looking for a seated dinner can do so starting at 7:00 pm, wherein they’ll mosey into the dining room for a five-course degustation.

French

Champagne and raw bars are the peanut butter and jelly of New Year’s Eve, and together they take the spotlight at Paris Club. The neo-French restaurant specializes in a glorious array of chilled bubbly, along with one of the best, most pristine raw bars in Chicago, making it a preeminent destination for all your New Year’s needs. 

Another Parisian-style New Year’s option can be had at HotChocolate. French music, French wine, and French-inspired cocktails take the stage at Bucktown’s premier dessert destination. The special dinner menu is inspired by chef Mindy Segal’s recent honeymoon in Paris, featuring the likes of steak frites and tiramisu Napoleon. Four seatings take place throughout the night, and the following morning HotChocolate hosts its annual New Year’s Day pajama brunch.

Acadia goes all Moulin Rouge with a regal French theme for New Year’s Eve. First seating is at 5:30 pm, followed by another at 9:00 p.m., each sporting a special tasting menu with optional wine pairings. A vegetarian option is also available. The bar is open for cocktail service only.

Still feeling French? Nellcôte provides a lavish alternative, what with its opulent dining room inspired by a French villa. A New Year’s party takes place from 9:30 pm until 2:00 am, complete with open premium bar, DJs, passed appetizers, party favors, and a Champagne toast.

Japanese

Yusho puts a Japanese spin on New Year’s traditions with its Bonenkai party, a traditional Japanese year-end drinking party designed to help people forget the year’s troubles and look forward to success in the new year. With seatings at 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm, the restaurant is poised to celebrate with dishes such as king prawn tempura with surimi beignets, oyster-shrimp paste with coconut slaw, and twice-fried chicken in a garlic-beer sauce. To drink, Japanese craft beers, special sakes, and shochus.  

Tiki

Passed island-inspired snacks and special souvenir tiki mugs are on hand for guests this New Year’s Eve at Three Dots and a Dash. The subterranean tropical paradise is also offering special group packages for you and five of your friends. Sunglasses, noise-makers, and other party favors will also be on hand.

Greek

Go Greek at Taxim with a bit of Greek music, Greek dancing, and of course, Greek eats.  Live music takes place from 10:00 pm until 2:00 am at Wicker Park’s Grecian Mecca. Prix fixe holiday menus are available for earlier seatings or later. Complimentary Champagne toasts and ceremonial pomegranate-smashing (for good luck in the new year) are also happening.

American

TWO is celebrating the arrival of 2014 with a special four-course dinner menu, a complimentary sparkling wine toast at midnight, and a live band that kicks off at 11:00 pm. 

Cured duck with cherries and cinnamon; and lobster with turnips and black garlic are just a snippet of the culinary craftsmanship taking place this New Year’s Eve at Table, Donkey and Stick, courtesy of chef Scott Manley. The chef is crafting a six-course menu for the holiday, along with a Champagne toast. Beverage pairings are also available.

Headquarters Beercade offers a low-key, laid-back, and fun alternative to your New Year’s Eve shenanigans. Along with a chef-driven buffet, guests can let loose with an array of nostalgic video games and ’80s music blasted by a DJ. There will also be a Champagne toast at midnight.

Last but not least, you need something sweet to sink your teeth into, so be sure and pick up some special New Year’s Eve cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery. Available in vanilla or chocolate, the cupcakes are bedecked with a decorative disc to honor the new year.

Jellyfish
1009 N. Rush Street, Chicago
(312) 660-3111
Website

Le Colonial
937 N. Rush Street, Chicago
(312) 255-0088
Website

Balena
1633 N. Halsted Street, Chicago
(312) 867-3888
Website

Pizzeria Via Stato
620 N. State Street, Chicago
(312) 642-8450
Website

tesori
65 E. Adams Street, Chicago
(312) 786-9911
Website

Paris Club
59 W. Hubbard Street, Chicago
(312) 595-0800
Website

HotChocolate
1747 N. Damen Avenue, Chicago
(773) 489-1747
Website

Acadia
1639 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago
(312) 360-9500
Website

Nellcôte
833 W. Randolph Street, Chicago
(312) 432-0500
Website

Yusho
2853 N. Kedzie Avenue, Chicago
(773) 904-8558
Website

Three Dots and a Dash
435 N. Clark Street, Chicago
(312) 610-4220
Website

Taxim
1558 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago
(773) 252-1558
Website

TWO
1132 W. Grand Avenue, Chicago
(312) 624-8363
Website

Table, Donkey and Stick
2728 W. Armitage Avenue, Chicago
(773) 486-8525
Website

Headquarters Beercade
2833 N. Sheffield Avenue, Chicago
(773) 665-5660
Website

Magnolia Bakery
108 N. State Street, Chicago
(312) 346-7777
Website