9 NYE Dinners in Los Angeles That You Simply Can’t Miss

Don’t feel like partying this New Year’s Eve? No problem! L.A. has alternatives to partying like it’s 1999 at midnight—so why not eat instead? For a more low-key NYE, check out these 9 haute eateries, which are offering special menus to celebrate the arrival of 2015.

1. FIG & OLIVE MELROSE PLACE’S “WHITE & GOLD” DINNER Fig & Olive is offering up a “white and gold” dinner to Angelenos who want to feel like they’re enjoying an evening on the French Riviera. The four-course meal starts at 9 p.m. and for $150 includes Pata Negra 5j & Manchego Emulsion—Jamon Iberico 5J, caramelized peach, micro arugula, and Manchego foam with Pedro Ximenez emulsion—grilled Maine lobster with artichoke tapenade, puff pastry, and smoked pimenton olive oil—truffle risotto, grilled filet mignon and a Valrhona chocolate brownie with marscapone mousse and a chocolate raspberry glaze. Those who want to stick around for a post-party have the option for an additional $100, which includes cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres.

2.“MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL” AT TAVERN Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne are offering up a South Carolina-inspired feast with a live jazz trio at their Brentwood eatery, Tavern. Expect to find items like Charleston she-crab soup, white collard greens and oyster crackers, grilled shrimp hoppin’ John with sea island red peas, Carolina gold rice and smoked Berkshire pork shoulder, cornmeal crusted snapper, wood-fired grilled rib eye steak, candied pecans and bourbon whipped cream and ode-to-the-South vacherin with bittersweet chocolate. The first seating at 6 p.m. is a four-course affair at $90 per person; the second seating ($120) at 8 p.m. includes five courses with a midnight champagne toast and party favors; the latter also includes South Carolina “hoe cake” with sweet tea-brined fried chicken and oysters on the half shell.

3. PATINA’S ANNUAL HOLIDAY GALA Patina closes out the year in style with its annual holiday “gala,” which features prix-fixe early evening and mid-evening feasts, and an á la carte menu available in the late evening. Luxurious offerings include lobster ravioli au daikon with caviar and verjus vinaigrette; guinea hen with charred leeks, leg confit cigar, and sauce Périgord; pavlova with passionfruit crème and champagne bubbles; Petrossian caviar with buckwheat blinis and traditional accoutrements; and a selection of matured artisanal cheeses from Patina’s cheese cart, served with a variety of winter chutneys and gourmet nuts. News Year’s Eve signature cocktails include the Fantasie with champagne, St-Germain, and fresh pomegranate juice, alongside Sommelier Silvestre Fernandes’ finely curated pairings of celebratory wines and champagne.

4. MELISSE Melisse’s Josiah Citrin offers guests two seating options on New Year’s Eve: the four-course first for early birds from 5:30-6:30 for $150, and the second for those who want to ring in NYE without sitting at home with six courses for $275. The latter includes dishes like Maine lobster with heart of palm, sweet potato and truffle tortellini, lobster chestnut consommé, Dover sole with “persillade”, sunchoke, wild spinach, sweet onion-meyer lemon jus, and a variety of desserts; there will also be live music and dancing.

5. A.O.C. a.o.c. celebrates the arrival of 2015 with its four course NYE’s menu, patterned after their small plates and platters format. Highlights from the menu of a.o.c. signatures and holiday specialties prepared by Chef de Cuisine Lauren Herman include American caviar, potato blinis & red onion crème fraîche; New Years vintner’s plate—cheese, meats, pickles & purées (with vegetarian option);  lamb chops “Scottadito,” Tahitian squash-pancetta risotto and truffle butter. Dessert choices include roasted apple galette with mascarpone and Armagnac prunes and an end-of-the-year chocolate dessert platter to share.

6. HINOKI & THE BIRD Guests will be transported to Mumbai, India for Hinoki & the Bird’s New Year’s Eve celebration.This Century City restaurant will be decorated with colorful fabrics and Indian spice-inspired celebratory special dishes will complement the regular dinner menu. There will also be a champagne toast at midnight.

7. SMOKE.OIL.SALT smoke.oil.salt, one of 2014’s standout restaurants, will be hosting two New Year’s Eve dinner seatings with a compartir (family-style), prix fixe menu featuring a number of their Valencian favorites, including carabineros (giant prawns), bunyols (cod croquettes), squid ink pasta with calamari & prawns, and house-made sausages, along with special menu items like chestnut soup, oysters, lobster, octopus sliders, wood fire roasted chicken, and much more. Special flights of wine, sherries, cava and txakoli poured from porrones will also be available. Enjoy the 6:30 p.m. five-course plating for $85 or the 9:00 p.m. six-course plating for $125, which includes a Cava toast and traditional Valencian mandarin orange segments at midnight.

8. HAKKASAN This New Year’s Eve Hakkasan Beverly Hills will ring in 2015 with exclusive prix-fixe menus by Michelin-starred Chef Ho Chee Boon. Exquisite wine pairings, pre-selected through a dedicated tasting session by the talented Hakkasan wine team, will also be available and can be added to either menu throughout the evening. Additionally, upon arrival each guest will receive a complimentary glass of champagne provided by Perrier-Jouët. To start the evening, the 5:30 p.m. seating features a $78 prix fixe menu beginning with the Hakka steamed dim sum platter, featuring har gau, scallop shumai, Chinese chive dumplings and black pepper duck dumplings; Salt and pepper squid; and Crispy duck salad with pomelo, pine nuts and shallots. A selection of main entrees will follow, including the Crispy chicken in lemon sauce and Stir-fry black pepper beef ribeye with merlot, among others. To top off the meal, Hakkasan will offer a chocolate tasting – showcasing a variety of chocolate mousses, white chocolate and passion fruit parfait and black sesame crémeux with yuzu ice cream. For seatings beginning at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., the $138 menu will consist of highlights such as crispy fried scallop plated with banana and fresh fruits, braised Chilean seabass, grilled Waygu beef and stir-fry lobster with sugar snaps in XO sauce.

9. PISTOLA Pistola is celebrating its first New Year’s Eve in style. Ring in 2015 with a special prix fixe dinner courtesy of Executive Chef/owner Vic Casanova, live entertainment and party favors. The first seating is at 6:30 p.m. and includes a 4-course meal ($125 per person), followed by a 9:00 p.m. seating which includes a 5-course meal and a champagne toast at midnight ($150 per person). Wine pairings are available for an additional $50. Expect to enjoy items like cauliflower soup with blood orange, black olive and basil, carne cruda, a dry-aged beef tartare with black truffle, horseradish crema and toast, ricotta and truffle agnolotti, wild Mediterranean turbot, prime beef short ribs, and coconut panna cotta.