New Year's Eve 2009: Dining(2)
Merlo la Trattoria Executive chef Luisa Silvia is offering a five-course prix fixe menu at all three Merlo restaurants; here it's $65, with complimentary glasses of prosecco and muscato. 
1967 N. Halsted, 312-951-8200, merlochicago.com.
Merlo on Maple Executive chef Luisa Silvia is offering a five-course prix fixe menu at all three Merlo restaurants; here it's $115, with complimentary glasses of prosecco and muscato. 16 W. Maple, 312-335-8200, merlochicago.com.
MK A four-course prix fixe menu will be served at two seatings, from 6 to 7:30 PM ($70) and from 8:30 to 10 PM ($90, with optional add-on midcourses). Among the offerings from executive chef Erick Williams are a crudo trio of hamachi, fluke, and yellowfin tuna; chilled Maine lobster salad; quail or Maine diver scallops; and pan-roasted turbot or rack of lamb. Pastry chef Tony Galzin offers a choice of house-made warm brioche doughnuts or bittersweet chocolate souffle tart. There's also a DJ—a first for MK. 868 N. Franklin, 312-482-9179, mkchicago.com.
Mon Ami Gabi A la carte dining and a special New Year's menu with a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. 2300 N. Lincoln Park West, 773-348-8886, monamigabi.com.
Moto Chef Homaro Cantu offers a 12-course tasting menu for $175, $260 with wine pairings. 945 W. Fulton, 312-491-0058, motorestaurant.com.
N9ne Steak House Two seatings featuring caviar, lobster, and prime aged steaks from an a la carte menu. The first, 5:30-7 PM, requires a minimum of $40 per person. The second, 8-10 PM, requires an $80 minimum and includes admission to Ghostbar after 11 PM. At both seatings diners have the option of sitting at the champagne and caviar bar, complimentary champagne cocktail included. Ghostbar offers a separate package including a complimentary glass of champagne and hors d'oeuvres from 9 to 11 PM for $20.09. Dancing continues till 2 AM. 440 W. Randolph, 312-575-9900, n9negroup.com/#/steakhouse/main/.
Nacional 27 The prix fixe dinner at the 5 PM first seating is $45 and includes a tapas platter, a choice of entree, and a choice of desserts including Mexican chocolate and tres leches cakes. The five-course menu at 8 PM adds on guacamole and chips with verdito shooters, salad, and a complimentary champagne toast. Afterward, there's a DJ and dancing till 2 AM, with a champagne toast and party favors. 325 W. Huron, 312-664-2727, nacional27.net.
NoMi Chef Christophe David offers a five-course tasting menu including truffled beef consomme with puff pastry and foie gras; a chef's selection of sushi and sashimi; a choice of pasta carbonara, beef tenderloin, or butter-poached Maine lobster; and desserts including champagne sabayon. Wine pairings are available for an additional $80, and there's a complimentary champagne toast. 800 N. Michigan, 312-239-4030, nomirestaurant.com, $195.
North Pond Chef Bruce Sherman offers a seven-course prix fixe menu for $120, $180 with wine pairings; the a la carte menu will not be available. 2610 N. Cannon, 773-477-5845, northpondrestaurant.com.
Oceanique A six-course French prix fixe menu with choices; complimentary champagne toast at midnight. 505 Main St., Evanston, 847-864-3435, oceanique.com, $95.
Old Town Brasserie Early seatings at 5:30 and 6:30 PM feature a four-course prix fixe menu for $60; at 9:30 and 10 PM a five-course meal is $80. Live music in the lounge till 2 AM. 1209 N. Wells, 312-943-3000, oldtownbrasserie.com.
Old Town Social From 9 PM to close Old Town Social will offer an open bar, champagne toast, party favors, and chef Jared Van Camp's appetizers and house-made charcuterie for $115, with a VIP package available for $150. 455 W. North, 312-266-2277, oldtownsocial.com.
Opera A four-course "Disco Flashback New Year's Eve Menu" featuring crab dip, liver and onions, lamb stroganoff, and a Jell-O mold dessert is $50, with seatings by reservation every half hour; the a la carte menu is also available. 1301 S. Wabash, 312-461-0161, opera-chicago.com.
Otom A five-course tasting menu is $75, $105 with wine pairings; the a la carte menu will not be available. 951 W. Fulton, 312-491-5804, otomrestaurant.com.
Park Grill From 6 to 8:15 PM a three-course prix fixe menu with choices is $50, $75 with wine pairings; from 9 PM on there will be a five-course tasting menu for $65, $100 with wine pairings. Jazz music from 7 PM on and a midnight balloon drop. 11 N. Michigan, 312-521-7275, parkgrillchicago.com.
People Lounge A four-course prix fixe dinner and drinks package featuring wine, beer, and call liquor is $100, with menu choices including a blue-cheese-crusted skirt steak or Cava-braised pork belly. The drinks package alone is $60; both include a DJ, party favors, and a champagne toast. 9 PM-1 AM, 1560 N. Milwaukee, 773-227-9339, peoplechicago.com.
Piece Piece's annual anti-black-tie party runs 9 PM-1:30 AM with pizza, salad, dessert, a champagne toast, and all-you-can-drink wine, Piece drafts, and Miller Lite bottles. A DJ spins all night. 1927 W. North, 773-772-4422, piecechicago.com, $80.
Pops for Champagne From 9 PM to 12:30 AM there's an open bar with unlimited Henriot champagne and premium liquor, passed hors d'oeuvres, dessert, and party favors; it's $150 per person for a table, $130 for a seat at the bar. 601 N. State, 312-266-7677, popsforchampagne.com.
The Publican A four-course prix fixe dinner served family style is $45 per person, with the option of adding a "grand seafood collection," nine types of seafood including Dungeness and stone crab, oysters, and octopus ceviche, for $30. Complimentary glass of sparkling wine. 837 W. Fulton, 312-733-9555, the publicanrestaurant.com.
Saluté Wine Bar & Cafe Dinner—an appetizer, pizza or panini, and dessert—is $25, with seatings from 5 to 9 PM. An open bar package from 10 PM till 2 AM is $60 in advance, $70 at the door. A combo of the two is $75. 46 E. Superior, 312-664-0100, salutewinebars.com.
Sepia Chef Andrew Zimmerman offers prix fixe menus at two seatings: four courses between 5:30 and 7:30 PM for $65, $110 with wine pairings, and five courses between 8 and 9 PM for $85, $145 with wine pairings. Items include braised pheasant ravioli, pan-roasted sturgeon, a duo of grilled flatiron steak and braised short ribs, and chocolate mousse or an almond financier. Complimentary blood orange-thyme cocktail from 6 PM to midnight. 123 N. Jefferson, 312-441-1920, sepiachicago.com.
Sheffield's Open bar from 8 PM to 1 AM, with an appetizer buffet including mini pulled pork sandwiches, tater tots with cheese curds, mini grilled cheese sandwiches, and fresh vegetables. $75 in advance, $100 at the door. 3258 N. Sheffield, 773-281-4989, sheffieldschicago.com.
The Signature Room at the 95th Open bar, appetizers, buffets, three bands, a balloon drop, and a view of the Navy Pier fireworks at midnight is $200, $225 after Mon 12/21. 8 PM-1 AM, 875 N. Michigan, 312-787-9596, signatureroom.com.
Spiaggia At Spiaggia chef Tony Mantuano will offer tiered prix fixe menus at three seatings. The first seating, from 5 to 5:30 PM, will offer a choice of three courses for $85; the second, from 7 to 7:30 PM, a choice of four courses for $125. The 9:30 PM seating features a seven-course chef's tasting menu for $195, $290 with wine pairings. Cafe Spiaggia will offer three- and four-course options for $55 and $65, respectively. 980 N. Michigan, 312-280-2750, spiaggiarestaurant.com.
Sunda A four-course meal served family style is $150 per person, including a champagne toast, wine pairings, and a premium open bar, with seatings from 5 to 7 PM and 9 PM to midnight, after which there's a cash bar. Seating is also available at communal tables and the sushi bar ($100 sans pairings) and in the lounge, where there's a buffet in addition to an open bar ($75). 110 W. Illinois, 312-644-0500, sundachicago.com.
Sushi Taiyo Seating for a four-course $50 prix fixe menu begins at 5:30 PM downstairs. From 9 PM to 1:30 AM a $100 "soiree" package in the upstairs lounge features a DJ, passed appetizers, and a premium open bar; $125 gets you both. 58 E. Ontario, 312-440-1717, taiyochicago.com.
Las Tablas A four-course dinner, champagne toast, party favors, and a DJ is $80, $100 with an open bar; reservations and a deposit required. Open bar packages at $40 and $60 are also available; $20 cover sans package. 2942 N. Lincoln, 773-871-2414, 0066843.netsolhost.com.
Takashi Chef Takashi Yagihashi is offering a five-course prix fixe menu for $70 at seatings on the half hour from 5:30 to 6:30. From 8:30 to 9:30 PM an eight-course prix fixe is $90, with a complimentary glass of cava. Dishes include a Maine lobster amuse bouche, roasted foie gras with quince, and soy-ginger caramelized pork belly. 1952 N. Damen, 773-772-6170, takashichicago.com.
Taxim Chef-owner David Schneider offers a six-course menu including wood-grilled octopus, house-made lamb sausage with pickled green tomatoes and house-made goat cheese, and an Aegean pilaf of inked basmati rice and seafood in a tomato-cinnamon sepia sauce. Dessert is a slice of vasilopita, the traditional Greek cake served on Saint Basil's Day, January 1, and there's a complimentary glass of champagne. Dinner's $65 at the first seating, from 5 to 8 PM, and $95 at the second, 8:15 to 10:30 PM. There will be music, dancing, and party favors after 9 PM, and in another Greek tradition, Schneider plans to "ceremoniously smash pomegranates" in the restaurant's foyer to "spread the seeds of good luck." 1558 N. Milwaukee, 773-252-1558, taximchicago.com.
33 Club A four-course prix fixe dinner package is $65 and includes party favors, a balloon drop, a champagne toast, and a DJ. A drinks package (wine, bar, call liquor) from 9 PM to 1 AM is $100; a combo dinner and drinks package is $140. 1419 N. Wells, 312-664-1419, 33clubchicago.com.
312 Chicago In addition to the regular menu, chef Luca Carozzina will offer a four-course prix fixe meal for $50, $65 with wine pairings. 136 N. LaSalle, 312-696-2420, 312chicago.com.
Tocco A five-course meal including lobster, truffles, seafood salad, and a glass of champagne is $65, with seatings at 7 PM and 10 PM. An open bar package from 9 PM to 2 AM is $60; the two together are $115. 1266 N. Milwaukee, 773-687-8895, toccochicago.com.
Trader Vic's Four-course prix fixe menu of baked Maui onion soup, a mini surf and turf of crispy prawns and cherry-brandied short ribs, filet mignon or half roasted chicken, and a chocolate mousse bomb with blood orange. Couples also get a bottle of champagne. 1030 N. State, 312-642-6500, tradervicschicago.com, $75.
Tru Two seatings featuring chef Rick Tramonto's multicourse tasting menus: from 5 to 6:45 PM a three-course prix fixe menu is available for $110, and from 8:30 to 11 PM there's a six-course, $165 chef's collection in addition to a "Black and White Truffle" collection ($230). Champagne toast at midnight and live piano music. 676 N. Saint Clair, 312-202-0001, trurestaurant.com.
Uncommon Ground on Devon A four-course prix fixe dinner with choices including an all-vegetarian menu is $75, with seatings every 15 minutes (early-bird seatings at 5 and 5:30 PM are available for $60). Swing music by the Fatum Jazz Quintet begins at 9 PM and continues through 1 AM. 1401 W. Devon, 773-465-9801, uncommonground.com.
Union Pizzeria From 4 to 6 PM a choice of salad, pizza or entree, and dessert or sparkling cava is $25; from 7 to 9:30 PM it's $30. After 10 PM a menu of salad and pizza will be served. Prior to 7 PM pizza and dessert is $10 for kids under 12. 1245 Chicago, Evanston, 847-475-2400, unionevanston.com.
Va Pensiero Two seatings: the first, at 6 PM, offers a four-course tasting menu and complimentary prosecco toast ($55); the second, at 9 PM, features a seven-course tasting menu, live music and dancing, unlimited prosecco from 11:30 PM on, and "wicked-bad" party favors ($85). 1566 Oak, Evanston, 847-475-7779, va-p.com.
Vermilion A five-course prix fixe meal is $65 between 5 and 7 PM, $85 from 7:30 PM thereafter, with all-meat, all-seafood, and all-vegetarian options and dancing to a DJ from 10 PM to 2 AM; $20 cover charge for nondiners. 10 W. Hubbard, 312-527-4060, thevermilionrestaurant.com.
Vie Chef Paul Virant will offer a five-course tasting menu for $100, $140 with wine pairings (seatings from 4:30 to 9:45 PM). Items include house-smoked shrimp with pickled tomato vinaigrette and pickled garlic, pan-roasted halibut with parsnip puree, potato gnocchi with Gunthorp Farms duck leg confit, rib eye and Alaskan king crab, and a frozen triple-chocolate mousse cake. A vegetarian menu is available upon request. 4471 Lawn, Western Springs, 708-246-2082, vierestaurant.com.
Vinci A four-course Italian Capo di Anno menu includes sausage with lentils and rosemary, butternut squash gnocchi with Parmigiano cream, and profiteroles with gelato and chocolate. There's just one seating, at 9 PM, with favors, a champagne toast, and dancing as a DJ spins till 1 AM. 1732 N. Halsted, 312-266-1199, vincichicago.com, $69.
Webster's Wine Bar Open bar till midnight, with heavy appetizers including antipasto plates, tapenades, kebabs, skewers, and pizzas. Reservations required. 8 PM-1:30 AM, 1480 W. Webster, 773-868-0608, websterwinebar.com, $75.
West Town Tavern In addition to the regular menu, chef Susan Goss is offering special a la carte New Year's dishes including mac 'n' cheese with lobster and mascarpone; pan-roasted pork "saltimbocca" wrapped in Benton's country, ham with polenta, sage, and preserved lemon; and pumpkin-spice doughnut holes with rum custard sauce. All come with suggested wine pairings from her husband, Drew Goss. 1329 W. Chicago, 312-666-6175, westtowntavern.com.
Zocalo A four-course prix fixe menu is $45, with seatings at 7 and 9 PM, after which there will be dancing to live music and a DJ. 358 W. Ontario, 312-302-9977, zocalochicago.com.
