Would you rather blow your New Year’s Eve budget on a quality meal than overpriced drinks at an obnoxious nightclub? Here are 10 appetizing options.
New Year’s Eve presents a conundrum for many people. Though it’s largely despised by bar and club-goers for the crowds and high cover prices it attracts, there’s also an inexplicably nagging desire to make the most of the night. And despite the fact that the night often ends up being a bust, there is truly no shortage of things to do on Dec. 31. Case in point: Nearly every drinking establishment in the city will be hosting a party (some with extended drinking hours until 4 a.m.) in an attempt to bring in patrons to prop up the bar. However, if standing shoulder-to-shoulder in a crowded club is not your idea of a good time, rest assured there are other options. Here are 10 restaurants in the city that are putting on something special for New Year’s Eve.
1. Keriwa Café
Chef Aaron Joseph Bear Robe —a real mensch, if you ask us—and his team will be putting together a five-course prix-fixe tasting menu at the new Parkdale restaurant. As always, the menu will feature modern Canadian dishes, with a focus on local ingredients. For $125 per person (add $50 for wine pairings) guests can choose between two tasting menus featuring oysters, smoked whitefish, squash soup, foie gras, venison tartar, bison steak and eggnog brulee.
Seatings at 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 10 p.m. 1690 Queen St. W. (#PRK), 416-533-2552, keriwacafe.ca.
2. Acadia
Fellow mensch Matt Blondin’s low-country cooking will be getting a ’70s-inspired makeover as part of his New Year’s Eve eight-course tasting menu. For $109 per person ($50-$60 more for beverage pairings), diners will be treated to shrimp cocktail, quiche lorraine, fondue, oysters, lobster a la king, chicken cordon bleu and grits with Nutella and caramelized banana. For those who like to ring in the new year with some bubbly, champagne will be half price all night.
Seatings at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m. Acadia, 50C Clinton St. (#COL), 416-792-6002, acadiarestaurant.com.
3. The Drake Hotel
As part of the Stardust New Year’s Eve—a disco-themed party with live music and DJ sets all night long—the Drake has two options for dinners: a three-course meal for $75 or a four-course meal for $100. Diners will get a chance to taste some of the best comfort food in town, with chef Anthony Rose featuring dishes like Oysters Rockefeller, wild-mushroom pasta, lobster gratin and SOMA chocolate-and-peanut butter tarts. The prix-fixe menus will be available in the Lounge, the Dining Room and the Sky Yard, while the Underground will be holding a Strolling Cabaret Dinner ($75) with a food station featuring some Drake menu favourites like lobster nachos and sushi rolls. Price includes admission to the party.
Seatings at 9 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 10 p.m. The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St. W. (#WQW), 416-531-5042, thedrakehotel.ca.
4. Gladstone Hotel
The Gladstone will be throwing a hotel-wide party from 10 p.m. until the wee hours of the morning, featuring Jokers of the Scene, The Soul Proprietor and IDrum. Those looking to lay down a good base before all the debauchery can sit down for a four-course dinner between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Chef Marc Breton has prepared a menu ($50, plus $40 for the cost of party admission) that will feature roasted chestnut velouté, winter frisée salad, butternut squash risotto, grilled New York striploin, seared halibut, a king mushroom medley and molten lava chocolate cake. Bottle service is available at the hotel for those really looking to break the bank.
Seating at 8 p.m. Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. (#WQW), 416-531-4635, gladstonehotel.com.
5. Marben
This stylish west-end local is offering a prix-fixe three-course meal for NYE. For $65, chef Carl Heinrich is preparing a series of plates using locally sourced ingredients. Patrons will choose from a selection of dishes like venison tartare, diver scallop crudo, foie gras au torchon, rainbow trout, a duo of Muscovy duck, mushroom pithivier and chocolate tart.
Marben, 488 Wellington St. W. (#KGW), 417-979-1990, marbenrestaurant.com.
6. Toula
Iron Chef America’s Kevin Brauch has designed an epic six-course gala dinner ($150, including a complementary glass of champagne) and an early-bird four-course option ($80) to accompany the great views from the 38th floor of the Westin Harbour Castle. Starting off with a cocktail and oyster bar, the menu will feature an Atlantic king crab and avocado tower, French lobster in butter and sage, a surf-and-turf main and a tiramisu dessert.
Seating at 5 p.m. (for four-course dinner) and 8 p.m. (for six-course dinner). Toula, 1 Harbour Square, Westin Harbour Castle (#HAR), 416-777-2002, toularestaurant.com.
7. Frida
This popular uptown Mexican restaurant will be holding two sittings for their NYE prix-fixe menu. The four-course dinner ($45; $65 with beverage pairings) will feature some menu staples like enchiladas barbacoa, tamales and chicken mole.
Seatings at 6 p.m., 8:30 p.m. 999 Eglinton Ave. W. (#FOR), 416-787-2221, fridarestaurant.ca.
8. Lee Lounge
The king of King West is offering two prix-fixe menus at his flagship restaurant. The three-course meal will set you back $65; and the four-course will cost $85. The menus will feature Asian-fusion dishes like caramelized black cod with miso mustard, oysters with east Asian lime and Japanese caviar, modern tiramisu and Lee’s famous Singapore-style slaw.
Seatings at 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m. 601 King St. W. (#KGW), 416-504-7867, susur.com.
9. Canoe
If you’re gonna go classy on New Year’s, there may be no better place to do it than at this iconic downtown restaurant. The Oliver & Bonacini flagship is offering a Canadian-themed, multi-course prix fixe for $145 per person ($195 with wine pairings, $215 with sparkling pairings). Chefs Anthony Walsh and John Horne will be preparing a number of seasonal dishes including a duo of organic ocean salmon, a lobster terrine, rabbit agnolotti, foie gras, smoked duck breast, elk loin, and Canadian cheese, parfaits and tarts. If you can’t get the time you want, O&B sister restaurants Biff’s Bistro, Auberge du Pommier, Jump and Luma are also holding New Year’s shindigs.
Canoe, 66 Wellington St. W. (#DTN), 416-364-0054, oliverbonacini.com.
10. Poutini’s House of Poutine
While not necessarily a NYE event (though this mecca of fries, gravy and cheese curds is open until 3:30 a.m. to provide much-needed, hangover-curbing sustenance), Poutini’s is offering some New Year’s Day specials, which you may be able to enjoy if you stay out until the sun comes up. Among the features (which verge on “we dare you” territory) are a poutini florentini of fries, cheese curds, spinach, eggs and béchamel sauce and a breakfast poutine of fries curds, eggs, bacon, béchamel sauce and maple syrup.
Poutini’s, 1112 Queen St. W. (#WQW), 647-342-3732, poutini.com.
