The economic slump is keeping many from wanting to celebrate much less travel anywhere—even as close as The City—to boot out the old and usher in the New Year. Cheer up, there is music and the aroma of fabulous food in the air in a variety of settings. There’s something for every mood, palette and purse and right in your neighborhoods.
(Other local restaurants are also celebrating New Year’s Eve; please see page 16. As of this writing, some of the plans below are not finalized; please check with your venue of choice.)
MORAGA
Terzetto, 1419 Moraga Way • 376-3832
With relatively new ownership, appealing decor, fresh Italian cuisine, and reasonable prices, this place has become a favorite from breakfast through dinner, for catering and for hosting private parties.
A fun party is planned for New Year's Eve replete with delicious buffet, live entertainment by Berkeley band "Friends of Old Puppy," and a glass of bubbly at midnight. Call for reservations; deadline is the 29th.
www.terzettocuisine.com
LAFAYETTE
Knoxx, 3576 Mt. Diablo Blvd. • 284-5225
This restaurant just opened in November in the former Pasta Per Tutti space and is already making the A-list with locals. New Year’s eve menu will be Northern Italian Tuscan Style with wine pairings. Pre fixe menu will be $60-65 and consists of a 4-course meal, featuring fresh pastas followed by a variety of delicious Italian desserts. Champagne toast at midnight. Live entertainment!
With seating capacity for just under 70 people, the setting will be intimate and fun. www.theknoxx.com
Chevalier, 960 Moraga Road • 385-0793
For connoisseurs of authentic French cuisine—by award-winning Chef/Owner Phillipe Chevalier—this is the place. There will be a pre fixe menu ($98) at two seatings for New Year’s. The mouthwatering menu includes scallops with truffle sauce, warm oysters with champagne sabayon, vol au vent of seafood, butcher selection of lamb rack, veal liver, filet Rossini. A $30 wine pairing will also be available. Reservation deadline is Dec. 28. http://www.chevalierrestaurant.com
Metro, Mt. Diablo Blvd. • 284-4422 ext. 3
This unique restaurant is popular especially with a younger crowd but overall caters to a sophisticated “metropolitan” palette. The stark, hip interior (with oyster bar) is a great backdrop to its vibrant audience and titillating menu. The New Year’s Eve prix fixe menu ($75) blends French and Asian flavors—Fluke carpaccio with yuzu honey, Torchon of Artisan Foie Gras, Sea Bass En Crout and much more. The patio will be tented for music and dancing, perhaps even under the stars as the top is transparent!
Reservations by credit card; cancellations 72 hours in advance. www.metrolafayette.com
Lafayette Park Hotel, 3287 Mt Diablo Blvd. • 283-3700
To get glittered-up, consider the chateau-style, ever-popular Lafayette Park Hotel. For this special night, the Hotel features pre fixe menus. Dinner only (earlier) seatings are $59 per person. Dinner/dancing seatings (later) are $79 per person. The Park also offers New Year’s Eve Dinner/Dancing/Overnight packages. Please note that the environmentally-conscious Hotel is a non-smoking zone. More information online.
www.lafayetteparkhotel.com
ORINDA
Orinda House, 65 Moraga Way • 258-4445
Open since Jan. 2006, Orinda House exudes a big ambience in a small town featuring sizzling lineups of professional jazz and cabaret musicians. New Year’s Eve is no exception. The entertainment—beginning 8:30 p.m.—will be a Jazz Quartet with no other than international chanteuse Holly Penfield, a native Orindan, now living in London. She will be accompanied by her saxophonist husband, Ian Ritchie (of Pink Floyd).
There will be two seatings; 5 p.m. at $65 and 8 p.m. at $80 respectively.
Pre fixe menu will be prime rib, wild salmon or chicken cordon bleu. Party favors and champagne at midnight. Reservations by December 19. Later reservations will incur a fee. http://www.orindahouse.com
Shelby's, Theater Square - 254-9687
If you happen to pass by Shelby's nearly any day after 10:30am you will always find a variety of diners enjoying the fresh food and bistro-like atmosphere, from cyclists taking a salad break to families enjoying a meal together and older couples smiling at each other over a glass of wine. A fixed-price menu will be offered on New Year's Eve, with seatings at 6:30 and 8:30. Call for reservations.
Have a great New Year’s Eve and Celebrate Lamorinda First.
Bon Natale! Prosit Neu Jahr! Felice Navidad! Happy New Year!
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA