New Year’s Eve can set the tone for the entirety of 2014, if you believe in that kind of thing. Or, it can just be a rip-roaring night out after weeks of holiday stress. Either way, we’ve got some top-notch ways to spend the evening eating, drinking and kicking old 2013 to the curb.
Zazu Kitchen + Farm
The restaurant will serve a three or four-course prix fixe dinner including Dungeness crab stuffed piquillos, Hog Island oysters with lime “caviar”, whole roasted branzino, Liberty duck with black rice, prime rib, Baked Alaska and fresh beignets with lemon curd. Bar area features small plates and dangerously delicious cocktails. 3 courses, $79; 4 courses, $89. Call 707.523.4814 to reserve your spot. 6770 McKinley St #150, Sebastopol.
Spinster Sisters
The recent news that Spinster Sisters has been included in the SF Bay Area Michelin Guide is reason enough to celebrate. Calling their NYE menu a “wonderful poem to seasonal ingredients”, Chef Liza Hinman serves up a five-course meal with live music that includes champagne and oysters, Chard Frittata with Black Truffles, Fennel custard with Dungeness crab, baby beets and lemon cream; Grilled snapper with kafir lemongrass lobster broth, bamboo, bok choy, chili, lime; Red wine braised beef shortrib, mascarpone polenta, roasted nante carrots, horseradish crème, black truffle; Grilled Berkshire pork chop, potato puree, chard, braised plum and brandy sauce; Prosecco jello with citrus and kumquat, meyer lemon cream puff with blackberry sauce, chocolate walnut tartlet with whipped cream. $85 per person. Please call for reservations: 707-528-7100. 401 S A St, Santa Rosa.
French Garden
NYE Dinner and dance party with the Susan Comstock Swingtet. Dinner served 5-10pm with a midnight dance party. 4-Course Dinner ~ $75; Dinner & Dance Party ~ $85; Dance Party only w/midnight toast ~ $25. 8050 Bodega Ave, Sebastopol.
Partake by KJ
This luxe wine and food pairing spot in downtown Healdsburg offers a multi-course experience for $150 per person (wine and employee discounts available). Dinner includes blini, caviar and oysters with champagne; hamachi crudo; sweet potato panna cotta with uni; roasted quail; Kobe Zabuton & Cabernet Braised Short Ribs; Pomegranate Gastrique, Black Truffles and Meyer Lemon Curd Mousse. Two dinner seatings: 5pm and 9pm. 241 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg, (707) 433-6000.
Breakaway Cafe
BiteClub’s always loved this under-the-radar restaurant in Sonoma. Enjoy and unpretentiously good (and remarkably priced) NYE dinner with warming cocktails (Maker’s Mark and spiced cider!) and a three course dinner featuring cauliflower bisque, braised lamb shanks or petrale sole with wild mushrooms a chocolate fudge baton for $24.50. 19101 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, 996-5949.
Canneti Roadhouse
Live music and a toasty fire pit at this Forestville roadhouse gets an Italian twist. Watch Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1900 from 5:50-8pm along with a six-course Tuscan feast (smoked pork belly, mozzarella ravioli, short rib pappardelle, Dungeness crab) for $85. Additional wine pairing for $40. 6675 Front St., Forestville, 887-2232.