We’ve finally made it. Well, sort of.
Normally, this town is rocking on New Year’s Eve with plenty of restaurants open, live music playing and parties rambling from north to south.
This year …not so much, for obvious reason.
The good news?
Most of our restaurants are open for take-out on New Year’s Eve.
Of the many that have checked in with me, only a handful are closed completely (Royal Hawaiian Fire Grill on the north side, AHBA on the south side, for instance). Check my Restaurant Directory and call these dear people for your favorite New Year’s feast.
NOTE: Most restaurants ARE closing early, so pick up times usually range to about 7:30 or 8:00 p.m. only. For those offering a “partial dining experience” (outdoor tables, no service, look for closing hours around 7 pm (The Cliff) or 8 pm (GGs Bistro)
Some speciality menus …
A few hearty souls are offering speciality menus for take out on New Year’s, bless their souls. Check out all of these details in my Restaurant Directory
Broadway by Amar Santana – Order until Wed, Dec. 30th at noon for his 6-course meal featuring Alaskan King Crab, Maine Lobster or Siberian Sturgeon as specialty items.
GG’s Bistro has always been one of just two restaurants in town that’s open 365 days of the year. Now, it holds the “ONLY” crown as Mandarin King has gone to take-out only. GG’s Bistro will be open for regular hours on NYE and New Year’s Day, and trust that Francesca is coming up with her usual holiday last-minute specials.
Harley Laguna Beach is featuring its best-selling comfort food because, by God, why would we eat anything else on this COVID New Year’s Eve? Pre-order their fabulous Chicken Pot Pie or Buttermillk Chicken, among a handful of items. Throw in several cookies, too, because at this point, who’s really counting? Get that pre-order in ASAP.
Las Brisas is offering a rare, end-of-year sale on its wines and champagnes, and this is a significant sale – 50% off! It’s a great way to stock up on while also supporting a local restaurant. Las Brisas’ wine collection features several rare and hard-to-find vintages, in addition to favorites from a variety of regions — from Napa Valley to Piedmont — and from Cristal Brut 2012 (regularly $375 now $187) and other wines at 50% starting at just $22. See their website for details.
Las Brisas is also offering specialty dinners for NYE and New Year’s Brunch for take out only. Check out the Restaurant Directory for details.
Lumberyard is offering its traditional and entire Prime Rib Special Dinner in carefully packed to-go boxes and cartons. Pick up till 7:30 p.m., but please order in advance. This is a hot commodity in our town.
Nirvana Grille‘s Chef Lindsay has created New Year’s “grazing boards” along with specialty appetizers, and choices of best-selling entrees and desserts. Although everything Lindsay serves up is pretty spectacular, you could just go with a round of her housemade desserts and make it a most memorable NYE. The housemade Goat Cheese Maple Ice Cream, for example, puts a most decadent spin on a less than decadent year.
Olivers Osteria in the Canyon is open for a “partial dining experience” with live music, to boot. Chef Erik will be featuring the entire (decadent) menu, along with a few specials. Oliver’s will also be open on New Year’s Day.
Selanne Steak Tavern is offering a full prix-fixe NYE menu to go, with a long, long lilst of champagne bottles to add in, a la carte.
Starfish Laguna is on the champagne bandwagon, too, with a promised bottle of bubbly for any order over $300. Order anything from the menu.
Thank you, once again, for supporting all of our restaurants through the entirety of this year. It is deeply felt and appreciated by all!
Here’s to a lovely (quiet) New Year’s Eve and great hopeful hope for the New Year!