30+ CT restaurants hosting New Year's Eve dinner, parties

Say goodbye to 2022 with fine dining, champagne toasts, live music and dancing. These Connecticut restaurants and venues are celebrating the final day of the year with special menus and parties to ring in 2023. L'Ostal in Darien offers a four-course prix-fixe menu at $100 per guest, with optional wine pairings, truffle and caviar supplements. Dishes include escargot en coquille, raviolo for two, diver scallop and sole and dry-aged sirloin with truffle bordelaise. 475-328-9629. Sign of the Whale in Stamford is hosting a New Year's Eve bash starting at 8 p.m., with top-shelf open bar, passed appetizers, a full buffet and dessert. Tickets are $150. 203-883-8282. Prime: An American Kitchen & Bar in Stamford features a four-course prix-fixe menu with entree choices like filet mignon Wellington, NY prime strip, branzino and conchiglie pasta with lobster, rock shrimp and truffles, with an upcharge for options like surf and turf (T-bone steak and poached lobster.) Cost is $165 per person, including tax and tip; alcoholic beverages are served a la carte. 203-817-0700. L'Escale in Greenwich offers two seatings. A pre-gala dinner from 5 to 6:30 p.m. features a la carte options, with choices like Périgord truffle gnocchi, Dover sole and shrimp roulade, herb crusted rack of lamb and Angus filet mignon. The gala event, starting at 8 p.m., features a five-course dinner with optional wine pairings, live music, dancing and champagne toast at midnight. Cost is $225 per person. 203-661-4600. La Plage in Westport offers an a la carte menu for the early seating from 5 to 7:30 p.m., and a New Year's Eve gala, starting at 8:30 p.m. features a multi-course menu ($175 per person) with dishes like Périgord truffle gnocchi, Colorado lamb loin, filet mignon and Maine lobster risotto. The gala features music by Tangled Vine, dancing and a champagne toast. 203-684-6232. Artisan Restaurant, with locations in Southport and West Hartford, both offer an a la carte menu from 5 to 7:30 p.m. and a gala event with a five-course prix-fixe menu starting at 8:30 p.m. Cost is $175 in Southport; $150 in West Hartford. Water's Edge at Giovanni's in Darien features a New Year's Eve prix-fixe dinner menu with choice of entree, including vegetarian, beef, veal, seafood and poultry options ($75 to $90) or signature specials like lobster tail and NY strip or filet mignon ($110). Washington Prime in Norwalk hosts a Prohibition-themed New Year's bash starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets include a three-course dinner, open bar and music from swing band Swingadelic. Roaring 20's-style attire is suggested. Cost is $200 per person; make reservations on OpenTable. The Wheel in Stamford will be open on New Year's Eve for brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. The regular menu will be available from 5 to 7 p.m., with a four-course tasting menu starting at 8 p.m. ($125 per person.) Wine pairings will be offered at an additional charge, plus champagne sabering. The restaurant is also open New Year's Day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with an all-you-can-eat buffet ($65 per person, food only; $15 add-on for bottomless mimosas). Reservations can be made via OpenTable here. DeTAPAS in Westport offers an $85 prix-fixe menu, with a cured Iberico and cheese board, a choice of tapas dishes, choice of paella and desserts like Spanish churros or crema catalana. 203-557-0257. Bernard's in Ridgefield offers a special prix-fixe menu with seatings at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. featuring dishes like warm lobster salad, sauteed wild Icelandic cod, Long Island duck duo, beef Wellington and roasted venison medallion. Cost is $175 for the 6 p.m. seating and $225 for the later seating, which includes live music and champagne toast. Sarah's Wine Bar offers an a la carte menu. 203-438-8282. Happy Monkey by Jean-Georges in Greenwich will offer an early dinner service beginning at 5 p.m., with a gala dinner starting at 8 p.m. The later event features a five-course tasting menu, live music and champagne toast at midnight. Cost is $248 per person. Make reservations on Resy. 203-405-5787. The restaurant will also be open New Year's Day. The Cottage in Greenwich and Westport will celebrate New Year’s Eve with its la carte menu and festive specials from 5 p.m. to close. Reservations can be made via OpenTable or calling 203-769-1220 (Greenwich) and 203-557-3701 (Westport.) Both locations will also be open for New Year's Day brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. OKO in Westport will be open on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day from 5 p.m. to close, offering its a la carte menu. Reservations can be made via OpenTable, or by calling 203-557-8404. Pier 131 in Shelton offers New Year's Eve specials like lobster lollipops, twin lobster tails and pan-seared scallops, with live music beginning at 10 p.m. and a front-row river view of the Shelton fireworks at midnight. The restaurant also hosts brunch on New Year's Day. Reservations are required for all. 203-513-2935. Shell & Bones in New Haven is open until last call New Year's Eve, with the kitchen open until midnight. Specials, in addition to the a la carte menu, include sea urchin, duck confit, Maine lobster cassoulet, baked Alaska and a champagne cocktail. The restaurant will have a champagne toast for all guests at midnight. Reservations may be made via shellandbones.com or by calling 203-787-3466. Shell & Bones will also be open on New Year’s Day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. for brunch and dinner. Geronimo Tequila Bar and Southwest Grill in Fairfield and New Haven will celebrate New Year’s Eve with its a la carte menu and holiday specials. The kitchen will be open until midnight. Reservations can be made online or by calling 203-955-1643 (Fairfield) or 203-777-7700 (New Haven). The restaurants will also be open for regular business hours on New Year’s Day starting at 11 a.m., including brunch. Camacho Garage in New Haven will be open 11 a.m. to last call (kitchen open until midnight) on New Year’s Eve, offering its a la carte menu and specials. The restaurant will be open on New Year’s Day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., including brunch. 203-691-1969. Union League Cafe in New Haven offers a prix-fixe menu for $98, with entree choices of seared wild halibut, petit filet périgourdine, truffle spaetzle with mushrooms, venison en croûte and Dover sole au homard with tarragon and lobster mousse. 203-562-4299. Fair Haven Oyster Co. in New Haven hosts an Atomic-style cocktail party from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., with an all-inclusive menu. The bar offers vintage drinks like 50/50 martinis, Manhattans and Hemingway daiquiris, with bites like cheese fondue, pigs in blankets, oysters Rockefeller, rare beef on toast and roasted littleneck clams. Cost is $125; book on Resy. The Griswold Inn in Essex features a three-course New Year's Eve dinner for $75 per person, with entree choices including blackened NY strip steak, grilled shrimp with saffron risotto, Long Island duck breast, Faroe Island salmon, and roasted prime rib of beef. The ‘Back Room’ will feature the Psychedelic 60's from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m. Dinner seatings begin at 5 p.m. Reservations are recommended. 860-767-1776. The Griswold Inn also hosts a buffet-style brunch on New Year's Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $50 for adults, $22 for kids ages 6 to 12, free for kids 6 and under. Reservations recommended. The Essex in Old Saybrook offers two seatings for its New Year's Eve tasting menu, with a five-course tasting and prosecco toast ($125 per person, optional wine pairing for $55) available from 4:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. The later seating, starting at 7:30 p.m., features additional courses, caviar, foie gras and Veuve Clicquot toast. Cost is $165 with optional wine pairing for $65. 860-237-4189. Grano Arso in Chester features a New Year's Eve menu at $95 per person, with courses like charred octopus, gnocchi with black trumpet mushrooms and truffles, striped bass, dry-aged NY strip and brown butter semifreddo with apple caramel. 860-322-3143. Foxwoods Resort Casino restaurants offer dining specials, including Cedars Steaks & Oysters, Golden Dragon, David Burke Prime Steakhouse, Hard Rock Cafe and High Rollers. Information: foxwoods.com/special-events/new-years/. Mohegan Sun restaurants offer New Year's Eve specials, including Michael Jordan's Steak House, MJ23 Sports Bar & Grill and SolToro. Saybrook Point Resort & Marina in Old Saybrook hosts its annual New Year’s Eve gala at 7 p.m., with passed hors d’oeuvres, an appetizer station with raw bar and entrees like braised Angus short rib, dijon-pistachio crusted rack of lamb, herb seared Atlantic swordfish and porcini, white bean and leek cassoulet. Music by Java Groove. Cost is $196 per person. The restaurant also offers New Year's Day brunch from 11 a.m to 3 p.m. Water's Edge in Westbrook offers early dinner seatings at 5 and 5:30 p.m., with an $89 four-course dinner and complimentary champagne or apple cider toast. A dinner dance party starts at 7 p.m., with live bands, open bar and four-course dinner. Tickets are $195 per person. An overnight package includes accommodations, two tickets to the party, New Year's Day brunch and 20 percent off spa services on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. 860-399-5901. The Shipwright's Daughter in Mystic hosts a New Year's Eve happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. with signature cocktails and light bites. From 6 to 10 p.m., the restaurant is offering a five-course tasting menu ($100 per person, with optional wine pairings at an additional cost). Live music by Eleanor Dubinsky and Dario Acosta Teich starts at 10 p.m. There will be a $20 cover fee for late-night non-dining guests. 860-536-7605. Millwright's in Simsbury offers early and later seatings, with a three-course prix-fixe ($75) available at 5 and 5:30 p.m. Entree options include mushroom fricassee, seared scallops, duck breast or NY strip with foie gras. The late seating, starting by 7 p.m., features additional courses for $115 per person. 860-651-5500. The Charles in Wethersfield hosts a "Very Gatsby" New Year's Eve, with an early dinner seating at 5 p.m. featuring a four-course prix-fixe menu and champagne toast. Cost is $125 per person. A later seating starting at 7 p.m. features a cocktail reception, four-course dinner, champagne toast, DJ and dancing, party hats and games and prizes for best-dressed. Cost is $200 per person. 860-785-8499. River in Wethersfield offers a four-course prix-fixe menu with seatings between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. ($75 a person) and a five-course prix-fixe menu with seatings between 7:30 and 9 p.m.($110 a person.) Entree selections include prime NY strip, braised red wine short rib, stuffed pork chop, vegan beet Wellington and shrimp and scallop sauie. Each meal offers a complimentary champagne toast. River also hosts a cocktail party in its atrium space ($50 a person) starting at 9 p.m., with an hors d’oeuvres buffet and music by DJ Alex Vollono. (Guests at the later dinner seating also have access to the cocktail party.) 860-257-3344.

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