A Côté‘s New Year’s celebration will feature the restaurant’s usual tapas format, but the already-generous small plates will be larger and more decadent. 510-655-6469; 5478 College Ave., Oakland.
The A Street Cafe in Hayward offers a prix-fixe New Year’s dinner. There will be three seatings at 5:00, 7:00, and 9:00 p.m. The dinner is $63-$68. 510-582-2558; 1213 A St., Hayward, AStreetCafe.com
Albany Bistro will offer four tempting New Year’s specials: beef Wellington, Maine lobster, venison chop, and coq au vin. The restaurant opens for dinner at 5:00 p.m. 510-528-1237; 1403 Solano Ave., Albany.
Amber Bistro is doing it up big this New Year’s. A $75 prix-fixe dinner transitions at 10:00 p.m. into a masquerade ball with a DJ spinning hits designed to get diners out of their seats and working off those four courses. The restaurant won’t take groups larger than eight. 925-552-5238; 500 Hartz Ave., Danville, AmberBistro.com
The last time Cuban chanteuse Bobi Cespedes came to Anna’s Jazz Island, the line went down the block. So for New Year’s it’s bringing her back in a rare intimate setting; she’ll be singing with a trio. Two seatings, one at 7:00 p.m. for $40 and at 10:00 p.m. for $60, will include a “lucky” three-course Cuban dinner. 510-845-5515; 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley.
Art’s Crab Shak will feature a buffet, DJ music, and party favors from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Reservations are not required. 510-537-6410; 4031 Broadway, Oakland.
B is offering a prix-fixe dinner with seatings at 5:30-6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. 510-251-8770; 499 9th St., Oakland, BoxedFoodsCompany.com
Bay Wolf offers a prix-fixe dinner for $95, with several choices for each of the three courses. 510-655-6004; 3853 Piedmont Ave., Oakland, BayWolf.com
Beauregard’s offers “stellar specials” for New Year’s Eve, as well as everything on its regular menu. It will be open from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. 510-526-7200; 1373 Solano Ave., Albany, BeauregardsCaliforniaBistro.com
Bridges is offering a four-course prix-fixe dinner ($45-$71) that will vary according to choices. 5:00-9:30 p.m. 925-820-7200; 44 Church St., Danville.
Cafe de la Paz will host a traditional Spanish New Year’s Eve, complete with flamenco. The “Early Supper” package offers a four-course prix-fixe dinner between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m.and a choice of two performances at 7: Yaelisa downstairs in the Flamenco Room ($55 with dinner), or members of her Caminos Flamencos upstairs in the dining room ($45 with dinner). The “Countdown to Midnight” includes a buffet dinner with tapas starting at 9 and complimentary champagne and grapes at midnight. Performances begin at 10; options are Yaelisa downstairs for $95, and Caminos Flamencos upstairs for $75. 510-843-0662; 1600 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CafedelaPaz.net
Cafe Esin is offering a four-course prix-fixe dinner for $57.95 per diner, which includes a choice of what we named the East Bay’s “Temptingest Desserts” earlier this year. The courses that precede those, with options such as phyllo “cigars” rolled with spinach and feta, a classic Caesar salad, and a grilled pork tenderloin with a pomegranate sage sauce, sound pretty good too. Open seating is from 5:00 to 11:00 p.m. 925-314-0974; 2416 San Ramon Blvd. #140, San Ramon.
Casa Orinda will be serving its usual menu along with some delicious specials, but it’s got whole herds of balloons, thousands of them. See for yourself with dinner service until 11:00 p.m; drinks available until 1:30 a.m. 925-254-2981; 20 Bryant Way, Orinda.
La Peña’s Cafe Valparaiso will ring in the New Year with Jesus Diaz and the Bay Area Afro-Cuban All Stars. Show begins at 9:30 p.m.; tickets are $23 in advance, $25 at the door. Reservations not required for the show, although they’re recommended for dinner. 510-841-3800; 3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley.
At C’era Una Volta, you have a choice of an early dinner at 6:00 p.m., with four courses for $60, or a buffet and dancing beginning at 9:00 p.m. with swing and jazz outfit Jazzette for $80. 510-769-4828; 1332 D Park St., Alameda, CeraUnaVolta.us
Upstairs at Chez Panisse, there will be a live band, and diners can order from an á la carte menu. Downstairs, the theme is Provençal, and the menu is prix-fixe — $150 per diner for the 5:30 p.m.seating, and $175 for the 8:30 seating. 510-548-5525 (ask for Robert); 1517 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, ChezPanisse.com
Citron is offering a three-course prix-fixe for $65, four courses for $80-$85, and five courses for $90. 510-653-5484; 5484 College Ave., Oakland.
Club Anton‘s Salsa Club and Bar is featuring a performance by Andy Callao, plus appetizers, noisemakers, and so on, $50. 510-463-0165; 428 3rd St., Jack London Square, Oakland, ClubAnton.com
Dan’s Bar and Grill, an Irish pub in Walnut Creek, will toast the New Year with party favors, a free champagne toast at midnight, and the rock stylings of the Gigantics. Cover at 8:00 p.m., band at 9. No reservations required. 925-932-1331; 1524 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek.
Downtown is offering two seatings and live music. The first seating, at 5:30 p.m., is for a three-course prix-fixe dinner for $45. The 8 o’clock seating costs $75, and includes a four-course meal and a champagne toast. There will be live jazz the whole night. 510-649-3810; 2102 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley.
The Englander Sports Bar and Restaurant will be offering its regular menu, plus live music and no cover charge. No reservations required. 510-357-3571; 101 Parrott Street, San Leandro.
Ephesus Kabob is raising the skewer with fresh chunks of things such as Kobe beef and monkfish and a cool lounge vibe. There will be special offerings for New Year’s. 925-945-8082; 132 Locust St., Walnut Creek, EphesusLounge.com
The Fat Lady Bar and Restaurant will be serving off the menu until 11:00 p.m., and promises “all the regalia: hats, horns, and whatnot” in a festively decorated space. 510-465-4996; 201 Washington St., Oakland.
The Faz in Danville is offering a special holiday á la carte menu; entrée options include lobster pasta, grilled veal chop, prime rib, and smoked duck. Serving from 5:00 p.m. until midnight, with party favors, special decorations, and live music. 925-838-1320; 600 Hartz Ave., Danville.
Meanwhile, The Faz in Pleasanton has cut a deal with the Sheraton Four Points Hotel to create a lavish evening. $335 per couple nets a deluxe guest room, predinner cocktails., and hors d’oeuvres followed by an open bar all night, a fancy buffet dinner from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m., champagne toast at midnight, and DJ dancing from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., not to mention breakfast and a special late 3 p.m. checkout the next day. A less expensive option at $225 a couple or $113 per person comes with everything besides breakfast and the overnight stay. 925-460-0434; 5121 Hopyard Rd., Pleasanton, FazCatering.com
La Finestra is doing an Italian prix-fixe for $49, with seatings between 5:00 and 6:30 p.m. and from 8:00 p.m. until closing. 925-284-5282; 100 Lafayette Circle, Suite 101, Lafayette.
At Foxes Nightclub in Hayward, revelers can dance to DJ One Jam and enjoy complimentary champagne and finger food from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. No reservations required; cover charge is $20 for one person, $30 for two. 171 West Tennyson Rd., Hayward, 510-783-1700.
Garibaldi’s prix-fixe dinner is $75 for four courses, with choice treats such as Kobe beef, lamb, short ribs, gnocchi, and crab salad. The kitchen will be open from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. 510-595-4000; 5356 College Ave., Oakland.
Grasshopper will let diners order off the á la carte menu, and it’ll stay open until 1:00 a.m., with a champagne toast at midnight. 510-595-3557; 6317 College Ave., Oakland, GrasshopperSake.com
For an old-style steak-and-potatoes New Year, check out the Hayward Ranch, which will be offering a special menu. 510-537-5522; 22877 Mission Blvd., Hayward.
Hs Lordship’s will offer live music and a range of prix-fixe dinners from $48-63.95. Dinner is served from 5:00-10:00 p.m. 510-843-8144; 199 Seawall Dr., Berkeley.
At Inn Kensington, $65 gets you a four-course prix-fixe with choices from the best entrées of the year. Seatings at 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. 510-527-5919; 293 Arlington Ave., Berkeley.
Diners can enjoy a special á la carte menu and live guitar music at Italian Colors from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. 510-482-8094; 2220 Mountain Blvd., Oakland.
Specializing in Cajun-style fried and grilled seafood, Jessos Restaurant and Cabaret in Oakland will be doing it up with live music and a fabulous buffet. $100 also includes access to an open bar featuring a wide range of vodkas and tequilas. 510-451-1561; 901 Washington St., Oakland. Jessos.com
Jojo’s is taking its wine dinner concept to its logical conclusion with a special New Year’s menu. A four-course prix-fixe dinner is $100 per guest, which includes several wines and champagne. Seatings at 6:00 and 9:30 p.m. 510-985-3003; 3859 Piedmont Ave., Oakland, JojoRestaurant.com
Both of Lalime’s prix-fixe seatings — 5:30-6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. — are $100 per diner. It’s hard to count how many courses it’ll serve, what with sorbets and amuse-gueules and cheeses and petits fours and so on between the sumptuous larger plates. The entrée choices range from a wild mushroom and truffle soufflé to roasted Maine lobster. 510-527-9838; 1329 Gilman St., Berkeley, Lalimes.com
Diners can order á la carte off La Furia Chalaca‘s special menu, 510-451-4026; 310 Broadway, Jack London Square, Oakland.
La Rose Bistro will offer a prix-fixe menu for $45 that includes two appetizers, an entrée, dessert, coffee, and a glass of champagne. 510-644-1913; 2037 Shattuck Sq., Berkeley.
La Taza de Cafe is doing it up with a five-course prix-fixe for $55, which includes complimentary house-made sangria and a champagne toast. It’ll also feature “Buena Vista, old-school Cubano style” live Latin jazz. Last reservation is 9:30 p.m., to make time for drinking and dancing. 510-339-7400; 5761 Thornhill Dr., Oakland.
The Left Bank in Pleasant Hill is going heavy on the fancy foods, including foie gras, roast veal, and butter-poached lobster tail. Diners can order off the special menu or choose a prix-fixe for $66 or $89 (surf and turf). 925-288-1222; 60A Crescent Dr., Pleasant Hill.
Liaison Bistro has two different prix-fixe menus. Early diners (before 6:30 p.m.) can enjoy a three-course meal for $40. Reservations made after that will be for the $65 four-course menu, which includes a glass of champagne. There will also be live music. 510-849-2155; 1849 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, LiaisonBistro.com
Locanda Olmo, voted “Most Romantic Italian” this year, will offer a special menu and stay open until 1:00 a.m.. 510-848-5544; 2985 College Ave., Berkeley, Locanda-Olmo.com
Luna Ristorante is doing something special, although at press time the folks there weren’t sure quite what yet. 925-691-4080; 2118 Willow Pass Rd. 100B, Concord.
Massimo’s in Fremont has two different New Year’s Eve scenarios for guests. The first is a private party from 8:00 p.m. until 1:30 a.m. in the banquet room. Each guest gets hors d’oeuvres and cocktails before dinner, a beautiful five-course meal paired with California wines, a champagne toast, dancing, and party favors. Cost of the party is $100 per person, which includes tax and tip. If you want to make an earlier night of it, there’s a special dinner menu in the restaurant’s main room from 4:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. Guests can enjoy a four-course meal for $42-$70, and the last dinner seating will be able to join the private party at 10. Massimo’s also has negotiated a special room rate for guests at the Best Western Garden Court Inn across from the restaurant. 510-792-2000; 5200 Mowry Ave., Fremont, Massimos.com
Mezze has some unusual and luxurious things on its prix-fixe menus, including venison. It’s also doing beautiful vegetarian tracks. The first seating, from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., is four courses ($100 with wine, $80 without for omnivores, $90 and $70 for vegetarians). The second seating, from 8:00 to 9:30, is six courses; omnivores $125 with wine, $100 without; vegetarians $100 and $80. 510-663-2500; 3407 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland, Mezze.com
The Montclair Bistro is serving a four-course prix-fixe for $75 per guest, between 6:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. Diners can choose from three elaborate entrées: pepper-crusted filet mignon with seared foie gras and Perigord truffle demiglace, wild Pacific salmon Wellington Mornay, and grilled organic vegetable Napoleon. Pyromaniacs will love the dessert, a dramatic gelato baked Alaska flambé. 510-482-8282; 6118 Medau Pl., Montclair Village, Oakland, MontclairBistro.com
Montero’s Cafe will be serving dinner until 12:30 a.m. and breaking out the DJ, party favors, balloons, and champagne toast. Open until 2:00 a.m. 510-524-1270; 1106 Solano Ave., Albany.
Mudd’s will offer a special á la carte menu. 925-837-9387; 10 Boardwalk, San Ramon, MuddsRestaurant.com
Neumanali will be bringing in the New Year stylishly with its Black and White Ball Metropolitan New Year’s Celebration. Seatings for the prix-fixe dinner are at 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 9:00, 9:30, and 10:00 p.m. Live music all night. 510-583-9744; 742 B St., Hayward, Neumanali.com
The New Zealander is offering a three-course prix-fixe for $35 and live music. It’ll also be open past midnight. 510-769-8555; 1400 Webster St., Alameda, The-NewZealander.com
Nibbler’s Eatery and Wine Bar will be serving its regular small plates menu from 5:00 to 11:00 p.m., with the addition of some special items, but the really special event is a tasting of four imported champagnes. 925-944-0402; 1922 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill, NibblersEatery.com
Nizza La Bella will offer a special á la carte menu and close just before midnight. 510-526-2552; 825-827 San Pablo Ave., Albany.
O’Kearney’s Fun House will be dropping balloons and pouring complimentary champagne at midnight to the strains of DJ music. Cover is $20 for one person, $30 for two. No reservations required. 925-979-0132; 1251 Arroyo Way, Walnut Creek.
Oliveto is offering “celebratory dishes from Piemonte” in prix-fixe menus that include such treats as New Year’s cotechino sausage, tangerine and chocolate tiramisu, and wild nettle pasta. The first seating, from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m., is $70. The second seating is from 8:45 to 9:30 p.m., and is $100 downstairs (no music) or $120 upstairs with the Hot Club of San Francisco playing Gypsy jazz of Paris in the ’30s and ’40s. 510-547-5356; 5655 College Ave., Oakland, Oliveto.com
Olivia is offering a three-course prix-fixe for $50; some of its special dishes include wide noodles with tiny veal meatballs, a New York filet au poivre, grilled swordfish with crayfish sauce, and a gateau Sainte-Honore for dessert. It’s accepting reservations for between 5:00 and 9:30 p.m. 510-548-2322; 1453 Dwight Way, Berkeley.
Palomares is serving a four-course prix-fixe complete with champagne toast from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.; the DJ dancing starts at 10:00 and goes until 2:00 a.m. Dinner and dancing are $95 per person; the party alone is $25. 510-733-5852; 3779 East Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley.
Pappo restaurant is aiming high with lobster bisque with warm puff pastry, an arugula salad with fresh crab, and filet of beef with cognac-peppercorn sauce, although there will be other choices for the four-course prix-fixe. Dinner is $65 per person. 510-337-9100; 2320 Central Ave., Alameda, PappoRestaurant.com
Paradiso Restaurant will let diners order á la carte off a special menu that had not been settled by press time. 510-430-9310; 685 Bancroft Way, San Leandro.
Paragon Bar and Cafe is swankying it up with a four-course prix-fixe for $100 a person, with a choice of entrées that includes dayboat scallops and braised lamb shank. Reservations are required, but the deck and cocktail lounge will be open seating, with a $15 cover charge after 8:00 p.m. when the jazz trio starts up. 510-549-8585; 41 Tunnel Rd. in the Claremont Hotel, Berkeley, ClaremontResort.com
The Pearl Oyster Bar and Restaurant is putting its own twist on traditional New Year’s Eve foods — there’s crab, for example, but it’s in the form of Maine peekytoe crabcakes with cucumber salad and sriracha, and a diner can end their four-course $55 prix-fixe meal with coconut shag cake with rum-soaked mangoes. Diners can also order from the raw bar. 510-654-5426; 5634 College Ave., Oakland.
Picante Cocina Mexicana has no special plans for New Year’s Eve, but it will be doing its traditional New Year’s Day brunch from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 510-525-3121; 1328 Sixth St., Berkeley.
Postino will be open late, seating guests until 10:45 p.m. for a four-course prix-fixe that includes a Veuve Clicquot champagne toast. $85 per guest. 925-299-8700; 3565 Mount Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, PostinoRestaurant.com
Ristorante Milano will be offering a special menu and serving until 11:00 p.m. 510-763-0300; 3425 Grand Ave., Oakland, MilanoRestaurant.com
Ristorante Raphael will offer kosher Italian á la carte New Year’s specials during two seatings at 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. 510-644-9500; 2132 Center St., Berkeley.
In Richmond, Salute Ristorante will offer a special menu with several choices of soup, salad, and entrée, as well as DJ dancing. 510-215-0803; 1900 Esplanade Way, Richmond.
Skates on the Bay will have special á la carte items and stay open until 11:00 p.m.. 510-549-1900; 100 Sea Wall Dr., Berkeley.
Speisekammer in Alameda will have both live music (Tin Pan Alley-style jazz from the Frisky Frolics) and a DJ, Reverend Slimm Buick. This embarrassment of entertainment riches can be enjoyed solo for a ten-buck cover, or with dinner (served until midnight) for $65. 510-522-1300; 2424 Lincoln Ave., Alameda.
Stalwart Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto caters to families and people who just don’t feel like staying up late with its regular menu plus some holiday specials until 9:00 p.m. Patrons can watch the ball drop in Times Square from the comfort of their seats in Berkeley. 510-845-7771; 1919 Fourth St., Berkeley.
Sushi Zone will be serving a five-course prix-fixe dinner from 5:00 to 11:00 p.m., and diners also will be able to order sushi á la carte to add to their meal. The courses are paired with three different wines. Dinner with wine is $50; without is $38. There also will be live jazz music, transitioning into a jazz cabaret, after 7:00 p.m. 510-893-9663; 388 9th St. (on the second floor of the Pacific Renaissance Mall), Oakland
For the uninhibited, Tango Sushi is partnering with BAP Productions to throw a New Year’s Eve party that will include drink specials, a karaoke contest, bingo and drinking games, and DJ dancing from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. You might want to prepare for all that excitement by eating dinner between 5:00 and 9:30 p.m. No reservations are required, and there is no cover charge. 510-444-1613; 4193 Cushing Parkway, Fremont.
Tanjia will offer a champagne toast and belly dancing from Tatseena and other dancers. It also will have a prix-fixe dinner that costs $29-$31, with seatings at 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. 510-653-8691; 4905 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, Tanjias.com
The Townhouse Bar and Grill will be serving its usual menu, plus some “very nice” specials, from 5:00 to 10:30 p.m. 510-652-6151; 5862 Doyle St., Emeryville.
For a tropical New Year’s, try Trader Vic’s in Emeryville. Its four-course prix-fixe dinner runs $79 per diner and includes a glass of champagne. The meal will include such savories as lobster dumplings and Dungeness crab salad. For the entrée, diners choose between Chinese-oven-barbecued Kobe beef and grilled Chilean sea bass. 510-653-3400; 9 Anchor Dr., Emeryville.
Offering comfort to the hangover crowd, Triple Rock Brewery will do a special New Year’s Day event the day after New Year’s Day. Monday morning (January 2) it’ll open at 8 a.m., and offer brunch, mimosas, coffee, and the chance to watch the New Year’s bowl games. 510-843-2739; 1920 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley.
Venezia is “ramping it up” for New Year’s, with special á la carte menu items and singers from the Berkeley Opera performing from 6:00 p.m. until midnight. The restaurant opens at 5. 510-849-4681; 1799 University Ave., Berkeley.
Venus is offering champagne cocktails and a four-course prix-fixe ($65) with a dessert menu littered with fun things like bche de Nöel. 510-540-5950; 2327 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley.
The Walnut Creek Yacht Club will have a three-course prix-fixe menu, with seatings at 5:00 and 7:30 p.m. for people who want to get home early or go out to party late. Diners can start with oysters and prawns if they like. 925-944-FISH; 1555 Bonanza St., Walnut Creek.
The Warehouse Bar and Grill near Jack London Square has got a safe New Year’s Eve all figured out. A private shuttle will take guests back and forth between the Marriott and the Warehouse for a gourmet dinner, open bar from 8:00 p.m. to midnight, and dancing to Little Sister and the Bad Intentions. All you have to do is get to the hotel, and the Warehouse will take care of the rest. $199 a couple covers everything from the room to the champagne toast and party favors. Call soon; space is limited. 510-451-3161.
For a different warehouse experience, try the Warehouse Cafe, a funky old granary in tiny Port Costa. It will feature live music alongside a limited dinner menu that includes surf and turf, lobster, prawns, and a salad bar. 510-787-1827; 5 Canyon Lake Dr., Port Costa.
