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10 Places To Have A Fabulous New Year’s Eve Dinner In Vancouver

Maenam family-style tasting menu; Photo: Alaina Michelle Photography

Although 2022 is rapidly reaching its close, you still have time to book one of Vancouver’s top-notch restaurants for a sumptuous and celebratory New Year’s Eve dinner.

Here are 10 places who are doing December 31 up in delicious style:

Acquafarina

Photo: Acquafarina

As one of the most luxurious rooms in the city, Acquafarina is sure to give you an unforgettable night for ushering in 2023. Food, drink selections, and service are all impeccable at this ode to both traditional and contemporary Italian dining. The restaurant is offering two seating options, the first an early seating ($200 before December 22, $250 from December 22 onwards), which features six decadent courses, including truffle fusilli with porcini and parmigiano spuma; Chilean seabass with smoked eggplant purée, roasted cabbage whey, and caviar; and panettone with panettone cream, meringue, and Rémy Martin Louis XIII. The late seating ($400 before Dcember 22, $450 from December 22 onwards) encompasses eight incredible courses, starting with a luxury antipasto platter with Oscietra prestige caviar and A5 wagyu tataki, and moving through other impressive courses such as hamachi crudo with cured onion, lime, crème fraîche, and caviar; and roasted Tajima wagyu with roasted sunchokes and onions and porcini jus. Wine pairings (including premium selections) are available. There will be live entertainment by Carmelina Cupo and Dave Martone, and a champagne toast and countdown for the late seating.

NOX

Photo: NOX

Coal Harbour’s Italian/West Coast NOX is marking their first New Year’s Eve with a lot of pizzazz. Pianist Jimi James will be providing entertainment while guests sip a complimentary glass of bubbles for toasting the occasion. Chef Sam Fabbro has created a dreamy five-course menu ($120), which starts with a ham hock and parsley terrine, then moves onto anolini with octopus ragu before spotlighting grilled sturgeon with spruce tips, huckleberry, olives, and soft polenta. The last courses are local beef tenderloin with salsa verde turnip pave, wilted greens, and braised lentils; and pandoro with amaro syrup.

Maenam

Maenam vegetarian NYE tasting menu; Photo: Alaina Michelle Photography

Maenam is offering two delectable ways to sup on stellar Thai cuisine this New Year’s Eve. First of all, the dine-in menu ($98 per person; $85 per person – vegetarian, minimum two people) is intended to be shared. The experience starts with snacks such as a crispy coconut cupcake filled with ahi tuna, nahm jim dressing, toasted rice powder, and salmon ikura. Then, guests choose one soup, such as braised oxtail soup with Asian celery and garlic oil, to share between two. Then, each pair of guests can select one salad, one curry, and one stir fry. Options include soft-shell crab and green mango salad; a vegetarian curry with confit yams, roasted onions, fresh shallots, and longan; and a crispy cumin pork rib stir-fry with sweet peppers and baby corn. Each guest gets their own dessert, such as Thai tea semifreddo with a dok jok cookie. The take-home menu ($165 for a pescatarian or omnivore feast, which feeds 2-3 people; $145 for vegetarian) comes with all sorts of delicious Thai dishes, such as hot and sour seafood soup (pescatarian), smoked duck breast nam tok salad (omnivore), and vegetable curry zucchini pad cha stir-fry (vegetarian).

PiDGiN

Photo: PiDGiN

PiDGiN, which seamlessly melds Asian, West Coast, and French culinary influences, is hosting a very special seven-course New Year’s Eve dinner ($165 per person). The meal begins with wagyu tartare with sushi rice and nori and then includes courses such as matsutake chawanmushi, ikura, and kinome; uni tajarin with caviar and seagrass; and smoked halibut cheeks with snails, soft polenta, and shaved truffle. Chocolate mousse with freeze dried lychee ends the meal.

Archer

Photo: Archer

The innovative and newly opened Archer, devoted to modern Canadian cuisine, is offering a special seven-course New Year’s Eve menu ($200) for those dining from 8pm onwards. Every guest will receive a glass of Giant Head Blanc de Noir bubbly to get in the spirit of the evening. The meal begins with a choice between a beetroot tartlet with crème fraiche or an oyster motoyaki; then, guests will enjoy sunchoke soup with foraged mushroom ragu. The appetizer selections include beef tataki and roasted cauliflower steak with fior di latte, gremolata, and garlic mustard crema. Following a palate cleanser, guests can choose between seared sablefish, ratatouille lasagna, or a 10oz strip loin with accompaniments. The evening ends with an artisanal BC cheese course and a dessert of either lemon rosemary panna cotta or an espresso chocolate tart.

Coast Restaurant

Photo: Coast

Coast Restaurant is having convivial New Year’s Eve party ($60 cover, 8pm onwards), which will involve live music, party favours, complimentary bubbles for toasting, and a balloon drop at the turn of the New Year. Chef Fernando Burges has come up with special food items for the festivities, which include oysters Oscar with spinach and herb crumb; a wagyu dynamite roll; a surf and turf plate with an 8oz tenderloin Oscar, a lobster tail, truffle mash, asparagus, and red wine jus; and pecan tarts.

H Tasting Lounge

Photo: H Tasting Lounge

If you’ve been considering H Tasting Lounge’s Winterlust exclusive dome dining experiences, here’s your chance. The magical experience (6 people maximum per dome) will be extra memorable on December 31 with an elaborate nine-course menu ($190 per person; $900 minimum spend per dome, not including taxes and tip). The menu includes such decadence as lamb loin carpaccio, pan roasted turbot, Japanese A5 wagyu tenderloin, and a cheese course. There will be complimentary bubbles at midnight.

Smitty’s Oyster House Main Street

Photo:Smitty’s Oyster House Main Street

For a more casual, yet equally fun New Year’s Eve, Smitty’s Oyster House Main Street may be just the spot for you. Plus, who doesn’t love oysters for celebrations? This lively establishment on Main Street is serving two special bubbles and board options: the first for two people ($80) comes with two glasses of bubbly, chili lime prawns, wolf candy (aka lamb lollipops), and burrata with poached cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, balsamic drizzle, EVOO, and toasted baguette; and the second for four people ($140) comes with a bottle of bubbly, chili lime prawns, wolf candy, burrata, halibut fritters and chips, and sablefish parmesan and lemon risotto. Plus, they’ll be offering complimentary glasses of bubbles for all diners when the clock strikes twelve.

The Belgard Kitchen

Photo: The Belgrade Kitchen

For a cosseting New Year’s Eve dinner, make a reservation at The Belgard Kitchen. The affordably priced menu ($65) involves a three-course menu featuring comfort food and wintry seasonal ingredients. The first course is a choice between beets three ways with goat cheese and candied walnuts; bison tartare; and mushroom toast. The second course is a hard decision between osso bucco, scallop risotto, and yam gnocchi with pork and lamb ragu; and finally, dessert is either carrot cake, chocolate and peanut butter bar, or sorbet. Vegetarian options are available, as well as additions such as whey roasted carrots or roasted cauliflower with Romanesco sauce.

Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co.

Photo: Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co.

If you’re looking for a very kid friendly option for your New Year’s Eve supping, consider Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. Between 4pm and 7pm, they’re hosting a family event with lots to keep everyone entertained, such as magic tricks, festive crafts, and balloon twisting for the little ones. Adults ($30) get to choose a small salad or soup (e.g., fig and goat cheese salad or tomato basil soup), as well as a pasta or a pizza (e.g., mushroom linguine or fig and brie with prosciutto pizza). Kids ($30) get a mocktail, a pizza making activity or a pasta, and a double chocolate brownie with ice cream. There will be an early countdown so everyone can cheer in the New Year.

By Tara Lee
Source Inside Vancouver



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