New Year's Eve: The Shortlist

POSTED: Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 3:38 PM

Filed Under: Booze | Food and Holidays

Every Dec. 31st, there are 2,984 restaurants offering prix-fixe multi-course dinners of things they don't know how to cook (Cornish game hens?) and almost as many bars laying out buffets of sagging crudites and cheese cubes in their $100 all-you-can-drink packages.ï¿½ We sifted the press releases to bring you the best deals, most exciting eats and premier locations for fireworks viewing.

BYOB

Cafï¿½ Estelle (444 N. 4th St., 215-925-5080); Before Marshall Green owned his cute 'lil bruncherie, he worked with some of the city's finest classically-trained chefs, like David Ansill and Bryan Sikora.ï¿½ His five-courser ($65 at 6 p.m., $75 at 9 p.m. with Champagne toast) lets Green show off a little, while guests reap the benefits. Housemade potato gnocchi with braised rabbit, medjool dates, cabrales and almonds sure ain't for breakfast. Check the full menu at CafeEstelle.com/eventmenu.php

Sycamore (14 S. Lansdowne Ave., Lansdowne, 484-461-2867);ï¿½ Their $49, five-course tasting menu is one of the most appealing we've seen. Monkfish with celery root purï¿½e, candied cipollini onions and truffle butter sounds decadent enough to be part of your last meal of 2009 before the cheese plate and dessert trio finish you off.ï¿½ Seatings are at 6 and 9 p.m.; download the full menu at SycamoreBYO.com/NYE.pdf

Beer Geek

Varga Bar (941 Spruce St., 215-627-5200); Each of R. Evan Turney'sï¿½ five courses has three options, including a vegetarian choice,ï¿½ so diners needn't worry they will be forced to eat what the chef likes to eat (heaven forfend!). Four of the courses are paired with serious brews from Dogfish Head (120 Minute IPA, World Wide Stout), plus a guest appearance from everyone's favorite Mad Elf.ï¿½ $75 per person, seatings at 6 and 8 p.m. Scroll to the bottom of VargaBar.com to download a .pdf of the full menu.

Royal Tavern (937 E. Passyunk Ave., 215-389-6694) $20 for a two-hour open bar including the whole geeky draft list; you choose your two hours, plus all the usual menu items and specials.ï¿½ If previous years are any indication, this is going to be packed.

Superior Firework-Viewing Location

Zahav (237 St. James Place, 215-625-8800); Mesibah Gedolah means "big party" in Hebrew, so this four-courser is sure to be extravagant. $65 snags locally foraged mushrooms and quail confit Al He'sh with foie gras, among other tasties.ï¿½ Better yet, you are a mere block from the 6 p.m. and midnight fireworks shows at Penn's Landing.ï¿½ Bring the Snuggies.

Positano Coast (212 Walnut St., 215-238-0499); $25 per person reserves a couch in Positano's all-white Sopra Lounge and included a sparkling cocktail, midnight toast, party favors and a live DJ.ï¿½ The lounge's floor-to-ceiling windows should provide a clear view of the explosive welcome to 2010.

Themed

APO (102 S. 13th St., 215-735-7500); $100 open bar, including all those lovely, complicated cocktails and butlered hors d'oeuvres; Roaring Twenties attire in the fabulous style of Gatsby and Daisy.ï¿½ Just don't run anyone over on your way home from the party.

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St., 215-592-8838); If you're not totally over snow by then, there will be more of it in the Winter Wonderland-themed beer garden.ï¿½ Or just get sweaty in the dance party bit. $12 advance/$15 at the door plus a bevy of cheap drink specials, including Citywides.

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