Xmas and New Year Venues

[Andy Lynes]

Sauce Communications have provided some details of their clients Christmas and New Year's deals :

Open throughout Christmas and New Year:

Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's, 55 Brook Street, W1A

Christmas Set Menu - 6 courses - £185

New Year's Eve - 8 courses £150 - early sitting, 8 courses £250 - late sitting

The Connaught, Carlos Place, W1K

Christmas day menu - 6 courses £150

New Years Eve Menu - 8 courses - £250

Boxwood Café, The Berkeley, Wilton Place, SW1X

Christmas Day menu - 5 courses £120

Children's Christmas Menu - 4 courses £50

New Year's Eve - 6 courses £85

Savoy Grill, Strand, WC2R

Christmas day menu - 6 courses £185 (Children under 12 £100)

New Year's Eve - 9 courses £150 - early, 9 courses £250 - late

The Royal Clarence Hotel, Cathedral Yard, Exeter, EX1 1HD

Christmas Day Lunch - 7 courses £75 including free glass of champagne

New Year's Eve dinner - 7 courses £90 including comp glass of champagne

Open for New Year:

Benares, 12 Berkeley Square, W1

New Years Eve dinner - 5 courses £59 including a complimentary glass of champagne at midnight

Salt, 82 Seymour Street, WC2

New Year's Eve pre-book party

[The Little Blue House]

That's rather helpful. Thanks. All of the places we tried to book for New Years didn't work out... I am visiting London for about a week over New Years--and it is rather important that we have a very special meal on New Years Day (also my sister's birthday). We have been having a hard time finding a restaurant for that day as well, maybe even a harder time. Do you have any suggestions? Anying sort of hip or Japanese would be key, as those are the sorts of places that my sister would like to visit.

Thanks.

-Emily

[sandra]

That's rather helpful.  Thanks.  All of the places we tried to book for New Years didn't work out... I am visiting London for about a week over New Years--and it is rather important that we have a very special meal on New Years Day (also my sister's birthday).  We have been having a hard time finding a restaurant for that day as well, maybe even a harder time.  Do you have any suggestions?  Anying sort of hip or Japanese would be key, as those are the sorts of places that my sister would like to visit.

Thanks.

-Emily

Try this website: Toptable - you can input your date and number of people and it spits out a list of availability. It's not the end-all of listings, there are many missing, but you will get an idea. I would think hotel restos in general would be open...

I just called Ubon, (thought they might be open) but they are closed on the 1st.

[The Little Blue House]

Thanks Sandra!

[ainswome]

Sorry to be a smart arse but toptable.co.uk only tells you when a place is open for sure whenyou try to make a booking - don't be fooled by the search that returns all the restaurants in london if you try to search for somewhere, say, open on xmas eve (which is what i need) rather than those actually open....

anyone know anywhere open on 24th Dec...all my favourites are closed (champor-champor, the admirality, baltic)

thanks

Mark

[Winot]

I'm having the same problem - trying to book lunch xmas eve -- Hakkasan closed, Nahm closed -- any ideas for "ethnic" food (we don't want to drink and mod european always benefits from wine ime)?

[horton]

Mint Leaf on Suffolk Place is open Xmas Eve lunch.

[Winot]

Thanks Horton. Is it any good? The online reviews I could find mentioned the dread words "celeb" and "hangout". Can you (or anyone else) reassure me?

[horton]

I have only had canapes and cocktails which were good but not enough to give an opinion on dining there. I will just say that the design is Hakkasan inspired!

[kitwilliams]

I'm trying to find a restaurant for Christmas Lunch. For my brother and his family, foodies all, down to my twelve year old nephew. They are also Francophiles and I want them to have a wonderful Anglo experience, this being a first trip for the kids (ages 22, 19 and 12) and a second for my brother and sister-in-law who haven't been to the UK since their late teens. Had a look through toptable and they are either extremely expensive (£200) or look to be rather low-brow (£39.95?). Anyone know Sherlock's on Baker Street? Their menu at £55 looks okay but I've never heard of them before. Any Christmas Day recs would be soooo appreciated!

Thanks.

[Winot]

That should have been one of the entries for the "You know you're in a bad restaurant when..." thread -- when it's on Baker St and called Sherlocks.

[circeplum]

Thanks Horton. Is it any good? The online reviews I could find mentioned the dread words "celeb" and "hangout". Can you (or anyone else) reassure me?

not good ....

[MobyP]

Additions for New Years Eve open list.

Lolas on 359 Upper Street, N1 Tel: 020 7359 1932.

Although the a la carte is unchanged price-wise, there is a £6 cover for Jazz.

We've just been sent a December menu:

LOLA’S

This week’s wine by the glass:

2002 Jack and Knox ‘Green on Green’ Semillon, Wellington 175ml glass 6.75

Citrus, honey and delicious herbaceous flavours. From the Flagstone winery.

Cauliflower soup with poached quail 6.75

Cured scallop, pickled cucumber, deep fried oyster 9.25

Tortellini of butternut squash, Pied bleu, Cabernet Sauvignon dressing 7.50

Spanish Charcuterie plate 7.75

Seared blue fin tuna, marinated cod ‘Niçoise’ 8.00

Duck ‘three ways’, turnip remoulade 9.75

Teal ravioli, mushroom consommé 8.00

Risotto of mushrooms and confit vegetables, salad 13.50

Stuffed darne of wild seabass, salmon tortellini, braised baby gem 18.75

Fillet of halibut, smoked haddock, herb gnocchi 17.50

Assiette of pork, spicy apple puree, caramelized turnip 16.50

Roast pheasant, crushed potatoes, choucroute, game jus 15.50

Lamb shank, harissa flavoured couscous 14.50

Fillet of Aberdeen Angus beef, braised oxtail, red wine jus 19.25

Sides: French beans, glazed carrots, mashed potatoes 3.50

Plum tart rosehip ice-cream

Lavender brulee, blackberry puree

Assiette of bananas

Chestnut and coffee cheesecake, mango sorbet

Delice of griottine cherries and white chocolate parfait, lime syrup

Chocolate fondant, orange and thyme sorbet

Selection of Artisan cheeses, raisin and walnut bread (supplement £1.50)

All 6.75

Head chef: Elisha Carter

£1 cover charge

V.A.T. is included, Service is not included (except an optional 12.5% on parties of 5 or more)

Our Private Room can seat up to 12 guests

Edited December 18, 2003 by MobyP (log)

[MobyP]

And from NIKITA's:

65 Ifield Road

London SW10 9AU

"Nikita's is offering a £50 New Year's Eve menu including a glass of Champagne on arrival followed by a 4-couse meal with coffee and live music and entertainment until late..."

They also mention their many vodkas.

For their Menu.

Edited December 16, 2003 by MobyP (log)

[horton]

That's the a la carte....

Nikita’s New Year's Eve 2004

Glass of Champagne on arrival

-----

Nikita’s Famous Blinis & Home Cured Salmon

----

Borscht

Traditional Russian Beetroot Soup

Or

Ribnaya Selianka

Spicey Russian Bisque

----

Shashlik Karski

Marinated Fillet of Lamb Char-Grilled on the Sword, served with Yoghurt & Mint Sauce

Or

Govidiana Po-Gusarski

Best Fillet Steak cooked as you wish with a Sauce of Mushrooms, onions and Red Pepper Vodka, all wrapped in a Pancake

Or

Koulibiak of Salmon

Fresh Salmon Fillet stuffed with Rice, Eggs & Mushrooms, baked in a Flaky Pastry and served with a Lemon Hollandaise Sauce

Or

Mushroom Stroganoff

Assorted Mushrooms Sautéed with Gherkin, Tomato & Sour Cream

----

St Petersburg Cream

A Russian Crème Brulee, Spiked with Cherry Vodka

-----

Coffee & Mints

Menu Price: £50

Cover Charge £3.00 (live music)

[Mrs Woman]

Just got this in a newsletter:

Otto Dining Lounge NYE: restaurant £100, greeting cocktail, 5 course dinner

lounge £65, greeting cocktail, canapés and meze platters

late entry £25, entrance 10.30pm onwards

open 7pm till 3am, dj's, dancing and more

nye03 restaurant menu

Canapes on arrival

Starters

Wild Mushroom ravioli with a cep cream - or - Pan fried Scallops with a vegetable relish

Main course

Roast Halibut with potato mousseline and grilled tiger prawns - or - Roast Venison with button onions, bacon and a wild mushroom port sauce

Dessert

Trio of Chocolate

Lime sorbet

Cheese Platter

[Andy Lynes]

Restaurant services have some pretty complete looking lists of Xmas and New Year venues :

Xmas

New Year's Eve