I can hardly believe it but it’s almost Christmas, which means it’s almost New Year’s Eve, which means it’s time to have one more night of heightened expectation before the year ends! Take my advice: make a plan for the big night NOW and, before you hit the town looking for some live local music, fill up with a fancy feast that is sure to keep you going well past midnight. Here are some spots that are serving a New Year’s Eve dinner fit for anyone who is ready to kiss 2019 goodbye and ring in the 20s with style!

Café Degas, 3127 Esplanade Ave.

-6 courses including a seafood and meat option- Roasted ½ Lobster and Seared Coffee and Cocoa Encrusted Venison Filet, respectively. Two seatings: 6:00 p.m. ($80) and 9:00 p.m. ($90, includes sparkling wine at midnight). 

This special dinner service requires reservations (with credit card) as seating is limited. Please call 504-945-5635 for more information or visit www.cafedegas.com  

Gabrielle Restaurant, 2441 Orleans Ave.

-4 courses for $79- menu includes Coconut Beer Battered Shrimp, Lobster Toast and Orange Marmalade Mustard Sauce, Turtle Soup and Deviled Egg, Baby Salad and Green Goddess Dressing, Veal Shank, Pimento Cheese Grits, Black Truffle Tomato Gravy, Prime Rib, Mash Potatoes, Haricot Vert and Horseradish Sauce, Greek baked Whole Fish, Blueberry Shortcake, Chocolate Pecan Pie. 

In addition to a fantastic menu, the restaurant will have crowns, hats, noisemakers, crackers, sparklers and so much more. Get your reservations online at www.gabriellerestaurant.com or by calling the restaurant 504-603-2344.

Galatoire’s Restaurant, 209 Bourbon St.

-5 courses, an open bar and balcony access for $225- menu includes Oyster Stew, Veal Sweetbreads, Roasted Red Snapper, 58-Day Dry Aged Louisiana Wagyu, Blood Orange Tart.

Dinner is for 8:00 p.m. and reservations can be made through the restaurant’s website at www.galatoires.com

Justine, 225 Chartres St.

-Laid back atmosphere with food, an open bar, a midnight champagne toast, late night bites and burlesque for $200. 8:00 p.m.- ‘til. Late ticket is $100- 10:00 p.m.- ‘til.

Tickets can be purchased at www.justinenye2019.brownpapertickets.com

Cru, 535 Franklin Ave.

-4 courses and a Moet sipper for $125- menu includes Butternut Squash Soup, Arugula Salad, Lamb Shank or Fish of the Day and Panna Cotta

Reservations can be made at www.crunola.com or 504-266-2856

Palm Court Jazz Café, 1204 Decatur St.

-4 courses for $135 includes tax, tip, champagne at midnight and a traditional jazz band- menu includes Classic Louisiana Turtle Soup with Sherry, Crabmeat and Grapefruit Cocktail Martini Marie Rose, Ribeye Steak with Flamed Brandy and Green Peppercorn Sauce, Chicken Provencal, a Vegeatarian option and more.

Reservations can be made by calling 504-525-0200.

Bywater American Bistro, 2900 Chartres St.

-Selection of canapes for $100- menu includes Ora King Salmon Tartar, Poached Gulf Oysters, Seared Chesapeake Bay Scallops, Duck Breast “Rossini”, Chocolate Tart

Reservations can be made at www.bywateramericanbistro.com or by calling 504-605-3827

Effervescence, 1036 N. Rampart St.

-8 courses and a champagne toast at midnight for $250- menu includes Deviled Eggs, Cocktail Olives, Chilled Gulf Seafood, Oysters, Waldorf Salad, Truffled Broccoli Soup, Duck a L’orange and more.

This Roaring Champagne dinner party. The meal will be served in lavish banquet fashion, with guests seated in parties of six. Courses will be both presented for the table and individually portioned. Guests are invited to reserve the entire table for your group of six or they will pair smaller parties. Reservations can be made at www.nolabubbles.com or by calling 504-509-7644.

Carrollton Market, 8132 Hampson St.

-5 courses for $150, includes tax and tip- menu includes Oysters Goodenough, Cold Poached Lobster, Potato-Crusted Alaskan Halibut, Stuffed Chicken Galantine and more.

Reservations can be made by visiting www.carrolltonmarket.com or by calling 504-252-9928.

Palm&Pine, 308 N. Rampart St.

-4 courses for $75- menu includes Gulf Fish Aguachile, Murder Point Oysters, Turkey Neck Gumbo and Creole Potato Salad, Redfish Couvillion, Platanos Rellenos, Basque Cheesecake with Guava and more.

Reservations can be made by visiting www.resy.com/cities/no/palm-and-pine or by calling 504-814-6200.

CellarDoor, 916 Lafayette St.

-3 courses for $95- menu includes 1 Glass of Champagne, Mixed Greens Salad, Tuna Tostada, Red Snapper and Jumbo Lump Crab, Flank Steak and Truffle Fries and more.

Reservations can be made through www.opentable.com or www.resy.com

GW Fins, 808 Bienville St.

-3 courses for $95- sample menu includes Tempura Royal Red Shrimp, Crispy Pork Belly, Deviled Crab Stuffed Maine Lobster, Center Cut Filet and more.

Reservations can be made at www.gwfins.com or by calling 504-581-3467

The Country Club, 634 Louisa St.

-3 courses for $135, includes live music, pool access, fireworks view, party favors, tax and tip- menu includes Blue Crab and Cajun Caviar, Crab Beignets, Salmon and Artichoke Salad, Pan Roasted Sea Bass, Prime Filet Mignon and more.

Reservations can be made through www.opentable.com

The Fountain Lounge, 130 Roosevelt Way

-4 courses for $125- menu includes Sea Scallops, Crisp Pork Belly, Blue Crab Bisque, Prime Beef Tenderloin, Black Trumpet Mushtoom Ragout, Crispy Duck, Grilled Prawns and more.

Reservations made be made through www.therooseveltneworleans.com or by calling 504-648-5486

Bayona, 430 Dauphine St.

-4 courses for $100- menu includes Seared Foie Gras with Plums, Bugey-Cerdon, Hazelnuts and Brioche, Lamb Carpaccio with Shallot Mousse, Roquefort Cheesecake with Mixed Lettuces, Filet Mignon with Sauce Perigueux and more.

Reservations can be made through www.resy.com or by calling 504-525-4455

Maypop, 611 O’Keefe Ave.

-4 courses for $75- menu includes Cold Smoked Scallop with Louisiana Citrus, Foie Gras and Mulled Wine Terrine, Cornmeal Garganelli Pasta in Coconut Milk Alfredo with Curried Blue Crab, Crispy Black Cod, Tiramisu and more

Reservations are now available by calling 504-518-6345 or by reserving on www.opentable.com

Otra Vez, 1001 Julia St.

-4 courses served family style for $55- menu includes Ceviche Acapulco, Tinga and crab tostadas, De la casa salad with sesame and tortilla chips, Taco platter, Mexican street corn, Sautéed kale and more.

Reservations are now available by calling 504-354-8194 or by booking on www.opentable.com

Compère Lapin, 535 Tchoupitoulas St.

-Family Style menu for $125- menu includes Cobia, Oyster, Potato Gnocchi, Duck Crepinette and more.

Reservations can be made by calling 504- 599-2119 or visiting www.comperelapin.com

 Toups Meatery, 845 N. Carrollton Ave.

-4 courses for $85 includes a New Year’s shot- menu includes Trio of Oysters, Lobster Bisque, ½ Lamb Rack, Fancy Trout Amandine, White Chocolate Mousse and more.

Reservations can be made by calling 504-252-4999 or visiting www.toupsmeatery.com

Jewel of the South, 1026 St. Louis St.

-4 courses for $75- regular menu includes Scallop and Crab Raviolo, Roast Sirloin and Bone Marrow; vegetarian menu includes Crumpets, Crème Fraiche, Eggplant Caviar, Salt Baked Mangelwurtzel, Chocolate Cremosa and more.

Reservations can be made by calling 504-265-8816 or visiting www.jewelnola.com

Copper Vine, 1001 Poydras St.

-3 courses for $36, wine pairing an additional $20 or $35- menu includes Baby Herbs, Chicken and Boudin Gumbo, Center-Cut Duroc Pork Chop, Gulf Fish Bouillabaisse, Copper Vine Bread Pudding a la Mode

Reservations can be made by calling 504-208-9535 or visiting www.coppervinewine.com