New York City Travel Forum

Hello! I will be in town for Christmas and NYE this year and was wondering if anyone had some suggestions for dinner on both nights? I read through the forums but only found a few suggestions. It's getting near to the deadline to make holiday reservations and I want to get them in soon.
For Christmas I'm hoping to find a smaller more intimate kind of restaurant, any cuisine is fine. For new years I'm thinking some place close to Central Park so we can walk over and watch the fireworks. Or what are your thoughts about one of those dinner cruises? Too stuffy?

By the way, can you bring a bottle of champagne into the park?

This will be my 8th visit to NYC and the way the economy is going, might be the last in a while. So I want to make it a memorable one!

Aloha,
Jonathan

Unfortunately those two nights are not the best for dining. Many restaurants are closed or very short staffed on Christmas eve although you can always find a Chinese restaurnt open.

New Years eve most restaurnts have a "special NYE menu" tremendously overpriced and some have NYE parties after dinner and give a glass of champagne at midnight --also for ridiculous prices. Check <www.menupages.com> to get restaruant menus and sites to contact them.

As for champagne in the park be careful -- they might check bags since they do in the Times square area and people line up there early in the morning.

Have a wonderful time and Happy New Year.

Losham

You're far from being "near to the deadline" for reservations. In fact, it's way too early. Restaurants don't start taking holiday reservations until after Thanksgiving. So check back the beginning of December. I use opentable.com to book dinners. You'll find a list there of restaurants offering holiday meals. You can then read reviews on menupages.com, which also lets you see sample menus. Keep in mind that the prices on those menus are usually out of date, but they'll give you an idea of what to expect.

It's definitely illegal to have an open bottle of wine in the park. I do it every year though (don't tell anyone!). I'll probably see you in the park!

Thank you for your replies! Ok so I have a month to book my dinner plans!? Thats great! Where exactly in the park is the best place to view the fireworks? I can't find anything online about where they will be set off.

Thanks again!
J

The fireworks are set off on Rose Hill, just below the Lake. Great viewing from anywhere along the Lake. Lots of people gather at Bethesda Terrace. By the way, if you're a runner, there's a famous midnight road race that's enormously popular. Here's their web site:
http://www.nyrr.org/races/2008/r1231x00.asp