Columnist Muriel Stevens: New Year’s dinners abound in Las Vegas

Friday, Dec. 22, 2000 | 10:09 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' dining column appears Fridays. Her shopping column appears Wednesdays. Reach her at 259-4080 or muriel@lasvegassun.com

The place to be for New Year's Eve 2000 is definitely Las Vegas. Shortly before midnight, the Las Vegas Strip will be ablaze with a dazzling display of fireworks.

Mandalay Bay will be the first to set off its firework display. Within seconds the next display will go aloft. By the time the new year arrives, 11 Strip hotels will have contributed to the remarkable sight. The Stratosphere is scheduled to be the twelfth in line.

For the best view of the splendiferous fireworks spectacle make your dining plans now. Late seatings at restaurants with a Strip view (premium priced) will be the first to go, so reserve now. If you're dining off the Strip have a game plan that includes a vantage point for viewing this singular event.

Stratosphere's Top Of the World Restaurant is one prime spot. Early dinner seatings, 5:30-8 p.m., are $150 per person, all inclusive. Dinner seatings from 9-11:30 p.m. are $250 per person. The same menu will be served at all seatings. The late seatings include party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. All seatings must be prepaid. The slowly revolving dining room will give late diners an excellent view. Dinners include: appetizers, soup or salad, a lemon sorbet intermezzo, a choice of one of six entrees and a dessert.

A New Year's Eve party in the Broadway Showroom (9 p.m.-1 a.m.) featuring an "upscale buffet" with a sushi station, carving station, pasta station and lavish desserts is $200 per person ($175 with purchase of a room package). Includes open bars, party favors, champagne toast, entertainment and the fireworks show via giant rear projection screens. Dinner at Montana's Steakhouse is $40 per person; Stratosphere Tower's New Year's Eve buffet, $24.99 per person, includes a special unlimited seafood section and a glass of champagne.

A Top of the World Lounge party is $75. Included is a free drink, champagne toast at midnight, access to the observation deck and unlimited rides on the Big Shot and High Roller (8-10 p.m.). Tickets are limited and you must be 21 or older to attend. A party on the Observation Deck is $50. For reservations call 383-7711; for room packages, 380-7777.

Caesars Palace will offer New Year's Eve and New Year's Day dining specials. Caesars Magical Empire welcomes children to the early New Year's Eve seatings, 4:30-6:50 p.m. Ticket prices are $80 plus a $3 handling fee. Youngsters 5-10 years are half-price. Price includes a three-course dinner with magic, wine and beverages, champagne toast and all entertainment. Seatings from 7:30-9:30 p.m. are $120 (plus $3 handling fee) and include a special holiday menu, all of the entertainment, party favors and music and dancing in the Sanctum Secorum and a countdown to midnight with fireworks. Palatium Buffet will feature a New Year's Eve brunch buffet ($16.99), 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and a champagne seafood buffet ($29.99), 4 p.m.-midnight. After 4 p.m. add whole, steamed lobsters for an additional $12 each. Children under 12 dine half-price at the Palatium. A champagne holiday brunch will be offered New Year's Day ($19.99) from 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Fresh whole lobsters ($12 each) will be adde! d after 4 p.m.

Cafe Lago will offer a New Year's Eve champagne brunch ($19.99) 11 a.m.-3 p.m., in addition to the regular 24-hour menu. The David Osborne quartet will offer music for dancing during the champagne dinner buffet ($49.99), 8 p.m.-1 a.m. New Year's Day Cafe Lago will serve a holiday buffet ($19.99) from 2 a.m.-3 p.m. in addition to its usual menu, and an evening buffet ($19.99) from 6-10 p.m. Children under 12 dine for half-price.

New Year's Eve dinner specials will be offered at Terrazza ($100), 8-0-8 ($120) and Neros ($55) along with their usual menus. La Piazza Food Court will feature a prime rib dinner ($9.99) from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. when it will close for La Piazza Lounge's New Year's Eve seating. All Caesars restaurants will be open for the New Year's Eve/New Year's Day holidays.

Gustav Mauler's Spiedini and Oxo restaurants at the Regent Las Vegas will feature prix fixe dinners. A four-course Spiedini meal ($59) includes house-smoked salmon or portobello mushroom terrine; mimosa sorbet; a choice of entree and a choice of dessert. Service is from 4:30 p.m.-midnight. An a la carte menu will also be available. New Year's Eve at Oxo includes music and dancing, party favors, a champagne toast and a six-course dinner ($150, plus tax and tip): chilled Maine lobster with caviar; seared diver scallops over a lemon risotto; foamy champagne soup; Absolut Mandarin sorbet; a choice of entree -- grilled filet mignon and jumbo shrimp or roasted rack of veal or pan-roasted Dover sole with lump crabmeat; and a warm, caramelized pear tart with chocolate Mozart tower. For reservations call 869-2335.

Four Seasons' Verandah restaurant features a four-course New Year's Eve dinner ($65) as well as its usual a la carte menu. A "lavish, decadent brunch" will be offered New Year's Day ($49 per person; $65 with champagne) with seatings at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. A special feature is the children's buffet ($30) with tables sized to enable the kids to make their own food selections. The buffet brunch includes five food stations plus a dessert station. Reservations requested.

Harrah's is offering prix fixe New Year's Eve menus at Cafe Andreotti ($65) from 5-11 p.m.; two prix fixe menus at Asia ($55 or $65 per person) 5-11 p.m.; and three separate seatings at the Range Steakhouse. featured at the first two seatings, 5-7 p.m. and 7:30-9:30 p.m., two prix fixe menus -- $85 or $105 per person. Diners at the last seating, 10 p.m.-midnight, ring in the New Year. The price, $150 or $175, depends upon the table location.

A New Year's Eve menu will be added to the Garden Cafe's regular menu ($21 per person) from 1 p.m.-2 a.m. Fresh Market Square will offer a special New Year's Eve Buffet ($21 per person) from 4-10 p.m. Reservations are suggested for Cafe Andreotti, Asia and the Range Steakhouse. Call 369-5121.

On New Year's Eve Andre's at the Monte Carlo (798-7151) is featuring a lavish, six-course prix fixe menu ($150) that includes foie gras en brioche or truffle consomme Paul Bocuse; a choice of Bob quail or stuffed Dover sole; pink grapefruit tequila sorbet; a choice of appetizer; limestone lettuce salad with sauteed Granny Smith apples; and a choice of dessert; coffee or tea. The same menu is offered at Andre's Sixth Street location (385-5016) for $125. Andre's at the Monte Carlo will offer its regular menu New Year's Day.

Monte Carlo will celebrate New Year's Eve with parties at the Monte Carlo Brew Pub & Brewery and in the East Ballroom. The Brew Pub bash ($175) begins at 8 p.m. and includes a Millennium buffet, unlimited champagne, hosted bar, entertainment and party favors. The East Ballroom event ($125) features a sit-down dinner, entertainment, unlimited champagne and party favors. For tickets to either event call 730-7777.

Flamingo Las Vegas is ringing in the New Year with a big bash in the Silver State Ballroom ($125 per person) that includes a fine dinner, beer, wine and a champagne toast, entertainment and party favors. Doors open at 8 p.m. A disco party at the Savoy Ballroom ($75 per person) includes an array of hot and cold hors d'oeuvres and desserts.

New Year's Eve at Bellagio's glamorous Prime Steakhouse will feature Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's five-course menu ($350 per person, all inclusive) with signature dishes from some of his other acclaimed restaurants. Dancing between courses with music by songstress Dian Diaz and her band. Michael Mina and Charles Condy's Aqua will star a seven-course menu created by Aqua's Chef Mark LoRusso ($225 per person, all inclusive). Live music and dancing from 9 p.m. The elegant Picasso, with Chef Julian Serrano, will offer a gala multi-course menu ($500, all inclusive), live music and dancing, and a souvenir keepsake. Jasmine Chinese restaurant will feature Chef Philip Lo's Hong Kong cuisine ($175, all inclusive) Service at the above restaurants from 9 p.m.

Sirio Maccioni's delightful Le Cirque will feature a luxurious five-course menu ($250, all inclusive) that includes raviolini with white truffles from Alba and veal tenderloin with black truffles, live entertainment and dancing from 5:30-10:30 p.m. Maccioni's, adjacent Osteria del Circo, starring Tuscan specialties, will offer a five-course dinner ($175, all inclusive), live entertainment and dancing from 5:30-11 p.m. Todd English's Olives bistro will feature an all inclusive five-course meal ($150), live music and dancing from 5-11 p.m. At Shintaro Japanese restaurant enjoy a five-course dinner ($175, all inclusive) created by Chef Sean O'Connell, or reserve space at one of the copper-domed teppan tables where the chef is both performer and cook. Service from 5:30-11 p.m. For Bellagio New Year's reservations call 693-7223.

The Mirage's New Year's Eve diners will find splendid prix fixe meals at Renoir ($175 per person), Kokomo's ($75 per person), Mikado ($65 per person), Onda ($75 per person), Samba Grill ($65 per person) and Moongate ($75 per person, minimum six diners).

Treasure Island's Buccaneer Bay Club will feature a festive New Year's Eve menu ($75 per person, all inclusive) from 5-10:45 p.m. A six-course tasting menu with wines and champagnes at Francesco's is $160 per person. Service from 5:30-10:45 p.m. Treasure Island's new Steakhouse will offer a la carte selections from 5:30-10:45 p.m. TI's buffet will feature a special New Year's Eve menu ($16.95 per person) from 4-10:30 p.m.

Sahara will offer a New Year's Eve in the Golden Room ($125 per person). Included are an open bar, a sit-down dinner with filet mignon and lobster, party favors, a champagne toast, entertainment and dancing. Festivities begin at 8:30 p.m. with the open bar; dinner will be served at 9 p.m. For reservations call Vanessa Kelley at the Sahara -- 737-2111 ext. 2733.

Bonjour Casual French Restaurant, 8878 S. Eastern Ave., will offer a prix fixe five-course dinner, plus assorted amuse bouches (bite-size appetizers) for $99.95 per person (tax and tip are not included). For reservations call 270-2102.

Fireworks, festive dining and creative entertainment are just part of the charm of Las Vegas on New Year's Eve. Drive carefully, drink wisely and have a terrific 2001.

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