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Where to Eat on New Year's Eve in the Bay

Savor every last bite of 2016

by Zoe Bernard Updated Dec 15, 2016, 1:37pm PST

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by Zoe Bernard Updated Dec 15, 2016, 1:37pm PST

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Eating out on New Year's Eve can be a bit of a pain, right behind eating out on Valentine's Day. This means that you may be more than a little overwhelmed when surveying the myriad of dining options available, which is why we've curated this list of the best restaurants to eat at on New Year's Eve. Just because prix fixe menus reign supreme doesn't mean you can't still have a great, fun meal.

If you're on the prowl for an evening filled with dancing, small plates and champagne, consider spots like Comal, Bellota, and The Perennial, which will be hosting live music and tasty appetizers. However, if you're in the mood for a dinner that's a little more low-key, consider avoiding the downtown crowds altogether and reserving a table at the Outer Sunset's cozy neighborhood spot Outerlands or simply ordering up a wood-fired pizza at Fiorella. Want to make your final meal of 2016 the evening's central event? Consider Namu Gaji's Korean barbeque all-you-can-eat family style feast, or R.T.B. Fillmore's industry-focused pop up.

No matter which route you choose, though, whether you prefer Michelin-starred meals or a laid back evening filled with craft cocktails and savory entrees, our advice is the same: Make your reservation STAT.

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1760

1760 is offering respite from both tasting menus and mandatory dinner reservations by holding on to a handful of tables for all those running a little behind on holiday planning. You can order from its usual menu à la carte as well as a recently spruced up cocktail list.Details: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Call for reservations.

1760 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109

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Aster

Sure, why not make your final meal of 2016 one that's Michelin starred? Aster will be welcoming guests for two seatings — either swing by at 6 p.m. for a five course meal before you head to the dance floor, or ring in the New Year at Aster's second seating for six courses seasonal favorites such as Dungeness crab served with persimmon mandarin yogurt, and trout studded with chanterelle mushrooms, alongside a midnight champagne toast. Details: First seating starts at 6 p.m. for $114 (five courses), and second seating starts at 9 p.m. for $140 (six courses, champagne toast included).

1001 Guerrero St, San Francisco, CA 94110

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Bellota

In typical tapas fashion, this stylish Spanish bar and restaurant newcomer will be passing out pinchos (small bites) and cava during a flamenco infused fiesta of paella, live music, and dancing.Details: 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.; tickets here.

888 Brannan St, San Francisco, CA 94103

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Black Cat

Harken back to the speakeasy era at Black Cat's glitzy Deco-dence Ball, where you can sip on craft cocktails, dance to brassy tunes, and dine on an American four-course meal. Details: Seatings from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., prices start at $55. Call (415) 358-1999 for reservations.

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400 Eddy St, San Francisco, CA 94109

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Burritt Room Tavern

Slip into your slinkiest attire for the Burritt Room's New Year's Eve Gala, a masked, black and white affair that summons Capote vibes with champagne, music, and hors d'oeuvres. Dining and VIP booth options available.Details: 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. with tickets starting at $60. Learn more here.

417 Stockton Street, San Francisco, CA 94108

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Fiorella

This intimate Inner Richmond gem will be keeping it casual this New Year's Eve by forgoing a pricey prix fixe and serving up some seasonal specials in addition to its regular menu. Look forward to dishes like squid ink chitarra with bottarga and Meyer lemon, porchetta with wood-fired branzino, as well as pasta and wood-fired pizzas. Details: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., call for reservations.

2339 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94121

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flour + water

It's still not too late to snag a table at Chef Thomas McNaughton's flagship restaurant, which will be serving a five course tasting menu for $95 with optional wine pairings available at $70.Details: Reserve here.

2401 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94110

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Foreign Cinema

Glitz, glam, and pizzazz abound at Foreign Cinema's stylish Old Hollywood party which will play out beneath its glossy tented open-air dining room and glittering expanse of string lights. Be sure to make a reservation if you plan to attend this four course prix fixe dinner.Details: Reservations from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., with meal priced at $125. Learn more here.

2534 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

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MINA Test Kitchen

Each course of Mina Test Kitchen's playful NYE menu comes with a suggested wine pairing, so you can settle back and enjoy dishes like roasted wild turbot, suckling pig with foie gras, and Dungeness crab risotto speckled with black truffle, along with the ideal wine to complement each item's flavors. Dinner will be served family style at $95 per person.Details: 5:30 p.m to 10:30 p.m. with additional wine pairings starting at $55.

2120 Greenwich St, San Francisco, CA 94123

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Monk’s Kettle

Monk’s Kettle will be keeping things simple and tasteful this year with a New Year’s Eve celebration that includes passed appetizers like uni deviled eggs with tobiko, crab stuffed mushrooms, and pork sliders topped with crispy shallots. And don’t forget its extensive list of brews, which will all be on tap.Details: All you can eat and drink for $100. The party goes from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. and you can reserve in advance by emailing nat@monkskettle.com.

3141 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

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Namu Gaji

Make your last dinner of 2016 the most flavorful meal you've enjoyed all year and pull up a chair at Namu Gaji's epic Korean barbecue feast served family style. Order up endless portions (by which, we really do mean endless: the entire meal is all you can eat and drink) of smoked wagyu brisket, roast duck breast, and Devil's Gulch smoked pork shoulder for a meal that will tide you over well into the new year.Details: Two seatings at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. respectively. Tickets start at $108.

499 Dolores St, San Francisco, CA 94110

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Nopalito

Keep warm this New Year's Eve with spicy, organic Mexican flavors at Nopalito's Inner Sunset location. Nopalito will be serving its usual menu and — even better — you don't need a reservation. Simply call a few hours ahead to put your name on the wait list.Details: Open until 10 p.m.

1224 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122

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Octavia

You'll need to call well in advance to snag a coveted table at chef Melissa Perello's Michelin-starred Hayes Valley restaurant, where a curated four-course meal is in the works.Details:

$90 per person with doors open at 5 p.m.

1701 Octavia St, San Francisco, CA 94109

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Old Bus Tavern

Beer is promised to be in abundance at this laid back Mission street brewpub, where a special four-course meal will be served in addition to recommended beer pairings and festive supplements like torchon au foie gras and Périgord truffles. Details: Reservations start at 5 p.m. Make them here.

3193 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

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Outerlands

Why face the hoards of downtown revelers when you can enjoy an equally delicious dinner in the Outer Sunset? Settle down inside Outerlands snug, wood-sheathed interior for a New Year's Eve menu that promises a tasty foray into New American cooking with dishes like steak paired with caviar and potato puree as well as bone marrow brightened by persimmon and Meyer lemon.Details: Check out Outerland's sample menu here.

4001 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122

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Petit Crenn

Revel in nostalgia at Petit Crenn, Dominique Crenn’s diminutive Hayes Valley restaurant with recipes that draw on the influence of Crenn’s mother and grandmother. For New Year's Eve, she’s preparing an appropriately festive nine course meal that includes caviar, oysters, and wood grilled lobster. There will be champagne pours for all.Details: Two seatings for the nine course meal ($200): one at 6 p.m., the other at 9 p.m.; $85 wine pairings also available. Call for reservations.

609 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102

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Pizzetta 211

It's business as usual at this pocket-sized pizzeria, so if you want to pretend New Year's Eve doesn't exist, head here for some excellent pies. Just be prepared to wait.Details: Dinner served until 9 p.m. Call for reservations.

211 23rd Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121

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Presidio Social Club

This warm and welcoming neighborhood haven will be serving an à la carte menu graced with dishes like foie gras with pineapple-quince marmalade, cannelloni with crawfish etouffee and grilled andouille sausage. Both live music and plenty of champagne will be present.Details: Reserve here.

563 Ruger St, San Francisco, CA 94129

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R.T.B. Fillmore Pop Up at Dabba

Sure, it's at low-key fast casual Dabba, but it's really chef Rodney Wages (Saison, Atelier Crenn) who will be cooking up noodles and tortellini en brudo in the kitchen. If you're eager to taste the food of the future, we recommend this laid-back, industry-focused pop up — Wages plans to open a highly anticipated stand alone restaurant of his own in the future. Details: Tickets are $198. Make reservations here

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71 Stevenson St, San Francisco, CA 94105

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Starbelly

Get your bubbly fix at Starbelly, which will be offering $22 sparkling wine flights all night long alongside dishes like scallop ceviche served in zesty leche de tigre, suckling pig porchetta, and octopus tagliatelle.Details: Call for reservations, which will be accepted right up until midnight.

3583 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94114

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The Commissary

Enjoy The Commissary's prix fixe menu as you listen to live jazz played by the Nova Jazz Trio. The five course meal is served with a complimentary glass of cava and features items like crispy boquerones and cara cara oranges, scallop and beef crudo, as well as Ōra King salmon with sunchokes.Details: Tasting menu is $105 per person with a wine pairing option for $45 per person.

101 Montgomery, San Francisco, CA 94129

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The Perennial

This New Year's Eve, The Perennial invites you to break out your favorite fashion throwbacks (fedoras, crop tops, and bell bottoms, anyone?) and forget that it's 2017 at its costume contest-inspired shindig. Hungry guests can drop by early for a sustainable prix fixe tasting menu ($65, reservation required), and then break into the booze a little while later. There will be passed hors d'oeuvres, a seafood station, and of course, a midnight toast. Details: Prix fixe dinner served from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.; reservations here. Party tickets start at $45. Learn more here.

59 9th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

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Tosca Cafe

If you're up for braving North Beach's inevitable crowds, consider making a reservation at Tosca. The sultry, dim-lit diner will be hosting a four course Italian feast with $5 "cheekies" liberally poured at the bar. Details: Dinner served from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. at $95 per person. Call (415) 986-9651 for reservations.

242 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

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Trou Normand

No reservation? No problem. Charcuterie expert Trou Normand is keeping it casual (and convenient) this New Year's Eve and welcoming walk-ins and reservations alike. If your goal is to steer clear of the NYE inevitable prix fixe, Trou Normand can help you out there as well — it will be serving up only its regular menu all night long.Details: Make reservations here.

140 New Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94105

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Waterbar

Grilled venison, prime rib, and diver scallops are all on the menu at this glamorous Embarcadero bar and restaurant that commands sweeping views of the Bay. Waterbar will be offering two seatings for the holiday with three course and four course meal options available. If you want a front seat to the midnight fireworks, opt for the second seating, where you can catch the show along with a champagne toast.Details: First seating for a three course meal ($95) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and second seating for the four course option ($135) from 7:45 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.; wine pairing options also available.

399 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105

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Camino

Cozy up by the hearth at Camino, for a feast of choucroute garnis with truffled boudin blanc. There'll undoubtedly be a spread of hearty and tasty proportions, supported by an optional wine pairing and plenty of celebration.Details: The dinner costs $110 per person; reservations are available at (510) 547-5035 or on the website . A vegetarian menu will be available.

3917 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610

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Comal

Be one of the first three hundred guests to enter Comal on New Year's Eve and you'll receive a "lucha libre" wrestling mask — the ultimate 2017 dance floor accessory. DJ Jose Ruiz will preside over the tunes as the kitchen serves up mole negro chicken wings, chipotle deviled eggs, and chorizo moletes alongside mezcal inspired craft cocktails.Details: The party starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $50, and it's recommended that you purchase in advance.

2020 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

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Oliveto Cafe & Restaurant

This East Bay culinary landmark will be serving up its beloved renditions on Italian classics as part of two distinct prix fixe options of four and five course menus. Details: The four course meal is $95 per person and will be served from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. both in the upstairs dining room and in the cafe while the five course option will be served from 7:45 to 10 p.m. Call for reservations.

5655 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

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Penrose

Live music, savory snacks, and champagne are all in the works for Penrose's final throwdown of 2016. The music starts right around 10 p.m., so expect to be dancing well past midnight.Details: Doors at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 and you can get them here.

3311 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610

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Ramen Shop

Head over to Ramen Shop for six courses of seasonal Asian-inspired dishes, such as Dungeness crab miso ramen, beef tartare topped with uni, and fried Miyagi oysters. Vegetarian substitutes are available for each course.Details: Doors open at 7 p.m., with tickets available from $50.

5812 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

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1760

1760 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109

1760 is offering respite from both tasting menus and mandatory dinner reservations by holding on to a handful of tables for all those running a little behind on holiday planning. You can order from its usual menu à la carte as well as a recently spruced up cocktail list.Details: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Call for reservations.

1760 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109

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Aster

1001 Guerrero St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Sure, why not make your final meal of 2016 one that's Michelin starred? Aster will be welcoming guests for two seatings — either swing by at 6 p.m. for a five course meal before you head to the dance floor, or ring in the New Year at Aster's second seating for six courses seasonal favorites such as Dungeness crab served with persimmon mandarin yogurt, and trout studded with chanterelle mushrooms, alongside a midnight champagne toast. Details: First seating starts at 6 p.m. for $114 (five courses), and second seating starts at 9 p.m. for $140 (six courses, champagne toast included).

1001 Guerrero St, San Francisco, CA 94110

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