By Carol Brock
Today, gigantic Chinese buffets and Japanese sushi have become a way to celebrate at the year's end. Middle Eastern belly dancing has become a regular on the Queens circuit. Lemon grass and curry have gone mainstream.
So, here's a glimpse of what's happening and what's eaten where on New Year's Eve in Queens and environs.
EARLY BIRDS
El Farolito, 25-39 Steinway St., Astoria This Argentinean restaurant and steak house is serving selections with wines, sangria and beer from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. ($39), and the 9 p.m. dinner ($59) when there's live music and dancing from 8:30 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Papazzio, 39-38 Bell Blvd., Bayside Dinner until 7:30; the party begins at 9 p.m. Good Italian cuisine. 718-229-1962.
Caffe on the Green, 201-10 Cross Island Pkwy., Bayside From 4 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Pre-fixe choice of appetizer, entree, dessert and coffee for $38.50 per person. Pre-fixe beginning at 9:30 p.m., $65 per person. 718-423-7272.
Marbella, 220-33 Northern Blvd., Bayside A harpist plays during dinner with the last seating at 8 p.m. 718-423-0100.
La Sirena, 20-01 Steinway St., Astoria Northern Italian cuisine. Reserve for New Year's Eve with host Antonio, 718-278-0601.
MIDDLE EASTERN
Belly dancing is big on Friday and Saturday nights in Queens from Astoria in the west to Little Neck in the east. On New Year's Eve most Middle Eastern restaurants will have belly dancing live and on a screen.
Abou Rawia, 24-24 Steinway St., Astoria Middle Eastern food is served but no belly dancing here. Soups and salads, grilled steaks, chops and poultry with Egyptian flavor plus Arabic coffee and desserts will be served until midnight.
Persian Tea Room, 249-38 Horace Harding Expressway, Douglaston Entertainment includes belly dancing plus big screen showing more dancing on New Year's Eve. 718-631-7676.
CHINESE, JAPANESE, INDIAN
King Yum, 181-08 Union Turnpike, Flushing There's a package here with a standard drink and a Chinese dinner with noise makers, favors and champagne at midnight plus music for dancing and songs by Russell and Marie. The tab: $49.95. The regular menu will be served in the China Room. 718-380-1918.
Evergreen, 19-11 Francis Lewis Blvd., Whitestone This New Year's Eve gala includes DJ and continuous dancing and music with a five-course dinner featuring Cantonese, Polynesian and Hunan cuisines from 10:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., for $65. 718-746-5400.
King China Buffet, 43-02 Ditmars Blvd., Long Island City The regular, all you can eat, buffet of over 200 items is being served but they will be open until l a.m. with a champagne toast at midnight.
Malika Palace, 132-20 South Conduit Ave., Jamaica New Year's Eve will be an international night, with both American and Indian food, dancing and favors. 718-322-6200.
Yuraku, 192-20 Northern Blvd., Flushing In a Japanese garden setting out of a travel book and kimono clad waitresses, there'll be a live band and a party at midnight. 718-357-4309
Nagoya, 61-42 Springfield Blvd., Bayside This new Japanese sushi noodle house will feature piano music throughout the evening. 718-819-2988.
Tokyo Steak, 184-16 Horace Harding Expressway, Fresh Meadows You can have a free, group photo taken on New Year's Eve at this Japanese restaurant that features hibachi steak, seafood, sushi and tableside cooking. 718-463-2999.
BIG AND BRASSY
These are the full-treatment New Year's Eve galas. Most are $100 person, give or take, which may include tip and tax.
Caffe on the Green, 201-10 Cross Island Pkwy., Bayside From 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., you can dance the night away. It begins with a cocktail hour with white glove service, butler style. There's a 5-hour open bar and four choices of entree. This extravaganza is $150 per person, all inclusive. You can also ring in the New Year for $65 per person beginning at 9:30 with a pre-fixe dinner and champagne toast at midnight plus party favors and piano music. 718-423-7272.
Towers on the Green, North Shore Towers, 242-48 Grand Central Parkway Unlimited cocktails all night long and an open bar plus party decorations, balloons and noise makers. The buffet of hot and cold hers d'oeuvres followed by a sit down dinner with a Viennese dessert table starts at 8 p.m.
Douglaston Manor, 63-20 Commonwealth Blvd. at Marathon Parkway On the golf course. Choose from two party packages from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.: The Imperial Buffet is $100 with a choice of 10 hot dishes, dessert and cake. The sit-down dinner including buffet appetizer, four entrees, dessert and cake is $125, with music, hats, streamers and balloons included. 718-224-8787.
New Hyde Park Inn, 244 Jericho Turnpike 15-piece live orchestra, unlimited liquor and champagne, hot and cold cocktail hour and Viennese display followed by a continental breakfast. Live simulcast from Times Square and a fireworks display. Black tie is optional. The tab: $135. 718-343-7380, 516-354-7797.
Leonard's, 555 Northern Blvd., Great Neck. Emphasis on elegance. 516-487-7900.
Riccardo's by the Bridge, 21-01 24th Ave., Astoria Celebration 2001 includes cocktail hour buffet with chef carving station, appetizer manicotti, surf & turf, dessert, open bar, champagne all night, hats, balloons, noise makers and DJ entertainment. $100. 718-721-7777.
Crest Hollow Country Club, Woodbury Dining and dancing and open bar with smorgasbord, filet mignon dinner and sumptuous desserts. Elegance is stressed. Must reserve in person. $95. 516-692-8000.
WITH A VIEW
Terrace On the Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park A panoramic view of all Queens from on high and live music when you join the celebration in the main ball room. 718-592-5000.
Towers on the Green, Caffe on the Green, Douglaston Manor – see above
SOUTHERN, CARIBBEAN, MEXICAN
Bourbon Street, 40-12 Bell Blvd., Bayside New Year's Eve menu with seatings from 6pm to 8pm including Cajun and Creole shrimp bisque, pecan crab cakes, shrimp remoulade, chicken and shrimp jambalaya. The New Year's Eve party begins at 10pm to 2am with open bar, champagne toast, music and a buffet for $65. 718-224-2200.
Iguanas, 179-11 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows New Year's Eve package at 9 p.m. includes a five-course Mexican dinner with choice of entree (including a prime 16-ounce New York steak), live DJ, champagne toast and favors for $35 718-969-5447.
DINING TO MUSIC OR DANCING
This year live Italian music has hit the scene.
Durow's of Glendale, 8101 Myrtle Ave. Celebrate from 8:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. with a cocktail hour with international smorgasbord, choice of or stuffed shrimp, dessert and pastries, party hats and noise makers, with live music and a five-hour open bar for $100. 718-628-1490.
Austin's Steak & Ale House, 82-70 Austin St., Kew Gardens New Year's Eve Party from 10 p.m. to 2am with live DJ, open bar, party favors, hot and cold buffet and champagne toast, for $60 per person. You can watch the ball drop on 13 TVs, including a 10-foot screen with surround sound.
Villa Russo, 101-12 Lefferts Blvd., Richmond Hill Two options: A night of Italian music in the Palace from 7:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., or a DJ in the Grotto from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Both include cocktail hour, appetizer and choice of entree. Open bar, breakfast, hats, noise makers and full Venetian tables are included. $110 per person and half price for kids.
Marbella, 220-33 Northern Blvd., Bayside New Year's Eve Gala from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. in the Costa del Sol Ballroom with live entertainment and salsa. In the dining room , there's a harpist. Dinner includes an unlimited bar with coladas and beer, Spanish meat pie, mussels vinaigrette, chilled fresh fruit, choice of entree, dessert and coffee for $87.95. 718-423-0100.
Niederstein's, 69-16 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village Open bar, live music and DJ and a dinner with truffle mousse, salad, shrimp bisque, slice filet of broiled lobster, vanilla bourbon or mousse tart. $110. 718-326-0717.
La Bella Vita, 106-09 Rockaway Blvd., Ozone Park The home of Tony Modic's “pizza dance” presents a gala with live music and dancing, open bar and balloon drop. $100 per person. 718-835-6161.
I1 Fagiano, 17-12 Utopia Parkway, Whitestone Open bar, party favors, DJ, champagne toast at midnight. Five-course gourmet dinner with menu choices for each course. $100. 718-352-6896.
A LITTLE BIT OF IRELAND
Maggie May's, 214-22 41st Ave., Bayside The celebration from 10 p.m. to l a.m. includes an open bar, buffet, party favors and champagne toast for $25. 718-224-9898.
Yeats' Tavern, 42-24 Bell Blvd., Bayside Live entertainment, New Year's celebrated Irish-pub style. 718- 225-0652.
Farrell's, 45-53 Bell Blvd., Bayside Here's a $55, 10 p.m. party package with a selected menu that includes chicken chowder, lobster bisque, boneless shell steak with cognac and mushrooms, medallions of pork with mushrooms in a sherry wine sauce open bar, party favors and champagne toast. 718-225-8756.
