Page 3 of 3

Where to eat . . .

Acadia Chef Ryan McCaskey hosts "A Midwinter Night's Dream," featuring a tasting menu served at 6 and 9 PM ($150 and $175, respectively, includes wine pairings). There will be costumed performers and a special celebration at midnight—says the announcement, "Last year, a marching band came through the space; expect no less this year!" A vegetarian option is available with 48 hours' advance notice. 1639 S. Wabash, 312-360-9500, acadiachicago.com.

Avec New chef Erling Wu Bower offers a four-course prix fixe served family style, with seatings on the half hour between 5 and 10:30 PM. Courses include a Provençal fishermen's stew, Moroccan-style wood-oven-roasted pork with couscous, and cassata, a Sicilian-style cake with ricotta. An optional course of oysters and caviar is $35. 615 W. Randolph, 312-377-2002, avecrestaurant.com, $60, $90 with pairings.

Big Jones A four-course prix fixe begins with a modern take on the southern good-luck dish Hoppin' John: red pea "cappuccino" with puffed rice and bacon froth. Other choices include gumbo, turtle soup, grilled rib eye, and coconut cream cake. 5347 N. Clark, 773-275-5725, bigjoneschicago.com, $69, $99 with pairings.

Blackbird Chef David Posey offers an eight- course tasting menu. A la carte dining will also be available. 619 W. Randolph, 312-715-0708, blackbirdrestaurant.com, $120, $185 with pairings.

Chilam Balam Chef Natalie Oswald offers a five-course prix at 9:30 PM; choices include rib eye and chocolate tacos with Oaxacan ice cream. BYO. 3023 N. Broadway, 773-296-6901, chilambalamchicago.com, $95.

Deleece A four-course prix fixe featuring prime rib or filet mignon and lobster thermidor; the a la carte menu will also be available. 3747 N. Southport, 773-325-1710, deleece.com, $70, $90 with pairings.

Due Lire Vino & Cucina A three-course prix fixe menu featuring traditional Italian dishes such as braised lentils with cotechino sausage, pear-ricotta ravioli with veal ragu, and panettone bread pudding with zabaglione. Add a bottle of prosecco for $20. 4520 N. Lincoln, 773-275-7878, due-lire.com, $50.

Fork Chef Tim Cottini offers a four-course menu served family style, with courses including house-made charcuterie and artisan cheeses; beef tenderloin with truffled mashed potatoes and foie gras butter; and sticky toffee pudding. (A vegetarian option is also available.) It's $55, with wine pairings for an additional $27, beer pairings for $24. 4600 N. Lincoln, 773-751-1500, forkchicago.net.

Grass Fed A four-course prix fixe featuring grass-fed sirloin steak ($50) or rib eye ($75) includes house-made bread, a selection of desserts, and a complimentary toast. Pairings of sparkling and reserve wines are available for $45. 1721 N. Damen, 773-698-8852, grassfedbucktown.com.

Jerry's Andersonville A four-course menu with choices, each with a separate beer pairing, available at seatings from 6:30 to 10 PM. A limited a la carte menu will be available at the bar. 5419 N. Clark, 773-796-3777, jerryssandwiches.com, $65.

Longman & Eagle Chef Jared Wentworth offers a five-course menu for $95 (seatings at 5:30 and 9 PM) and an eight-course menu with a champagne toast at midnight for $125 (10:30 PM seating); optional pairings are available for both. 2657 N. Kedzie, 773-276-7110, longmanandeagle.com.

Mercadito Chef Patricio Sandoval's regular menu will be available prior to 6:45 PM, followed by a family-style four-course prix fixe served from 7:30 to 8:30 PM ($45) and a five-course menu starting at 9:45 PM ($55, $100 for dinner plus a two-hour open bar). 108 W. Kinzie, 312-329-9555, mercaditorestaurants.com.

Mercat a la Planxa Spanish-style celebration featuring a four-course tapas menu with a cava toast at midnight; an a la carte selection will also be available. 638 S. Michigan, 312-765-0524, mercatchicago.com, $85, $125 with pairings.

Nacional 27 The pan-Latin restaurant offers a three-course menu between 5 and 6:30 PM for $35 ($62 with cocktail pairings); from 7 to 10:30 PM a four-course menu is $95 per person ($122 with cocktail pairings). A premium bar package from 9 PM to midnight is $100 per person and includes mojitos and margaritas as well as house wine, beer, and sangria. Live music from 6:30 to 9:30 PM; DJ and dancing from 10 PM to 2 AM. 325 W. Huron, 312-664-2727, nacional27.net.

Nana A five-course prix fixe for $60 at the 5 and 7:30 PM seatings; it's $75 at the 10 PM seating, which includes live jazz, party favors, and a complimentary glass of cava. Vegetarian menu available. 3267 S. Halsted, 312-929-2486, nanaorganic.com.

Nia A dinner and dance party from 8 PM to 1 AM features an eight-course menu (vegetarian available on request), an open bar, a DJ, and a champagne toast at midnight. 803 W. Randolph, 312-226-3110, niarestaurant.com, $100.

Park Grill The restaurant offers family-friendly seatings from 6 to 9 PM, with live jazz and a three-course tasting menu for grown-ups ($65). After 9 PM a five-course tasting menu is $85, which includes party favors, a champagne toast, and a complimentary trolley ride home "within a two-mile radius." 11 N. Michigan, 312-521-7275, parkgrillchicago.com.

People Tapas Lounge A dinner package features a four-course menu with choices, plus beer, wine, and cocktails from 9 PM to 1 AM; after 1 AM there's a cash bar. 1560 N. Milwaukee, 773-227-9339, peoplechicago.com, $100.

The Publican Chef Brian Huston's four-course menu includes a chocolate-persimmon salad with pomegranate, prime rib with Yorkshire pudding, and bourbon bread pudding with creme fraiche ice cream. Seatings on the half hour between 5:30 and 10:30 PM. 837 W. Fulton, 312-733-9555, thepublicanrestaurant.com, $45.

Senza Chef Noah Sandoval offers a gluten-free six-course menu; courses include parsnip-apple soup with lobster and caviar, house bread service, foie gras with caramel-corn brulee, and loin of lamb with lingonberries, horseradish, and black walnuts. 2823 N. Broadway, 773-770-3527, senzachicago.com, $100, $175 with pairings.

Sepia Chef Andrew Zimmerman offers a four-course prix fixe menu between 5:30 and 6:45 PM ($85, $150 with wine pairings) and a five-course prix fixe from 8 to 9:30 PM ($110, $205 includes wine pairings and a "welcome cocktail"). 123 N. Jefferson, 312-441-1920, sepiachicago.com.

Slurping Turtle Screenings of Godzilla and other classic Japanese kaiju films accompany chef Takashi Yagihashi's family-style tasting menus (four courses for $45-$60, nine for $80), with seatings at 6 and 8:30 PM. 116 W. Hubbard, 312-464-0466, slurpingturtle.com.

SmallBar Division Limited seating is available for an 8 PM three-course meal with drink pairings and a bottle of sparkling wine per couple. Reservations required. 2049 W. Division, 773-772-2727, smallbardivision.com, $100.

Storefront Company From 6:30 to 7 PM a four-course menu featuring a choice of pheasant or lamb as the main course is $62, $96 with wine pairings. From 9 to 10 PM a six-course menu is $78, $130 with pairings, which includes a cocktail reception. 1941 W. North, 773-661-2609, thestorefrontcompany.com.

Tesori The early-bird special, from 5 to 7:30 PM, features a three-course menu for $40; an $85 four-course menu, available from 9 to 10:30 PM, includes live music, dancing, and a champagne toast. 65 E. Adams, 312-786-9911, tesorichicago.com.

Trenchermen Seatings at 5:30 and 7:30 PM feature a three-course menu for $50, $70 with pairings; at the 9:30 PM seating a five-course menu is $85, $125 with pairings, with options including foie-gras-stuffed trotters. Vegetarian menus available upon request. 2039 W. North, 773-661-1540, trenchermen.com.

Yusho Chef Matthias Merges will choose and "interpret" seven traditional New Year's Eve dishes served in Japan's seven largest cities, with an eighth dish designed to "highlight" Logan Square. Seatings from 7 to 9 PM. 2853 N. Kedzie, 773-904-8558, yusho-chicago.com, $100, $150 with pairings.

Zed 451 An all-you-can-eat buffet from the "harvest tables" plus a raw bar, table-side entrees, and miniature pastries is $75 per person between 5 and 11 PM. A party package in the lounge from 9 PM to 1 AM includes passed hors d'oeuvres, a deluxe open bar, party favors, a DJ, and a midnight toast; it's $95. 739 N. Clark, 312-266-6691, zed451.com.

Zocalo From 7 to 7:30 PM the regular menu will be available. For seatings at 9 and 9:30 PM a three-course dinner-and-drinks package including margaritas, beer, and wine is $65 per person. A drinks-only package from 9 PM to midnight is $30. Live Latin music starts at 9 PM and will be followed by a DJ, dancing, and a midnight tequila toast. Cash bar till 2 AM. 358 W. Ontario, 312-302-9977, zocalochicago.com.