Let champagne and Prosecco flow. New Year’s Eve is just around the corner, so kick up your heels and celebrate into the early morning hours.
The clock strikes midnight and suddenly you’re kissing a friend or a stranger, and then it’s over in a split second. There’s a clean slate with a new beginning and a fresh perspective.
But the lead-up to the classic countdown is just as much fun if not more. And there’s a party to suit every style.
For revelers who want to wet their whistle and dance at a club, there are plenty of adult-only parties. Those aiming for a quieter nook can book a table at fine restaurants with palate-pleasing menus.
Party on at any number of St. Albert’s favourite locations.
Bourbon Room – 205 Carnegie Dr.
The Bourbon Room serves Triple-A roast beef with all the trimmings followed by round after round of duelling pianos. Black tie and dress to impress. Two pianists, Kelly and Tim Cotton, perform an all-request show. They knock off requests one-by-one and then play their own favourites. Doors open 6 p.m. Dinner is at 7:30 p.m. Showtime starts at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 for dinner and show or $25 for dance only.
Cajun House – 7 St. Anne St.
Enjoy the Christmas Festival menu in addition to authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine from the regular menu. Samples from the Christmas menu are orange and cranberry salad, dill and cucumber salmon, chipotle beef tenderloin, chicken Catahoula, cinnamon pork and the pièce de résistance – gingerbread cheesecake. Seatings at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7:15 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Reservations recommended.
Canadian Brewhouse – #50, 101 St. Albert Trail
Canadian Brewhouse hosts a Black and White party. Wear your black and white and celebrate with DJ Zack Hunter leading the dance. Champagne toast at midnight. Tickets are available at eventbrite.ca. Every ticket purchased receives a card for a lb. of free wings every Wednesday for one year. Party starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20.
Century Casino – 24 Boudreau Rd.
Enjoy a plated three-course dinner, party favours, a midnight toast and a late night buffet with all night access to a DJ dance party. The Rockin’ 58s kick off the New Year. Lounge tickets are $100 and restaurant tickets are $80. Enjoy just the DJ, buffet, party favours and midnight toast for $40. Limited tickets.
Crown & Tower Pub – 11 Bellerose Dr.
Crown & Tower gives its patrons a special treat with a 10 oz. New York striploin steak with a shrimp skewer, loaded baked potato, vegetables, dessert and a glass of champagne at dinner. Dinner goes from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with pop-rock band Blue Sparrow slaying the crowd from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Party favours and a second glass of champagne at midnight as well as a grand prize give-away for two lower-bowl Oiler tickets and a one-night stay at a downtown Edmonton hotel. Tickets are $39.95. Reservations suggested.
LB’s Pub – 23 Akins Dr.
Once again LB’s Pub dishes up its special brand of hospitality with a roast beef buffet that also includes chicken, potatoes, salad, hot vegetables, cheeses, perogies and a dessert table. Pop-rock band Rule of Nines gets the club hopping with a night of dance. Party favours and champagne to ring in the New Year. Buffet line is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and music is 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Buffet and dance is $75. Dance only $40. Reservations suggested.
Luisa Restaurant – #104 – 8 Peron St.
The house chef offers both the regular menu and one-of-kind feature entrées along with special year-end drinks. In addition, the bar offers for-purchase bottles of Lanson Champagne, reputed to be a popular bubbly with Queen Elizabeth. Dinner is served from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with two-hour time limit. After 8 p.m. there is no time limit and disco music kicks in. After 10 p.m. small plates served.
Nello’s Restaurant – 512 St. Albert Trail
This Italian restaurant will serve choices off the menu in addition to several surprise features. Three seatings are 5 p.m. 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Price range from $25 to $50.
XIX Nineteen Restaurant – #104, 150 Bellerose Dr.
Chef Rino Lam rings in the New Year with a three-course boutique dinner. Guests are welcome to choose between half a dozen appetizers and entrees. The special feature dish is a rib roast. Dessert is a choice of crème brûlée, butter cake or brownies. Tickets are $79 plus gratuities and tax. There is a two-hour timeline per table. Reservations recommended.
Riverbank Bistro – 8 Mission Ave.
Chef Daniel Ducharme has booked an early three-course seating and a later four-course seating. The mix and match menu centres around pan-seared Arctic char, fire-grilled beef tenderloin, butter basted chicken supreme and pan-roasted duck breast. The three-course dinner is $68 and the four-course menu is $89 and includes a complimentary glass of Prosecco. Early seating is from 4:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Reservations recommended.
St. Louis Bar and Grill – 375 St. Albert Trail
A Cuban-themed pig roast with all the trimmings is served at 7 p.m. $30 per person. This is a ticketed event. Reservations recommended.
Sorrentino’s Cucina & Bar – 595 St. Albert Trail
This staple of Italian cooking offers a three-course menu with appetizers, an entrée and a dessert. The five main menu choices are grilled New Zealand rack of lamb, butter poached lobster risotto, veal osso buco, halibut with saffron crème sauce or stuffed chicken sprinkled with Gorgonzola cream sauce. Dessert is a carrot caramel cheesecake or a homemade tiramisu. Three seatings are at 4:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Dinner ranges from $45 to $70. DJ plays dance music at 9:30 p.m. Reservations recommended.
Tandoori Fuzion – 81 A Liberton Dr.
Tandoori Fuzion is whipping up a 16-dish special buffet of East Indian culinary delights that include salads, chicken, seafood, vegetable, rice dishes and many vegetarian options. The buffet is served 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Cost is $32.95; $16.95 for children under 12. Reservations accepted.
Taste of Ukraine – 516 St. Albert Trail
Guests are offered a choice of three courses, four courses or a five-course dinner. The menu offers a special New Year’s Eve appetizer, the classic shrimp cocktail, soup, a choice of four entrees including a chicken dish, pork medallions, steak and seafood skewer. Three desserts are presented including a 12-layer crepe torte, strawberry cheesecake and a crème pastry. Three-course dinner is $55, four courses are $64 and five courses are $70. For a first time, the restaurant serves imported Ukrainian wines. Hours are 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations accepted as guests arrive.
