Ring in the New Year: D.C. Restaurant Deals

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AS THE BALL DROPS in Times Square, there are three facts you can count on: Ryan Seacrest is wearing too much makeup, a lot of the people in Times Square are screaming because they need to pee and, try as you might, there's a millisecond when you believe how you've spent the evening foreshadows what the next 365 days will bring. Never fear, dears: D.C.-area restaurants will help you fight this gut instinct by serving spectacular New Year's Eve menus. If anything, expect 2009 to be very — urp! — full.

Less Meat, More Fete
Holy (un)cow! Logan Circle's Vegetate serves its New Year's menu a la carte (6:30 to 7 p.m. seatings) and offers up the whole four-course shebang — including roasted beet carpaccio as well as sweet potato and wild mushroom ravioli — at later seatings (9:30 to 10 p.m., $50) as a DJ spins rare grooves and funk.
» 1414 9th St. NW; 202-232-4585. (Mount Vernon Square)

A Grape Night
Taberna del Alabardero's five-course Spanish meal (9 to 10:30 p.m. seatings, $98) is succulent enough with its foie gras terrine and roasted suckling pig, but what seals the deal is the restaurant's New Year's grape ceremony. Guests receive 12 grapes to pop one per each second for the last 12 of 2008. It brings good luck— and hilarity.
» 1776 I St. NW; 202-429-2200. (Farragut West)

Speaking of Good Fortune …
Up your karmic ante by dining at Oya — its street address is a fortuitous 777, after all. And if you're still concerned about, uh, getting lucky, Sex sparkling wine will be available for purchase by the glass or bottle. Of course, there are three-course (5 to 8 p.m., $28) and five-course seatings (8:30 to 10 p.m., $95) with the likes of tuna tempura rolls and grilled beef potato pot stickers.
» 777 9th St. NW; 202-393-1400. (Gallery Place-Chinatown)

Be a Smooth Operator
If you're not feeling like a high roller after dining on grilled flat-iron steak as part of a three-course ($75) or a salt cod potato stew in a five-course ($95) Italian supper at Domaso (5:30 to 10 p.m. seatings), can we borrow a few bucks? Those tighter of fist can head to the adjacent lounge where DJ EZGruuv plays disco and tribal tuneage starting at 10:30 p.m. for a very chic price (free).
» 1121 N. 19th St., Arlington; 703-351-1211. (Rosslyn)

Room With a View
Wall-to-wall windows and soaring ceilings create a dazzling atmosphere at 2941, and it's all backed up by Chef Bertrand Chemel's delectable three-course (4 to 7 p.m. seatings, $95; butternut squash soup and venison loin) and six-course offerings (8 to 10:30 p.m., $140; ricotta ravioli or spiced squab breast tartine).
» 2941 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church; 703-270-1500.

Ring in a Deal
Thrifty folks may opt for Rosa Mexicano's a la carte menu (5 to
8 p.m.), but if you can hang on until
9:30 p.m, the Latin spot seats its $45 four-course with Mexican habanero jumbo lump crab cakes and rack of lamb. A DJ cranks out Latin-flavored house through midnight.
» 575 7th St. NW; 202-783-5522. (Gallery Place-Chinatown)

For Guys and Dolls
Jackson 20's "Roaring 20s"-themed dinner — shrimp cocktails, roasted lobster — can be ordered a la carte or prix fix (5 to 10:30 p.m, $65). Highlights include the "Dirty 20" cocktail — a blend of gin, vermouth, olive and cucumber.
» 480 King St., Alexandria; 703-842-2790.

Photos courtesy Hisioka PR