With our hearts warmed by the peace and good will of Christmas and Hanukkah, we turn our attention to the related but completely different celebration of New Year's Eve. It's the busiest night of the year for restaurants. So many people clamor for tables in interesting places that all the rules change. More than any other, this is the night when you call in your chips at your favorite restaurant after being a regular, recognized customer during the rest of the year. You will need to do that in the best, most famous, and best-situated restaurants.
You will also, of course, need a reservation. It may already be too late, even if you're a friend of the house, to get into places like Commander's Palace, Restaurant August, Emeril's, or Antoine's. They all have so many long-term regulars for New Year's Eve that not even a call months in advance will get you in that night. Many people who will dine in the most popular restaurants on this New Year's Eve made reservations on their way out of the same places last year.
The good news is that nearly the entire restaurant community is open and ready for you. A restaurant above the neighborhood-cafe level that's not open on New Year's Eve is likely either to be booked with a private party or about to close for good. It's not like Christmas or Thanksgiving, when reservations are hard to find. You'll find a table somewhere on New Year's Eve, and it won't even have to be a bad one.
But there are other issues. Restaurants have found it easy to raise their prices to sometimes fantastic levels. Usually this practice is accompanied by a large and interesting menu, with "complimentary" Champagne and perhaps a few other amenities. But for the first time since Katrina, I see quite a few restaurants shooting for the moon. I know of four places where the tabs with tax, tip, and wines are over $200 per person. Most of them will fill up anyway. If price matters to you, be sure you know what the package goes for that night. Don't assume you'll find the same menu as always.
The higher prices are found at the later of the typical two seatings. The early one is designed for people who will have a grand dinner, then go somewhere else for a party. At the late seating, the restaurant is the party, often with live music, noisemakers, party hats, and all the set pieces for which New Year's Eve is celebrated.
If you plan on the late seating, find out how fully booked the place is. The no-show percentage skyrockets on New Year's Eve, and many restaurants overbook. Beware of that.
Below is my list of what I believe will be the one hundred best restaurants for a grand New Year's Eve dinner. It is not a comprehensive list; hundreds of restaurants are open. These are ranked not only according to how good the food is (although that is the primary criterion), but also by amenities, entertainment, and general scene. Restaurants located near the fireworks on the river get a nudge upward in their ranking.
Full disclosure: I have not dined out on New Year's Eve in many years. (I go along with what Dean Martin once said: "I never go out on New Year's Eve. Too many amateurs out there.") This list is based on what I know about the restaurants during ordinary time, the special New year's Eve menus I've seen, and the reports I heard about how they performed last year. But if you can find a better list, use it. (Good luck.)
For a current, detailed review of a restaurant, click on its name. The star ratings are for the food and service in normal times, which may differ for New Year's Eve. Also note that even the 100th-best restaurant on this list is in the top eight percent of local eateries.
100 Best Places To Dine On New Year's Eve
1.
Emeril's. Warehouse District & Center City: 800 Tchoupitoulas. 504-528-9393.
2. Restaurant August. CBD: 301 Tchoupitoulas. 504-299-9777.
3. Commander's Palace. Uptown 1: Garden District & Environs: 1403 Washington Ave. 504-899-8221.
4. 
Muriel's. French Quarter: 801 Chartres. 504-568-1885.
5. Galatoire's. French Quarter: 209 Bourbon. 504-525-2021.
6. Stella!. French Quarter: 1032 Chartres. 504-587-0091.
7. Pelican Club. French Quarter: 615 Bienville. 504-523-1504.
8. Tommy's Cuisine. Warehouse District & Center City: 746 Tchoupitoulas. 504-581-1103.
9. Arnaud's. French Quarter: 813 Bienville. 504-523-5433.
10. Tomas Bistro. Warehouse District & Center City: 755 Tchoupitoulas. 504-527-0942.
11. La Provence. Lacombe: 25020 US 190. 985-626-7662.
12. GW Fins. French Quarter: 808 Bienville. 504-581-3467.
13. Desi Vega's. CBD: 628 St Charles Ave. 504-523-7600.
14. 
Bombay Club. French Quarter: 830 Conti. 504-586-0972.
15. R'evolution. French Quarter: 777 Bienville (in the Royal Sonesta Hotel). 504-553-2277.
16. Keith Young's Steak House. Madisonville: 165 LA 21. 985-845-9940.
17. Delmonico. Uptown 1: Garden District & Environs: 1300 St Charles Ave. 504-525-4937.
18. Le Foret. CBD: 129 Camp. 504-553-6738.
19. Gallagher's Grill. Covington: 509 S Tyler. 985-892-9992.
20. Chateau Du Lac. Metairie 1: Old Metairie: 2037 Metairie Rd. 504-831-3773.
21. Atchafalaya. Uptown 2: Washington To Napoleon: 901 Louisiana Ave. 504-891-9626.
22. Ristorante Del Porto. Covington: 501 E Boston St. 985-875-1006.
23. Maximo's Italian Grill. French Quarter: 1117 Decatur. 504-586-8883.
24. Patois. Uptown 3: Napoleon To Audubon: 6078 Laurel. 504-895-9441.
25. Impastato's. Metairie 2: Orleans Line To Houma Blvd: 3400 16th St. 504-455-1545.
26. Mr. B's Bistro. French Quarter: 201 Royal. 504-523-2078.
27. Herbsaint. CBD: 701 St Charles Ave. 504-524-4114.
28. Antoine's. French Quarter: 713 St Louis. 504-581-4422.
29. Pardo's. Covington: 69305 Hwy 21. 985-893-3603.
30. Upperline. Uptown 3: Napoleon To Audubon: 1413 Upperline. 504-891-9822.
31. Little Gem Saloon. CBD: 445 S Rampart St. 504-267-4863.
32. La Petite Grocery. Uptown 2: Washington To Napoleon: 4238 Magazine. 504-891-3377.
33. Iris. French Quarter: 321 North Peters . 504-299-3944.
34. Mat & Naddie's. Uptown 4: Riverbend, Carrollton & Broadmoor: 937 Leonidas. 504-861-9600.
35. Ralph's On The Park. City Park Area: 900 City Park Ave. 504-488-1000.
36. MiLa. CBD: 817 Common. 504-412-2580.
37. O'Brien's Grille. Gretna: 2020 Belle Chasse Hwy. 504-391-7229.
38. Redemption. Mid-City: 3835 Iberville St. 504-309-3570.
39. Galvez. French Quarter: 914 N Peters. 504-595-3400.
40. Nola. French Quarter: 534 St Louis. 504-522-6652.
41. Vega Tapas Cafe. Metairie 1: Old Metairie: 2051 Metairie Rd. 504-836-2007.
42. Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse. French Quarter: 716 Iberville. 504-522-2467.
43. Brigtsen's. Uptown 4: Riverbend, Carrollton & Broadmoor: 723 Dante. 504-861-7610.
44. Lüke. CBD: 333 St Charles Ave. 504-378-2840.
45. Apolline. Uptown 3: Napoleon To Audubon: 4729 Magazine St. 504-894-8881.
46. Steak Knife. Lakeview: 888 Harrison Ave. 504-488-8981.
47. Kingfish. French Quarter: 337 Chartres St. 504-598-5005.
48. Root. Warehouse District & Center City: 200 Julia. 504-252-9480.
49. Katie's. Mid-City: 3701 Iberville. 504-488-6582.
50. Cochon. Warehouse District & Center City: 930 Tchoupitoulas. 504-588-2123.
51. K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen. French Quarter: 416 Chartres. 504-524-7394.
52. SoBou. French Quarter: 310 Chartres St.. 504-552-4095.
53. Lilette. Uptown 2: Washington To Napoleon: 3637 Magazine. 504-895-1636.
54. Clancy's. Uptown 3: Napoleon To Audubon: 6100 Annunciation. 504-895-1111.
55. Eleven 79. Warehouse District & Center City: 1179 Annunciation. 504-569-0001.
56. Nuvolari's. Mandeville: 246 Girod St. 985-626-5619.
57. Porter & Luke's. Metairie 1: Old Metairie: 1517 Metairie Road. 504-875-4555.
58. Austin's. Metairie 3: Houma Blvd To Kenner Line: 5101 West Esplanade Ave. 504-888-5533.
59. Annadele Plantation. Covington: 71518 Chestnut St. 985-809-7669.
60. Carmelo. Mandeville: 1901 US Hwy 190. 985-624-4844.
61. N'Tini's. Mandeville: 2891 US 190. 985-626-5566.
62. Coquette. Uptown 1: Garden District & Environs: 2800 Magazine St. 504-265-0421.
63. Meauxbar. French Quarter: 942 N Rampart. 504-569-9979.
64. Gautreau's. Uptown 3: Napoleon To Audubon: 1728 Soniat St. 504-899-7397.
65. Domenica. CBD: 123 Baronne (Roosevelt Hotel). 504-648-6020.
66. Dakota. Covington: 629 N US 190. 985-892-3712.
67. Palace Cafe. French Quarter: 605 Canal. 504-523-1661.
68. Bistro Daisy. Uptown 3: Napoleon To Audubon: 5831 Magazine. 504-899-6987.
69. Sal and Judy's. Lacombe: 27491 Highway 190. 985-882-9443.
70. Bayona. French Quarter: 430 Dauphine. 504-525-4455.
71. Dick & Jenny's. Uptown 3: Napoleon To Audubon: 4501 Tchoupitoulas. 504-894-9880.
72. Cafe Adelaide. CBD: 300 Poydras St. 504-595-3305.
73. Broussard's. French Quarter: 819 Conti. 504-581-3866.
74. Flaming Torch. Uptown 3: Napoleon To Audubon: 737 Octavia. 504-895-0900.
75. Drago's. CBD: 2 Poydras. 504-584-3911.
76. Dominique's On Magazine. Uptown 2: Washington To Napoleon: 4213 Magazine St. 504-891-9282.
77. La Thai Cuisine. Uptown 3: Napoleon To Audubon: 4938 Prytania. 504-899-8886 .
78. Annunciation. Warehouse District & Center City: 1016 Annunciation. 504-568-0245.
79. Irene's Cuisine. French Quarter: 539 St Philip. 504-529-8811.
80. Ruth's Chris Steak House. Metairie 2: Orleans Line To Houma Blvd: 3633 Veterans Blvd. 504-888-3600.
81. Pêche Seafood Grill. Warehouse District & Center City: 800 Magazine St. 504-522-1744.
82. Olivier's Creole Restaurant. French Quarter: 204 Decatur. 504-525-7734.
83. Andy's Bistro. Metairie 2: Orleans Line To Houma Blvd: 3322 N. Turnbull Dr. 504-455-7363.
84. Michael's. Slidell: 4820 Pontchartrain Dr. 985-649-8055.
85. Vincent's. Uptown 4: Riverbend, Carrollton & Broadmoor: 7839 St Charles Ave. 504-866-9313.
86. Café B. Metairie 1: Old Metairie: 2700 Metairie Road. 504-934-4700.
87. La Crepe Nanou. Uptown 3: Napoleon To Audubon: 1410 Robert. 504-899-2670.
88. Cafe Minh. Mid-City: 4139 Canal. 504-482-6266.
89. Tujague's. French Quarter: 823 Decatur. 504-525-8676.
90. Red Fish Grill. French Quarter: 115 Bourbon. 504-598-1200.
91. Santa Fe. Esplanade Ridge: 3201 Esplanade Ave. 504-948-0077.
92. Cypress. Metairie 3: Houma Blvd To Kenner Line: 4426 Transcontinental. 504-885-6885.
93. Crescent City Steak House. Mid-City: 1001 N Broad. 504-821-3271.
94. Mondo. Lakeview: 900 Harrison Ave. 504-224-2633.
95. Christopher's On Carey. Slidell: 2228 Carey St. 985-641-4501.
96. Dante's Kitchen. Uptown 4: Riverbend, Carrollton & Broadmoor: 736 Dante. 504-861-3121.
97. Windsor Court Grill Room. CBD: 300 Gravier. 504-522-1994.
98. Dijon. Warehouse District & Center City: 1377 Annunciation St. 504-522-4712.
99. Mariza. Bywater & Downtown: 2900 Chartres St. 504-598-5700.
100. Fausto's. Metairie 2: Orleans Line To Houma Blvd: 530 Veterans Blvd. 504-833-7121.
