New Year’s Eve Dinners: eight delicious ways to ring in 2014

The Classic Soirée

Where: Café Boulud
What: A demure, sit-down dinner at the Four Seasons’ café Français from superstar chef Daniel Boulud How Much: $75 for the early, three-course seating; $175 for the five-course “gala” dinner What You Get: White tablecloths, impeccable service and a classic French feast spiked with luxury ingredients like lobster, foie gras and black truffles. 60 Yorkville Ave., 416-964-0411, cafeboulud.com.  Make a reservation at Café Boulud

The Low-Key Hangout

Where: The County General
What: A rowdy cocktail party at Splendido’s casual, gingham-clad sister restaurant at Queen and Shaw How Much: $75 What You Get: Unlimited taster portions of the General’s famous Korean fried chicken, pork pot pie and other Southern-tinged plates, plus five cocktails. 936 Queen St. W., 416-531-4447, countygeneral.ca

The Anti-New Year New Year’s

Where: Farmhouse Tavern
What: The irreverent antithesis to a tacky, nightclub-style New Year’s party, hosted by the Junction Triangle’s most popular neighbourhood hang How Much: Variable What You Get: Buck-a-shuck oysters from 9 p.m. to midnight and half-priced comfort plates from 10 p.m. onwards. 1627 Dupont St., 416-561-9114, farmhousetavern.tumblr.com

The Cinq à Sept

Where: Drake One Fifty What: A 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. post-office shindig at the Drake’s new downtown outpost How Much: $25 for the bar; $40 for the dining room What You Get: A welcome beverage and passed hors d’oeuvres, including things like charred radicchio salad and rosemary frites (the sit-down option brings more food, like charcuterie and veggie platters). 150 York St., 416-363-6150, guestlistapp.com.  Make a reservation at Drake One Fifty

The Pre-Party Meal

Where: Church Aperitivo Bar
What: A convenient way to line your stomach before a Queen West bar-hop How Much: $75 What You Get: Four courses of mod-ish Italian food, including tempura-fried cod, porcini ravioli and a Nutella dessert. 1090 Queen St. W., 416-537-1090, churchaperitivobar.com.  Make a reservation at Church Aperitivo Bar

The Big Splurge

Where: Momofuku Daishō
What: An extravagant family-style meal in the glittering triplex on University Avenue How Much: $120 What You Get: Eight courses of speckled trout, bone-in sirloin steak and noodles, plus a celebratory drink at midnight. Spendthrifts and procrastinators can head to Noodle Bar on the first floor, which offers a bun and noodle combo for just $17 and welcomes walk-ins. 190 University Ave., 647-253-8000, momofuku.tumblr.com

The Best Deal

Where: Porzia
What: A rustic Italian spread at one of Parkdale’s buzziest kitchens How Much: $35 What You Get: A starter, a choice of pasta and a sweet treat. After 10 p.m., all dishes drop to $10 and beers to $5. 1314 Queen St. W., 647-342-5745, porzia.ca

The Carnivorous Gorge

Where: Beast
What: A meat-centric meal at a low-key neighbourhood bistro How Much: $55 What You Get: A four-course family-style dinner featuring surf (steelhead trout), turf (wild boar poutine), more turf (venison striploin) and sticky-toffee pudding. 96 Tecumseth St., 647-352-6000, thebeastrestaurant.com