Ring in the NEW YEAR at Great NYC Restaurants

Check out our first roundup for great restaurants in New York City where you can ring in the New Year. We suggest you book in advance for these popular spots.

Burke & Wills Australian Bistro (226 W 79th St.) -- Head down under for NYE at this Australian Bistro and UWS hotspot. Executive Chef Rodrigo Nogueira (Montmartre, the Monkey Bar, Resto) has crafted a well-conceived prix fixe menu for New Year's Eve, featuring irresistible dishes such as smoked arctic char with salmon roe, grilled scallions and lemon butter, as well as ravioli with egg yolk, ricotta, roasted cauliflower and black truffle. First seating: 5:30-10pm, $65 pp for thee courses with complimentary champagne cocktail upon arrival. Second seating: 10pm-12am, $80 pp for four courses with complimentary champagne cocktail upon arrival and toast at midnight. The intimate dining room at Burke & Wills features slate grey banquets, a gorgeous sky-lit atrium and vintage Australian decorations. Additionally, during service guests may venture upstairs to Manhattan Cricket Club, the luxurious British Colonial era cocktail lounge featuring top-shelf beverages by renowned mixologist Greg Seider (Le Bernardin, Summit Bar, The Mercer Kitchen). Reservations should be booked with Matilda Boland, at matilda@burkeandwillsny.com, or by calling the restaurant at 646-823-9251 and visit www.burkeandwillsny.com.

TESSA (349 Amsterdam Ave.) -- NYE at this Michelin recommended, modern Mediterranean UWS stunner is certain to be fantastic. During the first seating at 5pm-7:30pm, the standard dinner menu from Chef Edwin Claflin (Daniel, DB Bistro Moderne, WD-50) will be available. For the second seating at 9pm (until space runs out, $125 pp + bev., tax and grat.), Chef Claflin has created an abridged, all-you-can-eat menu featuring only TESSA's hit dishes, like the irresistible Rabbit Cavatelli with pancetta ragu, smoked onion, lovage coulis and chives. There will also be a complimentary champagne toast at midnight and lively party music flowing through the hip, industrial-chic interior. Reservations may be booked with Patrick Duxbury at Patrick@tessanyc.com, (212)-390-1974. www.tessanyc.com. And on New Year's day at TESSA, there will be a special brunch menu from 12pm-4pm and regular dinner service starting at 5pm.

Bustan (487 Amsterdam Ave.) -- Experience the rich flavors of Israel and the pan-Mediterranean countries this NYE at Bustan. Executive Chef/Partner Jose Paulo Cortes has crafted a festive menu featuring showstoppers like soft egg burek with Jerusalem artichoke & chestnut cream, and taboon grilled prime hanger steak with tahini baked idaho potato, shishito peppers and bone marrow. And it should be noted that you will not find more irresistible bread anywhere in the area; Chef Cortes started his career as a baker, and he uses Bustan's one-of-a-kind 360-degree rotating taboon oven to great effect. And of course, you can toast to the New Year with Baron Fuente Champagne Grande Reserve, France NV. Reservations can be made by calling the restaurant at 212-595-5050 or visit www.bustan.nyc.com.

Rocco Steakhouse (72 Madison Ave.) -- Ring in the New Year with some of the best steak in Manhattan at this recently opened Madison avenue hit. Executive Chef Johnny Jevric (a ten year vet. of Wolfgang's steakhouse) serves up massive, perfectly cooked tomahawk rib eyes and porterhouses, as well as lust-inducing treats from the sea like the chilled seafood tower. Head to the bar for a perfectly balanced classic cocktail from Co-owner/Beverage Director Jeff Kolenovic to round out the experience. Co-owner/GM Pete Pjetrovic is also a decade-long Wolfgang's vet, and every employee is mandated to have worked in a Manhattan steakhouse for at least ten years, so it's no wonder that the service is impeccable. And Rocco Trotta, the third co-owner, is co-founder of the LiRo group (a construction management firm that contributed to the post-911 rebuilding of Manhattan and the High Line Park), so it will be no surprise if Rocco steakhouse becomes the next NYC landmark that he's known for. There will also be party favors and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. Reservations can be made by calling the restaurant at 212-696-9660 or visit www.roccosteakhouse.com.

Editor's Note: Check back this week for more New Year's Eve and New Year's Day roundups.