A Wonderful New Year

Make plans to ring in the New Year at Orange County’s most classic and historic restaurant, the “A” Restaurant in Newport Beach. It’s offering a memorable evening and dinner on Tuesday, Dec. 31 with two dining options; the regular menu will be available from 5 to 7 p.m., and a second seating starting at 9 p.m. will have a five course prix fixe menu for $125, which includes entertainment by a DJ, party favors and a Champagne toast at midnight.

The prix fixe menu will begin with lobster and caviar (Maine lobster, fennel, blood orange, white sturgeon caviar and avocado); a second course of black truffle gnocchi (ricotta and truffle gnocchi, rapini, hedgehogs, parmesan fondue and a 62° egg); followed by a salad course of baked ricotta and fuyu persimmon (pink lady apple, pomegranate, butter lettuce, nasturtium leaves and a medjool date vinaigrette.)

Guests have a choice of three entrees, including milk fed veal chop (leek bread pudding, chantarelles, sweet vermouth cream, celeriac and red pearl onions); roasted loup de mer (European sea bass with cauliflower steak, capers, Meyer lemon, sunchoke puree, brussels, and Parisian potatoes); or Private Reserve Wagyu Strip Loin (with potato and kohlrabi galette, shimeji mushrooms, fresh wasabi root, bone marrow espuma and “A” steak sauce. Dessert is a deconstructed rocky road (chocolate malt ice cream, chewy caramel, marshmallow and peanut butter powder.)

With dinner, A offers four sommeliers to help select from a recently expanded wine list, as well as a new menu of signature cocktails and craft beers

Open 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday. A also has a Social Hour Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m.

A Restaurant is at 3334 W Coast Hwy., just south of Newport Blvd., in Newport Beach. 949.650.6505.