The Brooklyn Papers / Dennis W. Ho

Best for last: On New Year's Eve, Park Slope's Chocolate Room will offer a five-course tasting menu of desserts that kicks off with a champagne toast and chocolate Venetian tuile with lavender dust.

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This New Year’s Eve, forget Times Square and the claustrophobia of scarved and mittened bodies pressed tightly together like crayons in a box.

Forget the large orb of light descending upon the masses as the countdown nears an end. Forget the skyscrapers lit with fluorescent consumerism. Forget the drama.

Instead, do the holidays Brooklyn style and feast your way towards 2007 at some of the borough’s best eateries.

We’ve done the hunger-inducing research for you. All of the restaurants listed below are featuring something extra special for the holiday of the year. Whether it’s a prix-fixe menu option, live music and dancing, free party hats and noisemakers or a simple champagne toast, these restaurants offer sane oases to ring in the new year.

There’s something on this list for every Brooklynite, from hipster to Heath Ledger. Read on, and you’ll definitely be singing "Auld Lang Dine" straight through to Jan. 1. Remember to make your reservations early, so you won’t be left in the cold.

Get your cocoa fixe

The Chocolate Room
6 Fifth Ave. between St. Marks Place and Warren Street in Park Slope, (718) 783-2900, www.thechocolateroombrooklyn.com.
For the sweet-tooths among us, husband-and-wife team Jon Payson and Naomi Josepher of The Chocolate Room have devised a delectable five-course dessert tasting menu - aptly named Chocolate Masquerade - for 2007’s eve. The event is by reservation only and will feature two seatings, the first at 9 pm and the second at 11 pm.
The $40 prix-fixe menu will include such scrumptious delights as chocolate-raspberry soup, mousse au chocolate, champagne sorbet with dark chocolate, and chocolate winter rolls.
The ingredient list of the rolls alone is enough to send your taste buds into a mouth-watering frenzy: molten chocolate cake tucked inside a golden crust, covered in kumquat marmalade and adorned with fresh vanilla whip.

For a romantic night out

Bogota Latin Bistro
141 Fifth Ave. between Lincoln and St. Johns places in Park Slope, (718) 230-3805, www.bogotabistro.com.
For a fairly quiet evening with a simple champagne toast celebration, Bogota Latin Bistro is the place to go. This popular Park Slope bistro will serve its usual menu (at regular prices - entrees: $12-19) with a champagne toast at midnight. It’s open until 2 am.

Caffe Carciofo
248 Court St. at Kane St. in Cobble Hill, (718) 624-7551.
Co-owner Joe Lonardo, Jr. says we can look forward to a special New Year’s Eve menu, boasting a selection of Cornish hen, king salmon, rack of New Zealand lamb or filet mignon. (These entrees range in price from $16.50 to $26.50.) There will also be pasta specials and antipasto. The kitchen will stay open from 5 pm to 11 pm. At midnight, there will be free champagne, noisemakers and hats for all.

Cantina
494 Fourth Ave. between 11th and 12th streets in Park Slope, (718) 369-5850.
For New Year’s Eve, owner Esteban Chauca promises free champagne and noisemakers for everyone. Cantina will be serving its a la carte menu (entrees: $9.95-$14.95) and specials. Chauca guarantees enough food and drink to last into the wee hours of the morning. Cantina will be open until 4 am.

Grand Prospect Hall
263 Prospect Ave. between Fifth and Sixth avenues in Park Slope, (718) 788-0777, www.grandprospect.com.
For the most elaborate ending to 2006 and the most celebration packed into one evening, try Grand Prospect Hall. The hefty price tag ($175) will buy you a complete five-course meal (the main dish is filet mignon bordelaise), a cocktail reception prior to dinner, dancing to the Jack Goodman Dance Orchestra, entertainment by the Prospect Follies Dance Troupe, a light show, a complete open bar all night, and complimentary valet parking. The package also includes a breakfast-to-go, party hats and noisemakers. Groups of 10 or more are $170 per person.

Pearl Room
8201 Third Ave. at 82nd Street in Bay Ridge, (718) 833-6666.
For chic cuisine without Manhattan pretension, the Pearl Room has everything you want. They are hosting a big blowout to welcome 2007, including a DJ and dancing, a champagne toast and a four-course, $145 prix-fixe meal. You can awaken your palate with appetizers such as baked clams or avocado-crabmeat Napoleon. The entree choices include spinach and basil fettuccine, ginger-glazed salmon, or pan-seared tilapia over mascarpone cheese. Desserts will come from a special confectionary menu devised by chef Gerard Spezio. The dinner and party starts at 9:30 pm. The celebration will rage on until 3:30 or 4 am.

For the wine lover

applewood
501 11th St. between Seventh and Eighth avenues in Park Slope, (718) 768-2044, www.applewoodny.com.
Park Slope’s applewood is celebrating the New Year with an early seating (6 pm to 7 pm) of a three-course, $85 prix-fixe meal by chef David Shea, complete with wine pairings for each course, a sparkling wine aperitif, and hors d’oeuvres. The late seating (9 pm to 10 pm) features a five-course, $135 prix-fixe tasting menu, wine pairings for each course, a sparkling wine aperitif, plus a New Year’s Eve cocktail and a champagne toast at midnight. If your tastebuds are craving New American cuisine at a restaurant known for its all-organic ingredients, this is the spot for you. (No parties over six.)

Stonehome Wine Bar
87 Lafayette Ave. at South Portland Avenue in Fort Greene, (718) 624-9443, www.stonehomewinebar.com.
In addition to chef John Gibson’s new winter wine and food menu (entrees: $14-$20) that you can check out on their Web site, Stonehome will be offering a champagne tasting flight and "festive food and wine specials." What better way to welcome 2007? On the new menu of contemporary American dishes with seasonal ingredients, Gibson offers a variety of small-plate offerings, pressed sandwiches, cheese plates and a charcuterie plate. Dinner reservations are accepted until 10 pm.

For the party crowd

Bar BQ
689 Sixth Ave. at 20th Street in Sunset Park, (718) 499-4872, www.brooklynbarbq.com.
On its Web site, Bar BQ boasts "Brooklyn’s biggest Bourbon selection and the best pork sandwich anywhere." On New Year’s Eve, this BBQ joint will feature its regular menu (entrees: $7.50 to $20) and a champagne toast.

Magnetic Field
97 Atlantic Ave. between Hicks and Henry streets in Brooklyn Heights, (718) 834-0069, www.magneticbrooklyn.com.
This bar and self-proclaimed "rock ’n’ roll lounge" is open for a holiday rock fest. On the schedule for New Year’s Eve is live entertainment by The A-Bones, The Swingin’ Neckbreakers and The Great Gaylord. The celebration kicks off at 8 pm and the cover charge is $15. The lounge does not have a kitchen, but they do offer a selection of neighborhood takeout menus. Bar-goers are invited to order from the menus and have their food delivered to Magnetic Field. You can then enjoy your grub surrounded by the lounge’s 14 selections of on-tap beers. B.Y.O.F.!

Water Street Restaurant & Lounge
66 Water St. between Main & Dock streets in DUMBO, (718) 625-9352, www.waterstreetrestaurant.com.
Talk about value. At what manager Ry O’Neill calls "the best free party in town," the Underwater Lounge of the Water Street Restaurant will party hard all night long. The bash will feature screens displaying the Times Square ball-drop, a complimentary champagne toast, a late night buffet at 2 am, and a live DJ. There will be a cash bar open throughout the night, but everything else is free. Dinner will be offered from 5 pm to 10 pm in the pub upstairs with the restaurant’s usual menu (entrees: $13-$21). The festivities begin at 9:30 pm.

Kid-friendly options

Marco Polo Ristorante
345 Court St. at Union Street in Carroll Gardens, (718) 852-5015, www.marcopoloristorante.com.
For all-night entertainment where children are welcome, try Marco Polo in Carroll Gardens. For $100, you will have a four-course Italian dinner, live DJ entertainment, an all night open bar, and a midnight champagne toast. (Children younger than 12 are $60 each.) The main course is salmon tornado over a bed of spinach or grilled lamb chop. The event is 8:30 pm to 2:30 am. Free valet parking.

Scottadito Osteria Toscana
788A Union St. between Sixth and Seventh avenues in Park Slope, (718) 636-4800, www.scottadito.com.
Scottadito will ring in the New Year with a three-course, Tuscan dinner complete with wine pairings. The first seating is from 4 pm to 6 pm and is $35 per person; the second seating is from 6 pm to midnight and is $49. There will also be a kid’s menu for $10, a great value for families. After an early dinner at Scottadito’s, head over to Prospect Park for ice skating at Wollman Rink. (The rink is open from 7 pm to 10 pm. Children and seniors are $3; adults are $5. Skate rental is $5.50.) Stick around Park Slope for the 25th annual fireworks show, presented at midnight at Grand Army Plaza. The best viewing locations are at Grand Army Plaza, on the Park’s West Drive, and along Prospect Park West.

For a prix-fixe menu

Black Pearl
833 Union St. between Sixth and Seventh avenues in Park Slope, (718) 857-2004.
Although the specific menu, prices, and times of the New Year’s Eve event at the Black Pearl were not certain at press time, owner Bob Chobor assured us that there will definitely be a prix-fixe menu featuring the restaurant’s "American cuisine served with Italian flair and French presentation." Live entertainment will also be offered.

Flatbush Farm
76 Saint Marks Ave. between Sixth and Flatbush avenues in Park Slope, (718) 622-3276, www.flatbushfarm.com.
Flatbush Farm’s energetic vibe is carried throughout their well-rounded menu, which is wholly comprised of additive-free and locally grown ingredients. To say goodbye to 2006, they will be offering a four-course, prix-fixe menu with two seatings, the first ($80) from 6 pm to 7 pm and the second ($110) starting at 9 pm. The second seating will include a champagne toast at midnight. Chef Eric Lind offers entrees such as duck confit, creamy polenta with wild mushroom ragu, roast venison loin, and sauteed diver scallops over a potato puree with black truffle vinaigrette.

Provence en Boite
263 Smith St. at DeGraw St. in Carroll Gardens, (718) 797-0707, www.provenceenboite.com.
This Carroll Gardens bistro and bakery is well known for its classic French fare and buttery smooth pastry. Provence en Boite’s chef Jean-Jacques Bernat will offer a special menu, including a rack of lamb and a scene-stealing lobster entree. The four-course menu is $95 and lasts from 5 pm to 9 pm. The meal also includes a variety of amuse-bouche, coffee or tea, pastry and a glass of champagne. The restaurant will not stay open for a midnight toast, making it the perfect spot to hit before going to a party for more champagne and dancing.

Stone Park Cafe
324 Fifth Ave. at Third Street in Park Slope, (718) 369-0082, www.stoneparkcafe.com.
The Stone Park Cafe will feature a three- or four-course prix-fixe menu, with the first seating from 5 pm to 7 pm for $65, and the second seating from 9 pm to 10:30 pm for $110. Stone Park’s dishes, including such culinary pleasures as lobster risotto and foie gras terrine, are refreshingly interesting choices. By holding out for the second seating, you can enjoy a fourth course - a cheese plate featuring gourmet cheeses like D’affinois (a triple-creme Brie-like cheese) and Rolf Beeler Prattigauer (a raw cow’s milk cheese from Switzerland).

For food at great prices

Pete’s Downtown
2 Water St. at Old Fulton Street in DUMBO, (718) 858-3510, www.petesdowntown.com.
This waterside restaurant is known for its traditional and reasonably priced Italian fare. For the holiday, Pete’s will be serving a three-course, $60 prix-fixe menu from 9:30 pm-1 am. (There is a 50 percent deposit at the time of reservation.) Among the entree selections are veal parmesan, chicken a la Pete’s, shrimp scampi, grilled salmon, grilled prime sirloin and a grilled chicken breast. There will also be dancing, balloons and noisemakers, and a champagne toast at midnight.

Select an event, make your reservations and save your resolutions for tomorrow, because everyone knows calories don’t carry over into the New Year. Happy dining and best wishes for a happy 2007!

©2006 Community Newspaper Group