San Diego Unseen: An Urban Portrait
Bali Hai
The government may prohibit travel to Cuba, but Tango del Rey (3567 Del Rey St., Pacific Beach) cares not about these ridiculous restraints. From 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., Cuban salsa band Saoco Son, joined by an expanded brass section, will perform while you shake it on the dance floor. Also included: a Tropicana-style show by Afro-Cuban dance company Omo Aché, a DJ, Cuban buffet and a midnight toast with balloon drop. Tickets are $89 before Dec. 30, $99 at the door, space permitting. tangodelrey.com
If you get the New Year munchies, hit up the midnight breakfast spread at Barona Resort & Casino’s Seasons Fresh Buffet. It’s like Vegas, ’cept once you step out of the casino, highrises and strippers are replaced by cowboys and horses. Hey, Lakeside! barona.com
Bertrand at Mister A’s in Bankers Hill and Rancho Santa Fe’s Mille Fleurs offer a la carte ($10 to $46) and five-course prix-fixe ($105) options on New Year’s Eve. Count down to 2011 while counting the few pennies left in your pocket. bertrandatmisteras.com, millefleurs.com.
If you have $10 to your name, you can ring it in at Wine Steals Hillcrest
or East Village. What, pray tell, does this getcha? A welcome drink,
champagne at midnight, a live DJ at the Hillcrest location and a
big-screen live stream of said DJ at Wine Steals East Village and Proper Gastropub. Full
menus will be offered at both locales. Hey, Mr. DJ. Wine Steals
Hillcrest: winestealssd.com
Heading to the Ivy? Or Andaz? Or whatever
it’s called? Before you start partying, get fat and happy on Quarter Kitchen’s six-course
menu, served from 6 to 11 p.m. It’s $99 for early birds (before 7:30
p.m.) and $129 after. Check out the third-course choices alone: wild
mushroom risotto with porcini creme and shaved grana pedana; potato
gnocchi with chorizo sauce; duck salami and mimolette; or ricotta
ravioli with Tahitian squash, escarole and tart cherries. Reserve, reserve, reserve! quarterkitchen.com
Hungry for peace and quiet? Snag a Night Owl Special between 10 p.m. and midnight from Crest Café (425
Robinson Ave. in Hillcrest) for $7.25, then head home to curl up on the
couch with a cozy blanket and fall asleep before the ball drops.
crestcafe.net
Got food news? Write to brookl@sdcitybeat.com
