From Suite & Tender at Sé San Diego to Vela at the newest Hilton in town and merK Supper Club at the Keating, an especially rich palate of new San Diego restaurants is set to usher hungry locals into an indulgent New Year.

In order to fully appreciate your New Year's Eve party plans, start the night off with a gourmet three or four-course meal from one of the best classic or new restaurants in San Diego. Follow this gastronomic guide to the best New Year's Eve dinner in San Diego - from the Gaslamp to Little Italy, North Park, Del Mar and beyond.

Discover the top ten New Year's Eve menus at San Diego restaurants.

Vela Restaurant
Vela is the latest culinary craze to hit the bay, now open at the new Hilton San Diego Bayfront. This New Year's Eve, Vela is serving a four-course meal. Our top picks from the holiday menu are: Butternut Squash Soup with winter truffle and chestnut cream; Braised Pork Belly and Swiss Chard Ravioli with parsnip purée and salted caramel; Grilled Meyer New York with spoon spinach, Mascarpone gnocchi and Borolo wine sauce; Baked Alaska with Chambord ice cream and vanilla chiffon. $65 per guest, dinner from 5:30pm.

Suite & Tender

The Sé San Diego Hotel - formerly the San Diego Setai - introduces the brand new Suite & Tender restaurant just in time for New Year's Eve dinner. Be the first to taste such signature menu items as a "Create your Own Raw Bar" with choices of oysters, shrimp, king crab, lobster tail, stone crab and clams; Wagyu Beef Sliders, Duck Confit Gratin, Braised Pork Belly & Diver Scallop, Alaskan King Crab & Veal Tenderloin and classic steak choices including Japanese Kobe Beef.

The merK
The Keating Hotel introduces its new Italian supper club, the merK, on New Year's Eve. Before the Playboy party, head to the merK for an authentic Italian three-course meal, preceded by a complimentary treat from the Chef. This New Year's Eve menu includes: Chef's treat - a Piccola Pizza with gorgonzola, pesto and pine nut; Shrimp & Lobster Bisque; Chicken breast stuffed with feta, sundried tomato, mushroom, spinach and basil; Espresso Chocolate Mousse with hazelnut biscotti. $50 per guest, served 7-9pm.

KITCHEN 1540
Accessible fine dining is defined at this new restaurant. If you're trying to impress your NYE date, splurge at KITCHEN 1540 at L'Auberge Del Mar. Following the selected Amuse Bouche, our picks on this four-course holiday menu are: Seared Foie Gras with black pepper financier and blood orange pop rocks (left); Organic Green Salad with heirloom apples, goat cheese and sherry vinaigrette; Pan Roasted Australian Barramundi with manila clams, chanterelles and sauce blanchet; Valrhona Chocolate Panna Cotta with salted peanuts, peanut butter crumble and caramel ice cream. $125 per guest. (pictured)

The Fleetwood
Head to the Fleetwood party early to savor the three-course holiday dinner with your friends or special date. We recommend this dinner lineup for memorable night: Prawn "Fish and Chips" with beer batter, sweet potato fries and malt vinegar; Chili-Brown Sugar Rubbed Ribeye with green beans, smashed potatoes and peppercorn sauce; Apple Walnut Cobbler with walnuts, cranberries, almond crumb topping and maple walnut ice cream. $55 per guest, $75 after 6pm.

Quarter Kitchen
The Ivy Hotel's Quarter Kitchen will countdown to 2009 with a special three-course menu, prepared by new Executive Chef Nathan Coulon. The festive meal begins with a chef's choice of Amuse Bouche and tempting choices for all courses. We recommend: Seared Foi Gras Terrine with curry apple chutney and brioche toast; Eight Ounce Filet of Prime Beef and Grilled Pacific Shrimp with galette of Jerusalem artichokes, black truffles, red wine soy gastrique; Apple Frangipane Tart served with sweet white pearmain apples, almond cream, vanilla rum ice cream and apple chip. $99 per guest, $129 after 7:30pm.

Anthology
This Little Italy supper club offers a unique NYE experience with a live Jazz, R&B and Soul performance complemented by champagne and a four-course menu. The Anthology dinner menu features this combination: Amuse Bouche of Seared Foie Gras with maple glaze on crostini; Carrot, Butternut Squash, Chipotle soup with beet oil garnish; Mache/Frisee Salad with pomegranates, mushrooms, roasted parsnips and sweet potato vinaigrette; Monkfish Ossobucco with rosemary broth, carrots, fennel, asparagus, tomatoes and garlic; Chocolate Covered Strawberries with sparkling cider sauce. $90 per guest, 5:30pm seating; $145 per guest, 9:30pm seating; served 5-9pm.

The Prado
Chef Jeff Thurston presents a stunning three-course menu at the picturesque Prado in Balboa Park. Create your own combination or follow our lead: Complimentary Amuse Bouche of Smoked Salmon Parfait with tobiko caviar and chive oil with a glass of champagne; Surf & Turf of sliced Maine lobster tail and seared Kobe beef carpaccio with chocolate sauce and tiny greens; Red Wine Braised Boneless Beef Short Ribs with grill charred asparagus, crushed potatoes, point reyes blue cheese crème brulee; A Study in Chocolate - pot de crème tartlet of silky chocolate cream in a flaky chocolate tart shell, Belgian chocolate decadence cake and almost too-much-more. $69.95 or $89.95 with wine pairings per person, served 5-9pm.

The Great American Grill

Urban Solace
This chic North Park eatery will usher you into the New Year with an affordable four-course holiday menu enhanced by live music and a champagne toast. We recommend this menu lineup: Caramelized Onion-Apple-Blue Cheese Tart with warm frisee; Seared Duck Breast Salad with grapefruit, warmed goat cheese and garlic citrus vin; Fig and Pine Nut Stuffed Porkloin with spiced mashed sweet potatoes and braised chard; Ginger Creme Caramel with dark chery reduction. $41 for 6pm and 8pm seating and $45 for 10pm seating.

Insider Tip: Extraordinary Desserts presents new seasonal treats as Gateau Noel, a decadent torte that marries chocolate cake with raspberry crème brulee; a silky raspberry infused chocolate mousse and dark chocolate ganache adorned with touches of 23 ¾ karat gold leaf, chocolate, and fresh raspberries; as well as the annual favorite Extraordinary Yule Log cake with 23 ¾ karat gold leaves.