Compiled by Julia Harbo

Bring some holiday cheer to your stomach!

Shutterstock/Sandra Cunningham

New Year’s Eve

La Sandía
(7852L Tysons Corner Center, McLean; 703-893-2222; www.richardsandoval.com/lasandiavirginia)
La Sandía offers 250 Mexican spirits, sparkling sangria and tequila flights along with a special three-course dinner with appetizers choices of guacamole de la costa with crab meat and Serrano peppers, roasted corn soup with huitlachoche sauce, and sopes de carnitas with roasted pork and blood orange-habañero glaze. Entrees include jalisco shrimp enchiladas with Oaxaca cheese and plantains, chicken zarape with bacon, pico de gallo and chipotle sauce, and mar y tierra volcan tacos for two featuring a build your own taco option. For dessert, La Sandía is offering churros with abuelita hot chocolate and mescal infsed whipped cream. / $24.95 per person, excluding tax and gratuity; call for reservations.

Capitol City Brewing New Year’s Bash
(Capitol City Brewing Company, Shirlington Village; (703)578-3888; www.capcitybrew.com)
The local neighborhood brewery and restaurant is gearing up for a New Year’s Bash with a professional DJ, party favors and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. Watch New Year’s Eve celebrations from other major cities broadcast on multiple big-screen televisions from the warmth and comfort of inside the festive brewpub. Enjoy delicious favorites from the popular Capitol City menu and sip on a variety of house-made brews including the recently unveiled “Snow Wit” ale. / Dec. 31 from 10 p.m.–2 a.m.; Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door that can be purchased at the restaurant. Capitol City Brewing Company, Shrirlington Village; $5 in advance, $10 at door.

New Year’s Eve Dinner at 2941 Restaurant
(2941 Fairview Park Dr., Falls Church; 703-270-1500; www.2941.com)
Enjoy a three-course prix fixe menu with appetizers – Japanese kindai, taylor bay scallops and kushi oyster ceviche, winter leaves, warm Maine lobster, beef tartar –, main course – brioche crusted turbot, Hawaiian snapper, lamb with eggplant caviar, bacon wrapped veal loin, ravioli forestiere – and dessert – chocolate quarter, ruby grapefruit soufflé, chocolate earl grey entremet, or coconut flan. / Saturday, December 31; $95 per person; call for reservations.

New Year’s Eve Dinner at The Ashby Inn and Restaurant
(692 Federal St., Paris, VA; 866-336-0099; www.ashbyinn.com)
The Ashby Inn will be doing two different seatings for dinner: at 6 p.m., a five-course menu; at 9 p.m., an eight-course menu, which includes a champagne toast at midnight. / Sunday, December 31; 6 p.m. $89 per person; 9 p.m. $119 per person.

Indian New Years Dinner at Narmada Winery
(43 Narmada Lane, Amissville, VA; 540-937-8215; www.narmadawinery.com)
Celebrate the New Year with an Indian food buffet and live music, with Narmada Winery wine, of course. The menu includes chicken tikka, pakora, rice, lamb rogan josh, paneer, lentil dal, cauliflower, onion kulcha, and kulfi ice cream and carrot cake for dessert. / Saturday, December 31; 7-11 p.m.; $79 per person, includes dinner and a bottle of wine per pair or 2 glasses of wine per person.

New Year’s Masquerade Ball at Potomac Point Winery
(275 Decatur Road, Stafford, VA; 540-446-2107; www.potomacpointwinery.com)
Bust out your masks and traditional masquerade attire to kick off 2012 at Potomac Point Winery’s Masquerade Ball. The evening begins with appetizers paired with wine, followed by dinner and dessert in the ballroom, buffet style. At midnight, watch balloons drop and cheers the New Year with sparkling wine until the bar closes at 1 a.m. / Saturday, December 31; 7 p.m.-1 a.m.; $109 per person, $99 for club members; $110 per person group rate including transportation; call Barbie at 540-659-0022 for reservations.

New Year’s Day

New Year’s Day PJ Brunch at Mon Ami Gabi
(11950 Democracy Drive, Reston; 703-707-0233; www.monamigabi.com)
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so on January 1, breakfast is the most important meal of the year. Biggest bonus: guests who dine in their pajamas will receive a Mon Ami Gabi gift certificate equal to the price of their meal (not including tax and gratuity) for a future visit. Brunch options include sweet and savory from the waffle bananas foster ($9.95) to the beef bourguignon benedict ($12.95). / Sunday, January 1; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; for reservations call 703-707-0233.

Capitol City Brewing New Year’s Day Brunch
(Capitol City Brewing Company, Shirlington Village; (703)578-3888; www.capcitybrew.com)
Just in time to cure New Year’s Eve festivities, Capitol City Brewing Company at Shirlington Village is premiering a Rise & Shine Sunday Brunch available every Sunday from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. For a low price of $9.95 per person, guests can enjoy a fresh delicious a la carte breakfast/lunch menu featuring favorite brunch classics. / Jan. 1, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. ; $9.95, Upgrade to $15.95 per person for the same classic dishes plus three Bloody Mary’s or Mimosas.

Black Eyed Peas for Good Luck at Bayou Bakery
(1515 N. Courthouse Road, Arlington, VA 22201; 703-243-2410; www.bayoubakeryva.com)
As legend has it, the southern dishes of black-eyed peas, mustard and collard greens are said to bring good luck and prosperity in great abundance. The southern bakery is kicking 2012 off with a full meal of Chew Dat “Slow-Cooked” special of 18-hour black-eyed peas with benton’s country ham, 8-hour collard greens with benton’s bacon, cider vinegar and red chili flakes, and sweet corn bread. You can also pick up your balck-eyed peas and collard greens to go by the quart, and bring your good luck home with you. / Sunday, January 1; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; $12 for the full meal in-house; $7 per quart of peas, $5 per quart of collards, or $12 per pair.