Restaurant File: New York City's Spectacular Spots for Special Celebrations & Private Dining

Gramercy Tavern is to Manhattan dining what the Rolling Stones are to rock and roll—a true and eternal standard bearer. One of the jewels in the crown of the nearly royal restaurateur Danny Meyer, Gramercy Tavern seduces first time guests every time and reinforces its haute countryside tavern spell with every visit from a regular. It starts with the irresistible smell of the wood-burning ovens that hit you the moment you walk through the doors. The flames in the fireplace enhance the cozy quotient. The decor—hanging copper pans and an artful jumble of pine cones, leafy branches, brambles and other touches that appear to have been looted from an upstate forest—provides a welcome reprieve from the rush and bustle just outside the door. It's a great complement to Chef Michael Anthony's rustic and urban method styles of cooking. The fresh, seasonal menu is available prix fixe in the dining room and a la carte in the more casual Tavern (open from lunchtime onward). Try the outstanding stuffed meatball in the Tavern or book ahead for a table in main dining room to indulge in delicious entrees like the duck confit. A table at the Tavern can seat eight but private dining is available for up to 22 guests.

There's even more reason to visit Daniel, the flagship of Chef Daniel Boulud's empire, now that it's been given a thorough—not to mention thoroughly chic—renovation in the summer of 2008 under the direction of renowned designer Adam Tihany. The progressive new French menu continues to inspire while the Italian palazzo style architecture is now complemented by cool new lighting fixtures, and more contemporary furnishings and rich fabrics in earthy tones of creams, chocolate browns, and slate blue, plus the occasional touch of sexy crimson. Daniel is regularly noted as one of the most romantic places to dine in the city, but it's also a great choice for larger parties, especially during the holiday season, as it recalls an old school New York glamour yet has very modern style. Custom menus can be created for your private event in the elegant Bellecour Room, located adjacent to the restaurant bar and lounge. It accommodates up to 90 guests for lunch or dinner. Groups of up to 24 can be seated in the semi-private lounge area adjacent to the bar, which, by the way, is an elegant spot to start or end an evening with a glass of bubbly. For an intimate dinner party of up to eight, try to reserve one of the main dining room's corner banquettes or semi-private alcoves. If you know the right people, you might be able to be one of the rare parties to book the private chef's table in the kitchen, which seats four—an experience they offer rarely and only upon very special request. Regardless of where you sit, you and your party will always be treated to a feast that highlights the season's bounty, perfect for the holidays. To continue the celebration at home, you can always stock up on caviar, Champagne and other gourmet goodies from Boulud's online shop.

Nothing rings truer than the description at the top of the menu at Adour at the St. Regis Hotel: "Cuisine designed with wine in mind." Head Chef Alain Ducasse executes his vision of bringing wine to the table as a must, not a maybe. Since it opened in January 2008, the lush, sumptuous Adour has already earned two Michelin stars—no small triumph in a city jam-packed with transcendent restaurants and discerning diners. Together, Ducasse and executive chef Tony Esnault deliver complex and innovative nouveau French cuisine. Every dish is designed with a perfectly paired red or white wine in mind. Simple but exquisite, Ducasse has created a niche where wine lovers and restaurant-goers coexist over a glass of sublime vintage and a heartfelt meal. Private dining spaces in the "Left Bank" or "Right Bank" accommodate up to 14 guests, but for something really memorable, book the 12-seat wine vault, where you can arrange custom dinners with top wine producers in attendance.

The most recent addition to Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group, The Modern, has attracted legions of fans—art lovers and foodies alike. Located inside the Museum of Modern Art, the spare but well-appointed dining room has a spectacular view of the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller sculpture garden. Chef Gabriel Kreuther offers Alsatian-inspired new French/American prix fixe menus in the dining room. The hip, sleek bar room is a terrific choice for a more moderately priced and informal a la carte dining experience. Want to make your holiday party a high art affair? A private dining room which also overlooks the sculpture garden seats up to 64 guests.

The view alone from the 35th floor is enough reason to stop into Asiate in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, but that's not all it has to offer, one of Suzanne's insiders in New York tells us. Asian-New American fusion cuisine is served there, and the beautiful and clean neutral setting overlooking Central Park and Columbus Circle bring every flavor into sharp focus. Despite its spaciousness and ultra-high ceilings, you could certainly call Asiate a hidden gem. Those of us spending more carefully these days will appreciate its reasonably priced prix fixe menus. Stylish semi-private tables seat up to 10 guests comfortably, but the choice spot is the large round table in the corner of the restaurant with amazing vistas of the park and cityscape. A holiday meal there with your family and loved ones is an uplifting experience you'll talk about well into the new year.