This was a last minute plan - but it turned out to be first rate!
A friend met me in Madison on New Years Eve at around 9 p.m. and we headed to a 10:15 p.m. reservation at LIliana's for the New Years Eve 6 course meal. It was almost a perfect 100 on my score chart!
There were two choices for each course and so my friend and I ordered one of each so we can taste everything. The only thing I was completely happy with was the very first starter of the duck pate - I had yucky rubbery chunks of liver in my pate and it tasted very much livery (I like pates that are very subtle).
Everything else was divine! I especially loved the ham and bean soup - oh my word it was good! And the pork that I had just fell off the bone and melted in your mouth.
The waiter was so nice and really helped make the evening enjoyable just by chatting and going out of his way to make sure all was good. Since it was new years eve, we asked about glasses of champagne and he just brought us a bottle - all the other tables were given bottles as well. It was such a nice touch.
There was a live band playing and around 11:30, the owner (head chef) of the restaurant and his daughter (Liliana, the restaurant's namesake) came around to all the tables to ask us to stay for the countdown and see if we enjoyed the food and all. I thought that was really hospitable and made me think that they actually were concerned that their patrons were enjoying everything.
They had a countdown and we were all given party hats and horns and all.
What a great New Years Eve and what a fabulous meal to end 2011 and ring in 2012!