L'Opera "Stops Traffic" For New Year's Eve Festivities; Alegria Parties Hard

LONG BEACH, CA, December 20, 2012 (Press-News.org) For those seeking a relaxing fine dining experience in Long Beach on New Year's Eve, L'Opera Ristorante on downtown's Pine Avenue is planning to stop traffic for you...literally! The critically acclaimed Italian restaurant has arranged with the City of Long Beach to open a valet station on First Street right outside its doors so that guests may escape the frenzy associated with the annual New Year's Eve celebration, which is expected to draw some 20,000 attendees.

Executive Chef Walter Cotta has developed a special New Year's Eve menu as well as a prix fixe 5-course menu for $85, available throughout the entire evening. The restaurant will be adorned in New Year's Eve decorations and 1,000 black and gold balloons.
For those looking to party, sister restaurant Alegria Cocina Latina will have a bird's eye view of the city's grand celebration and will join other Pine Avenue restaurants by offering a 3-course menu for $30 until 9 p.m. (a 4-course menu for $55 will be served after 9 p.m.) Meals include a complimentary glass of Champagne.

For reservations or more information, call L'Opera at (562) 491-0066; Alegria at (562) 436-3388.

Combining yesterday's charm and today's sophistication, L'Opera Ristorante is located in the heart of downtown Long Beach in a stately edifice that formerly housed the Bank of Italy. L'Opera uses only fresh fish from local markets, prime grade beef, New Zealand lamb and free-range chicken and all pastas and breads are made daily on the premises. Alegria offers a dizzying array of tapas (perfect for sharing), numerous Latin American lunch and dinner selections, soups made daily from scratch and entree salads, the menu has earned critical acclaim for its bold flavors, exquisite textures, originality and ability to satisfy the palates of discriminating diners. Both are located in the 100 block of Pine Avenue.