Here’s what’s new and changing at Kyiv’s restaurants this week.
If you happen to be at Avalon on New Year’s Eve, you’ll enjoy a magic show called Earthlings by a fellow named Mr. Bender and dance music by the City Quartet, as well some other circus-themed goings-on.

Avalon

3 Leontovicha, 234-7494

Average price of main dish: Hr 70

French restaurant Marche offers a different “Dish of the Day” every day of the week. Each costs Hr 59.

Marche

13 Chervonoarmiska, 451-4050

Average price of main dish: Hr 120

Asahi is offering a new “show dish”: ostrich steak and fried Shiitake mushrooms. The whole thing is served with peppers, zucchini and steamed rice.

Asahi

1g Saksahanskoho, 244-2337

Average price of main dish: Hr 50

Basilik (Basil) has a bunch of new items to try, starting with Proscuitto salad, which comes with olive oil and Italian rolls. They also offer a salad with trout and crab; salad with smoked duck breast and lemon sorbet; a Gascoigne roll with sauce; tuna served under Briye sauce with avocadoes and aromatic pasta; and fish with bacon, fried with zucchini and tomatoes, among others.

Basilik

38 Saksahanskoho, 287-4166

Average price of main dish: Hr 50

Lipsky Osobnyak’s menu is featuring a number of new dishes: smoked eel with duck breast under an orange-truffle sauce; mushroom soup; cream of spinach soup; rabbit with mushroom baked in dough; grilled fish; pork ribs with cabbage; meatballs “a la classique”; and for dessert, apple strudel under an English sauce.

Lipsky Osobnyak

15 Lipska, 254-0090

Average price of main dish: Hr 60

Casa Bella’s chef Manu Du has created some new seafood dishes that might be worth checking out. There’s a new lobster dish, an octopus salad, seafood soup, and fried angler fish. There’re also a number of foie gras options, for those who like liver. The desserts are apparently especially noteworthy – try the assorted chocolate with homemade ice cream. The New Year’s program at Casa Bella’s includes a magic show, but will run you $250.

Casa Bella

27 Sahaidachnoho, 425-2309

Average price of main dish: Hr 90

The New Year’s show at Mokko is called “In Search of a Real Friend.” If you go, expect a variety contests and games, as well as some dancing.

Mokko

15 Khreshchatyk, 230-9230

Average price of main dish: Hr 50

O’Panas continues the magic show theme with a New Year’s program that includes a rabbit-magician and other guests. The menu also has a few new surprises, among them the home-made sausage with potato pancakes. Perhaps they’ll pull your meal from a hat.

O’Panas

10 Tereshchenkivsa, 235-2132

Average price of main dish: Hr 60

Tampopo’s got a new Christmas menu. One item seems particularly worth noting for Americans: the fillet of turkey served with baked apples and fruits. They’ve also got Christmas duck, tuna and crab rolls, and some strawberry-centered desserts.

Tampopo

55 Saksahanskoho, 289-2999

Average price of main dish: Hr 75

Fondue Bar, down there in Globus, is touting its East-West special, which mixes authentic Ukrainian salo rolls with sushi rolls made of tiger shrimp and tuna and other fishes.

Fondue Bar

Globus, 590-1803

Average price of main dish: Hr 45

Tequila House is also offering a seasonal menu, on which you’ll find a Yucatan Salad, made from marinated chicken, lettuce, tomatoes and oranges; a salmon dish with avocado; pork on the bone stuffed with mushrooms and cheese; sea perch in white wine; and strawberry cake.

Tequila House

8a Spasskaya, 417-0358

Average price of main dish: Hr 50

Soho will host jazz bands and a special menu at their New Year’s party, which starts at 10:00 p.m. and will cost you $250.

Soho

82 Artema, 484-0351

Average price of main dish:

Hr 100

Docker Pub, that new joint in Passazh, has added a few things to its menu. Try the “Dogger,” a new salad with lettuce, tongue, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes. If you don’t like tongue, try the Etage, a dish from eggplant, zucchini and tomatoes, all baked in cheese; or the Mayak, a pike fillet fried with vegetables in a Chinese sauce.

Docker Pub

9 Bogatyrska, 451-8528

Average price of main dish: Hr 50

Kyivpost