Holiday parties are the perfect time to toast the past year and look forward to the next. They are a great way to say "thank you" to employees and customers and an opportunity to share the best of the season with family and friends. Las Olas Boulevard offers you lots of great places to hold your holiday celebrations. Here are a few of our favorites:

Las Olas Café has been described in many ways. A hidden jewel...a charming, Parisian bistro...the best romantic restaurant.

Located down a narrow brick walkway just a few steps off Las Olas Boulevard, Las Olas Café is ideal for those seeking a low key, intimate setting for their holiday party. The courtyard-with its mature trees decorated with soft, twinkling lights - is the perfect place to start the evening with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. A classical guitarist is available upon request. Then your party can move to the indoor dining room-suited for up to 50 people-for a delicious dinner.

The Café's menu, which owner Paula Pace describes as Nouveaux Continental, features such savory selections as Spinach & Pine Nut Ravioli, Shrimp and Scallop Saute and, of course, their famous Walnut Crusted Mahi Mahi. A set menu is developed for all private functions.

If you want to celebrate the holiday season in an intimate, casually elegant environment, the family owned and operated Las Olas Café is your best choice along the boulevard.

For a fine dining experience, the Grill Room on Las Olas is hard to beat. Their steaks and seafood are legendary. Their four-diamond wait staff is highly attentive. Their selection of wines is to die for.

But if you're planning a holiday party for 20 to 100 people, here's something else the Grill Room offers you: flexibility.

Have a smaller party? The Wine Room holds up to 30 people and lets you dine in a unique environment surrounded by more that 1,500 bottles of wine. Have a larger group? The Atrium Room is ideal for groups of up to 70 who want to enjoy fine steakhouse service. The menu is prepared before hand. However, guests are presented with a selection of entrees and desserts to choose from and you can choose to do either an open bar or wine service.

Let's face it, planning a holiday party can be stressful. With the Grill Room on Las Olas, it doesn't have to be. For great food and great service in a classic South Florida location, choose the Riverside Hotel's Grill Room.

Looking for a hip restaurant for your holiday party? How about one that has all the buzz associated with a celebrity chef? Then Johnny V is the right choice for you.

If you ask Johnny Vinczencz - aka Johnny V - what makes his restaurant a great choice for holiday celebrations he'll tell you it's the food. That's hard to argue with. The menu at Johnny V is unique - a bold, brash expression of Vinczencz's personality. Starters like Blue Corn Crusted Calamari and entrees like the Red Chile Venison have given Johnny V a reputation as one of South Florida's top restaurants.

A warning, however. The restaurant's popularity means that you can't book your party on a Friday or Saturday night. From Sunday through Thursday they're happy to develop a three or four course menu that includes a choice of entrees and desserts. You can do open bar or simply pay as you go. If your party exceeds 64 people, you can negotiate a buy-out of the entire restaurant.

For signature dishes and desserts in a stylish atmosphere, choose Johnny V Restaurant for your holiday party.