If your reservations aren't already in hand, you might find it hard to get a table at Cape Girardeau's fine dining establishments this New Year's Eve. Celebrations is totally booked, and at last check tables were going fast at Royal N'Orleans (they've been getting calls since late summer). The situation is the same at Rose Bed Inn, another reservations-only restaurant.

But there are still places to eat with a nice menu, plenty of wine and cocktails and some relaxed ambience.

Cape Girardeau's locally owned Italian restaurant, Bella Italia, doesn't even accept reservations. "It's all first come, first served," manager Susan Smith said. Potential Bella diners might expect a wait, she said, but they can get in without reservations, and Smith said the wait might not be too long.

Saffron prefers reservations, manger Bryan Suntrup said, but they aren't required. If you don't have them, you might have to wait, but you'll get a table. Just remember, New Year's Eve is a busy night, and last year Saffron was totally booked.

Mollie's also prefers reservations, but management there said if you don't get a reservation in, there still might be a table open sometime during the evening. And there's always the bar.

-- SE Live