Ring in the New Year at Atlanta Restaurants
Following the rollercoaster of 2020, 2021 is sure to be welcomed with plenty of boisterous celebrations. Atlanta’s top restaurants are on the ready with special dinners, parties and brunches to guarantee a festive start to the new year.
Aria in Buckhead will be open and serving its regular menu on New Year’s Eve. Highlights from chef/owner Gerry Klaskala’s menu include butter-braised Maine lobster, crisped duck confit, pan-seared sea scallops, slow-braised Berkshire pork and black angus filet mignon. View the dinner menu and make reservations online.
Cheers to the new year at Boone’s, overlooking the links at Bobby Jones Golf Course. Upon arrival, guests will be offered a complimentary glass of bubbles. The festive evening continues with food from the restaurant’s regular menu, live music and party favors.
For a New Year’s to remember, dine at Carson Kitchen. The Alpharetta City Center restaurant is open normal business hours of noon-9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve serving Chef Cory Harwell’s menu of reimagined comfort food. On New Year’s Day, stop in for brunch from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The restaurant also will serve its regular menu alongside the brunch menu and will close at its regular time of 10 p.m. Make reservations online.
Swing into Cold Beer for a New Year’s Eve tasting menu to go. The meal feeds two people and includes three cocktails per person for $175. Highlights include smoked lobster, Sea Island red pea arancini with red eye aioli and Hickory Hill stewed collard greens. Place orders online from Dec. 23-30 for pick up on Dec. 31 between 2-4 p.m.
Chef Doug Turbush and his team at Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar are luring guests with a special four-course New Year’s Eve menu. The dinner begins with an amuse of smoked Faroe Island salmon tartlet followed by starter choices including seared Nantucket Bay scallops, wood-fired black pepper octopus and Georgia shrimp bisque. Among the entrée choices are pan-roasted black grouper, butter-poached Maine lobster, seared duck breast and grilled filet of Heritage beef. Sweet endings include caramel apple bread pudding, Key lime pie and Thai iced coffee pot de crème. Cost is $85 per person plus tax and gratuity. View the full menu and make reservations online. For those preferring to ring in the New Year at home, Drift is offering two special takeout dinners that each serve two people. Choose from the silver dinner for two for $99 with two appetizers, two entrées and two desserts or the gold dinner for two for $129 that also includes a fruits of the sea option. Wine pairings are available for an additional cost. Place orders and select pick-up time online.
Forza Storico welcomes guests to toast to an extraordinary new year with half-priced bottles of wine on New Year’s Eve. The Westside Atlanta restaurant will be open until 1 a.m. with the last dinner seating at 10 p.m. for guests to feast on its menu of traditional Roman dishes including cacio e pepe, saltimbocca alla Romana and pan-seared branzino.
On New Year’s Eve, Gunshow will be serving its standard 10-course prix fixe tasting menu with eight savory dishes and two desserts brought to the table by the chef. Limited reservations are still available and can be made online.
Usher in 2021 at Gypsy Kitchen with a live flamenco guitarist, Champagne toast and a specially curated menu. A la carte selections include small plates of grilled Spanish octopus, lamb chops, fried Brussels sprouts, squid ink tagliatelle and more. Heartier appetites can choose from large plates of whole roasted lobster, Espelette-rubbed prime rib and seafood paella. Finish with dessert features of tres leches, salted caramel budino or Basque cheesecake. The Buckhead eatery will be open on New Year’s Eve from 4 p.m. until late night and is opening early at noon on New Year’s Day.
Heirloom Café in Athens sets forth both low key and fancy spreads with its New Year’s Eve meal kits. Place orders online for cheese and charcuterie, creamy spinach dip, smoked trout deviled eggs, Meyer lemon cheesecake, a Good Luck bowl with Caroline Gold rice, Sea Island red pea hoppin’ John and braised greens, and more. Come back New Year’s Day for brunch from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Japanese craft cocktail lounge, Himitsu is available to reserve for a private New Year’s Eve party. Rent the entire space to kiss 2020 goodbye with small bites and desserts from Umi and unique cocktails.
Ring in 2021 with music and delicious tavern fare at HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern. The Brookhaven and Perimeter locations boast live music, a dance floor and party favors and are serving the regular menu along with a prime rib special and Champagne flight and bourbon flight specials. The Halcyon location in Alpharetta is offering the same specials plus a DJ downstairs and a live band upstairs at HOBNOB HIGH UP for those 21 and older. Music starts at 8 p.m. Come back on Jan. 1 for a special New Year’s brunch with $17 bottomless mimosas at Brookhaven and Perimeter and a $10 mimosa special at Halcyon. Brunch is served 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at all locations.
To help with overindulgence, Krystal will be open 24 hours on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, serving Hangover Krystals. This popular twist on the classic Krystal features a steamed bun, patty, cheese, onion, bacon and a fresh-cracked fried egg and is available on its own for $1.69 or as a meal with two Hangover Krystals and small tots.
Add some Mexican flavors and flair to your New Year’s celebration at Lazy Llama Cantina. The Midtown dining spot is serving its regular menu of tacos and other Mexican specialties on Dec. 31. On New Year’s Day, Lazy Llama complements its regular menu with brunch specials and $17 bottomless mimosas.
To ensure prosperity in 2021, Loyal Q and Brew will be serving black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day. This Southern side dish pairs perfectly with the eatery’s menu of mouthwatering smOAKed meats, burgers, salads and more.
Marlow’s Tavern helps get the party started with a selection of New Year’s Eve hors d’oeuvre that feed four to six people with enough for leftovers. Choose from favorites such as warm brie fondue, smoked trout dip, a Southern chef’s board and the option to add a whole roasted beef tenderloin and some holiday cheer with wine selections. View the menu and place orders online. For New Year’s Day, Marlow’s is offering a $120 brunch spread that feeds five to six people with leftovers or the option to choose from a variety of a la carte dishes, brunch cocktail kits and more. View full menu and place orders online.
Pop some bubbly and welcome the new year in historic Crabapple where Milton's Cuisine & Cocktails is serving a festive New Year’s Eve menu. First course options include lobster bisque, spinach and warm brie salad, and apple-braised pork belly. Among the second course selections are bacon-wrapped filet mignon, herb-roasted grouper and bourbon-smoked pork shank. Espresso martini crème brûlée, old-fashioned jelly jar or peach Bellini crisp finish the meal on a sweet note. The cost is $75 per person. View the full menu and make reservations online.
For cuisine that celebrates the best of land and sea, plan a New Year’s Eve dinner at Ocean & Acre. The Alpharetta restaurant has planned a four-course prix fixe menu for $59 per person that includes a complimentary Champagne toast. Menu highlights include seared yellowfin tuna, black kale salad, pan-roasted halibut, grilled lamb chops, risotto blanco and free-form chocolate trifle. Ocean & Acre will be open from 4 p.m. until late night.
Revival in Decatur welcomes guests to its dining room for a special New Year’s Eve dinner. The evening starts with an amuse of guinea hen and wild rice croquette followed by a first course choice of crispy Brussels sprout salad or Savannah-style oyster stew. The main course options are coal-roasted whole white tail deer with black barbecue, heirloom corn grits and marinated onions; country captain with curry-braised thigh and roasted breast of Springer Mountain chicken with fried almonds, Madeira currants, yellow rice pilaf and chowchow; or barbecued mushrooms with crispy hoppin’ John cake and roasted garlic collards. Each comes with a side of Gillespie family iron-skillet cornbread and whipped local honey butter. Dinner concludes with a dessert of spice-poached heirloom apple with local honey mousse, pecan nut crumble and sea salt. Cost is $80 per person; make reservations online.
Rock 'N' Taco rocks out of 2020 with a New Year’s Eve bash for guests 21 and over. Doors open at 8 p.m. for the first-come, first-served event featuring Justin Borgman performing at 9:30 and drink specials. The cover charge is $5.
Seed Kitchen & Bar is the place to be for a New Year’s Eve feast in Marietta. Chef Doug Turbush and his team have planned a four-course menu priced at $85 per person plus tax and gratuity. The meal starts with a pimento cheese tartlet followed by starter choices including a half dozen Beau Soleil oysters, warm burrata cheese and crusty sourdough bread, and spiced venison carpaccio. Among the entrée choices are Bay of Fundy salmon, filet mignon, apple cider-braised pork shank and sautéed lemon sole. The dessert course features a choice of chocolate decadence cake, eggnog pot de crème, sticky toffee pudding and more. View the full menu and make reservations online. For celebrating at home, Seed offers two takeout dinners that serve two people. Choose from the silver dinner for two for $99 with two appetizers, two entrées and two desserts or upgrade to the gold dinner for two for $129 that also includes charcuterie. Wine pairings also are available. Place orders and select pick-up time online.
For those preferring to ring in the new year from your sofa, Southern Belle is offering a fancy New Year’s Eve celebration dinner for two that you can savor, even if you stay in your pajamas. For $125, begin the evening with wagyu beef tartare with egg yolk over buttered brioche with a truffle emulsion. The second course is a wedge salad of local lettuce topped with smokey bacon, garlic croutons, tomatoes, shaved onion and Asher Blue cheese. The main course is a seafood feast of butter-roasted lobster tail stuffed with blue crab meat and topped with bearnaise sauce and served with truffle au gratin potatoes and sautéed local greens with roasted garlic. To make the dinner even more sophisticated, add on caviar service with blinis and crème fraiche for $100, foie gras torchon with citrus marmalade, truffled-honey pistachios and brioche for $20 and any of Southern Belle’s cocktails or bottles of bubbles. A limited number of dinners are available for New Year’s Eve so place preorders online for pick up on Dec. 31 starting at 5:15 p.m.
The Southern Gentleman celebrates with a special bar menu, $79 four-course prix fixe menu and a midnight Champagne toast. Menu highlights include Kushi oyster with sorrel granita and house-made hot sauce; smoked beets with Roquefort cream; choice of pan-seared snapper with cream of mushroom, rutabaga and apple terrine and crispy kale togarashi or grilled New York strip with caramelized cream, black garlic, dandelion greens and confit sunchokes; and a dessert choice of dark chocolate mousse or caramelized apple tart. On New Year’s Day, the restaurant will serve brunch starting at 11 a.m.
Half-priced bottles of wine are on the menu New Year’s Eve at Storico Fresco. The Buckhead restaurant invites guests to dine on its menu of traditional Italian dishes such as tagliatelle alla Bolognese, pan-seared salmon and pollo fritto Toscano (lemon-brined half fried chicken). The restaurant will be open until 1 a.m. with the last dinner seating at 10 p.m.
Tin Lizzy's and Tin Lizzy’s Taco Americana bring joy to the first day of the year with all day happy hour specials on New Year’s Day. Sip on drink offerings such as $5 Cinco Ritas, mojitos and Bare Bone vodka cocktails. Munchie deals include $4 fried pickles, fried jalapeños and tater tots and $5 queso blanco and guacamole.
Wild Wing Cafe swoops in with online ordering to stock the New Year’s Day football-watching spread. Menu highlights include wing samplers and party platters with choice of 33 made-from-scratch sauces, Mile High ultimate nachos, Buffalo chicken dip, fried ‘shrooms and more. Place orders online for curbside pick-up.
Zunzi's has all of its South African-inspired favorites available for takeout, catering or delivery at the Savannah and Atlanta locations from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on New Year’s Day.