New Year's Eve

Best Dallas-Fort Worth restaurants for dining out on New Year's Eve 2018

Here's to a nice dinner on New Year's Eve.

Blue Ridge Travel

When you say New Year's Eve, your thoughts may first turn to drinking, not dining. But there's more to life than champagne toasts. Many restaurants are at the ready to make your final night of 2018 one filled with fun and food.

Here are the DFW restaurants serving celebratory dinner on New Year's Eve:

Abacus
Four-course dinner includes choices from masa-crusted rock shrimp, spinach-artichoke arancini, Gulf blue crab cake, lobster-corn chowder, smoked beef bacon wedge, kale Waldorf salad, Champagne gelee with berry pop rocks, garlic spaetzle, seared Hawaiian tuna with field pea pot stickers, Trout with red pepper-lentil puree, beef short rib with blackened Gulf shrimp and pepper Jack grits, beef tenderloin with parsnip puree, peanut butter layer bar, and lemon ice box tart.

Avanti
A la carte menu will feature soft shell crab, escargot, veal meatballs, tenderloin with goat cheese, osso buco, and lobster tail fra diavolo. Complimentary champagne toast and party favors at midnight. 5-11:30 pm. 214-871-4955.

Bird Café
Four-course prix meal includes choices from black-eyed pea chow chow on sourdough, vichyssoise, grilled frisée salad, duck, seared scallop, braised short rib with snap pea and potato, buttermilk poppy cake, and spearmint soft-serve ice cream with chocolate ganache. $75, plus $35 for wine pairing. 817-332-2473.

Blatt Beer & Table
Preston Hollow Village restaurant will do a unique, early happy hour on New Year's Eve from 2-5:30 pm, and will close at 9 pm. They open on New Year’s Day at 12 noon.

CBD Provisions
A la carte menu will feature popular dishes and special fare including golden osetra caviar with whole wheat blinis, Wagyu short rib, and Chateaubriand for two. Complimentary champagne toast at midnight. 5 pm-midnight. 214-261-4500.

City Hall Bistro
Bistro at Adolphus Hotel in downtown Dallas is doing a six-course menu with bass crudo with fresno chile, cilantro and pomegranate; Israeli couscous risotto with roasted cauliflower, golden raisin and almond; and scallops with cotechino, black lentils, and orange powder; stuffed quail; and honey cake. $62. 214-651-3686.

City Works
Four-hour premium bar and passed appetizers such as sriracha shrimp spring rolls, cucumber Mongolian neef, tuna poke nachos, and fried BBQ ribs. $80-$100. City Works Frisco 469-850-1850; City Works Fort Worth 682-207-1500.

Dallas Chop House
Three-course menu at downtown Dallas steakhouse includes choices from poached oysters & caviar, cauliflower soup, beef tartare, radicchio salad, shrimp ceviche, salmon, Texas redfish, New York strip, pork loin, surf & turf with filet and shrimp, corn custard, chocolate tart, and lemon-yogurt panna cotta. $65 plus $35 for wine pairings. 214-736-7300.

Dallas Fish Market
Three-course meal at downtown Dallas restaurant includes choices from smoked salmon and roe sandwich, sunchoke soup, lobster salad, treviso & eggplant, hamachi, halibut, lobster four ways, duck breast, Arctic char, filet mignon, olive oil cake, chocolate cremeux, and blueberry-ginger creme brulee. $65 plus $30 for wine pairings. 214-744-3474.

Dee Lincoln Prime at the Star in Frisco
Special menu, party hats, and favors will be offered to ring in the New Year. Seatings are at 4 pm, 6 pm, 8 pm, and 10 pm. 214-387-3333.

Dragonfly Restaurant
Five-course menu at Hotel ZaZa restaurant includes choices from lobster bisque, salad with goat cheese "tater tot" crouton, chicken-madras curry over cauliflower rice, scallops with gnocchi, ribeye, spaghetti squash pomodoro with quinoa meatballs, mocha cappuccino pot de crème, lemon angel food cake French toast, and croissant-Danish bread pudding. Diners get complimentary tickets to the NYE Party beginning at 10 pm. 214-550-9500.

El Bolero
Both locations of authentic Mexican restaurant - Design District and Fitzhugh Avenue - will do a 3-course menu with wine pairings; regular menu also available. Champagne toast. 5 pm-2 am. $95. 214-741-1986.

Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck
Six-course tasting menu include "Steak and Eggs," IE Japanese A5 nigiri with Kaluga caviar, Big Eye tuna tartare, King crab and Maine lobster salad, duck confit spring roll with Perigord truffle, and A Bar N Ranch New York strip. 5-10 pm. $165, Optional wine pairing, $50. 214-571-5784.

Gorji
Four-course menu includes choices from scallops, venison loin, salmon-arugula salad, berries & baby greens, traditional Caesar, beef tenderloin with gnocchi gorgonzola, salmon & poached shrimp, lamb & Texas quail, 3-cheese lasagna, flourless chocolate cake, or Kefir cheese butterfly. 5 pm-midnight. $99. 972-503-7080.

The Grape
Three-course dinner. Last seating will enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne and party favors. 5-10 pm. $70 plus $25 for wine pairings. 214-828-1981.

Haywire
Rooftop celebration features champagne specials, specialty NYE cocktails, complimentary bites, party favors, photo booth, and ball drop on all TVs. Menu highlight includes chateaubriand, Meyer lemon poached colossal crab battered in lemon hollandaise with blistered green tomato, grilled broccolini, and poblano whipped potato. 8 pm-2 am. 972-781-9473.

Holy Grail Pub
Five-course meal paired with craft beer includes crimini mushroom ravioli oyster Rockefeller, frisee with candied yams, beef tenderloin au poivre with blue cheese au gratin, and Grand Marnier coffee pound cake with orange ganache. Complimentary beer toast at midnight, and $5 French 75 cocktails from open to close. 7 pm. $65. 972-377-6633.

Jalisco Norte
Six-course menu features crab Yucutan papadzules, black-eyed pea soup, lobster tamal, beef filet, eggnog ice cream, and grilled sweet potato with vanilla cream and quince puree. $75 plus $29 for wine or cocktail pairings. 214-443-5183.

Lavendou
Three-course menu at French restaurant includes choices from cream of wild mushroom soup, baby romaine Caesar salad, watermelon and cherry tomatoes, salmon, halibut with a champagne sauce and caviar, rack of lamb beef Wellington, raspberry mousse, Belgian chocolate mousse cake, tiramisu, and mixed berries tart. $80. 972-248-1911.

Lawry's
New Year’s Eve feast includes prime rib carved tableside and accompaniments including the spinning bowl salad, creamed corn, creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, and Yorkshire pudding; plus ribeye steak, Atlantic salmon, and pecan pie with caramel. 5-9:30 pm. 972-503-6688.

Meddlesome Moth
In addition to regular menu and chalkboard specials, a four-course menu includes choices from giant ginger lemongrass chicken dumpling, Creole crawfish dip, black eyed pea hummus, beet & baby greens salad, smoky clam potato chowder, hangar steak with fingerling potatoes, trout with olive oil yukon gold mash, miso-honey cauliflower steak, cherry cobbler, white chocolate Oreo ice box pie, and ginger coconut rice pudding. 6 pm is $60 for 3 courses. 7:30 and 9:30 pm is $70 for 4 courses. 214-628-7900.

Merchant House
Maple Avenue district restaurant will serve lunch from 11am-4 pm, then host a 4-course menu with oysters, scallops, and a 4-ounce filet, paired with cocktails and wine. 5 pm-midnight. $95 plus $30 for wine pairings. Champagne toast at midnight and DJ until 2 am. 214-807-2174.

Mirador
Four-course dinner includes butter-poached halibut with Carolina gold rice, collard greens, and bouillabaisse; trout tartare with green tomatoes, crème fraiche, and dill aioli; and polenta with 10-year Parmesan, black pepper, and Perigord truffle. 5-9:30 pm. $95 plus $70 for wine pairing. 214-945-8200.

Morton's The Steakhouse
Steakhouse fare with unrivaled service, plus special Côte de Boeuf. 5 pm–midnight. 214-741-2277.

Oak
Design District restaurant is doing a 4-course menu. 5 pm-midnight. $95 plus $60 for wine pairings. Live music with three-piece band at 6 pm. Champagne flights and midnight toast. 214-712-9700.

Oceanaire Seafood Room
Open New Year's Eve 4–11:30 pm and New Year’s Day from 4-9 p.m, with $1 oysters at the bar on New Year's Day all day. 972-759-2277.

Ocean Prime
New Year's festivities will include a champagne toast countdown, party favors, and a few specials such as sea bass over lobster risotto, Rosewood Ranch Wagyu ribeye, and a spiced bourbon old fashioned. 4 pm-1 am. 214-965-0440.

Pakpao
Both locations - Design District and Preston Hollow - of Thai restaurant will offer 3-course menu with choices from firecracker shrimp, mussels, sea bass, duck breast, lobster fried rice, Thai doughnuts. $70 plus $20 for alcohol pairings. Regular menu also available. 214-749-7002.

Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
Four-course menu includes choices from shrimp cocktail, fried oysters, lobster deviled eggs, Caesar salad, lobster bisque, filet mignon, ribeye, New York strip, peppercorn steak, lamb chops, salmon, sea bass, asparagus, wild mushrooms, mashed potatoes creamed spinach, French green beans, Key lime pie, chocolate turtle pie, cheesecake, red velvet brownie, creme brulee, and sorbet. 4-11 pm. $110. 214-366-2000.

Perry's
Three-course dinner includes choices from lobster bisque, French onion soup, wedge salad, Caesar, kale salad, bacon-wrapped filet, New York strip, ribeye, pork chop, salmon, red snapper, surf and turf pasta, chicken Oscar, or spaghetti squash primavera. Dessert choices include white chocolate cheesecake, dessert trio, or chocolate crunch. 4 pm-midnight. $60-$80. Three locations in Uptown Dallas, Frisco, and Grapevine.

Princi Italia
Dallas location will have a special a la carte menu with rare Alba white truffles and cold-water lobster. Regular menu also available. Plano location will split the night into two seatings. Early Seating will offer special a la carte menu alongside regular menu from 5-8:30 pm. Gala Seating will be from 9 pm-midnight and feature a 4-course menu plus DJ, dancing, party hats, and champagne toast at midnight. $55. 214-739-5959.

Pyramid Restaurant
Five-course menu includes choices from endive salad, risotto tartufo, pheasant roulade, sablefish, Prime beef, Colorado lamb, cheese course, and dessert buffet. 5-9 pm. $69 or $34.50 for 12 and under. 214-720-5249.

Saint Rocco's
Trinity Groves restuarant will feature Italian buffet, with live music and champagne toast. 7 pm-12:30 am. $150; tickets on eventbrite. 469-320-9707.

Sea Breeze Fish Market & Grill
New Year's Eve menu includes choice of tuna nachos, shrimp cocktail, crab cakes, stuffed shrimp, lobster pasta, blackened snapper, sole Francaise, steelhead trout, lobster Thermidor, asparagus, butternut squash with maple and pecans, ruffle whipped potatoes, and for dessert, choice of creme brulee, Key lime pie, or chocolate cappuccino cheesecake. 972-473-2722.

Silver Fox
Featured selection includes filet mignon with lobster tail for $80. A la carte offerings include calamari, blue crab cake, beef croustade, scallops, III Forks or wedge salad, lobster bisque, filet mignon, ribeye, New York strip, Chilean sea bass, and more. 5-10 pm. Three locations in Richardson, Frisco, and Fort Worth.

Table 13
Three-course meal begins with a mini-crab cake amuse-bouche, followed by choice of shrimp cocktail, tenderloin crostini, or scallops; and choice of Caprese salad, winter salad, or lobster bisque. Entrée choices include Delmonico bone-in ribeye, Alaskan halibut, surf ‘n turf, Chilean sea bass, or lamb chops. Desserts include Kahlua cake, white chocolate-blueberry bread pudding, or New York style cheesecake bar. 5 pm-midnight. 972-789-9558.

III Forks
Steakhouse will host two events: traditional dining downstairs, and a gala celebration upstairs. Downstairs celebration features spcials such as filet mignon with lobster tail for $80. Upstairs comes with bottle of Veuve Cliquot Brut, party favors at midnight, live music and a menu that includes filet mignon, ribeye, New York strip, Chilean sea bass, and more. Upstairs party $140. 972-267-1776.

Truluck's
Four-course dinner with party favors and complimentary sparkling toast at midnight. Choices iclude crab cake,ceviche, shrimp cocktail, oysters Rockefeller, tuna tartare tower, stone crab claws, lobster bisque, clam chowder, Caesar, wedge, chopped salad, blackened redfish, salmon Bearnaise, Dover sole, filet Oscar, ribeye, New York strip Bordelaise, king crab, lonbster tail, stone crab platter, carrot cake, chocolate malt cake, cheesecake, and baked Alaska. A la carte menu is available in the downstairs lounge. $125. Uptown 214-220-2401, Southlake 817-912-0500.

Uchi
10-course tasting menu includes caviar and cream, Toro moon drops, special nigiri pieces, and buta shushu. Upstairs, Uchiba’s 10-course menu upstairs includes salad, Wagyu skewers, scallop spec, and kinoko dumplings. Both restaurants will usher in the New Year with a champagne toast at midnight. $215 for two.

Vidorra
Three-course menu includes flaming fundido with choice of trompo pastor, chicken tinga, or vegetables; shrimp & mussels paella or filet mignon; and tres leches cake. Regular menu also available. Mariachi band will play during dinner and DJ begins at 10 pm. $49. 972-215-0640.

Water Grill
Uptown seafood restaurant will offer regular menu plus three specials: surf & turf filet mignon and lobster tail for $68; chocolate epresso cake with pistachio and Luxardo cherry sorbet; and Veuve Clicquot by the glass. 11 am-10 pm. 214-306-7111.

Whiskey Cake
Five-course dinner with bubbles, wine, and champagne cocktails includes oysters, rabbit consomme, lamb tartare, candied Wagyu bacon and beet salad, Wagyu beef cheek with duck confit catalina bean cassoulet, and smoked pears. 972-993-2253.

Yard House
Three-course menu includes pork loin with broccolini, sweet potatoes, and cherries. Party favors, midnight beer toast, plus wine and champagne. Addison 972-716-4004, Las Colinas 214-496-0151.

lists holidays

All the Restaurant News

Holiday week is not slowing down this round of Dallas restaurant news

Shogun

This may be a holiday week but the Dallas restaurant scene is not slacking, with a whole wave of restaurants that are newly open or are just about to. There are also new menus, special dishes, and a nice celebrity tout for a local celebrity beer.

Here's what's happening in Dallas restaurant news:

Sidelines Sports Tavern, a short-lived sports bar in Frisco just closed. It was the latest occupant of a space at 307 Main St. #105 at the corner of 423, which has had its share of turnover, starting out as Woody's Bar Kitchen, which closed in 2024. Sidelines opened in February 2025, and now it is gone.

Ateliê, a new restaurant from chef Wyl Lima, opened in Bishop Arts on December 15 at at 365 W. Jefferson Blvd. — a permanent home following years of underground dinners. It opens with a 12-item menu including vegetable-forward dishes such as Roasted Carrots with tofu curry, Garden Salad with frisée, fried egg, & radish, Mushroom Croquettes, Turkey Hot Pocket with truffle mornay & smoked gouda, Wagyu Melt with pastrami & caramelized onions, Fried Rice with egg yolk, garlic crisp, & nori, Cacio e Pepe, Lamb Shank with pomegranate & couscous, skirt steak with piquillo salsa and yuca, and Half Roasted Chicken with sweet plantains and Mediterranean chutney.

Noodle One is a new Asian restaurant in Frisco, 3311 Preston Rd. #1 in the former Nations diner space, serving dishes like beef noodle soup, stir-fried noodles, and wok-tossed fried rice. They specialize in handmade noodles — including a guy making them in plain view — along with lamb skewers, dumplings, and fried rice. owners are from Lanzhou, capital of the Gansu province in China. Nations closed that location in October but still has locations in Sunnyvale, Denton, Arlington, and Sachse.

Flying Fish, the Dallas-based mostly-Cajun seafood chain, is opening a location in Plano, in the former Dickeys space at 4032 Preston Rd., across from the H-E-B just south of Spring Creek Parkway. According to a spokesperson, they're in the thick of a remodeling with a grand opening coming in early 2026.

Caffe:in is a new restaurant and boba shop in Plano at 101 Spring Creek Pkwy. #735 on the northwest corner of US-75 in the same shopping center as 99 Ranch, taking over the space previously occupied by Tiger Sugar, another drink chain. The concept hails from California and specializes in authentic Taiwanese and Malaysian boba, desserts, and snacks such as Taiwanese popcorn chicken, a Malaysian street burger, and shaved ice topped with mango and cream — bringing back memories for California transplants.

Hoja Bubble Tea and Asian Street Food, an Asian restaurant that opened at 812 W. Spring Creek Pkwy. #208 in Plano in 2023, is another purveyor of Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken. Surely there is a third, so we can make it an official trend. Often called Taiwan’s favorite street food, the chicken comes in bite-size pieces, featuring a crunchy coating made with potato flour and flavored with five-spice seasoning and basil leaves.

Shogun Japanese Grill & Sushi Bar, a chain based in Houston, just opened its first DFW location in Plano, at 3916 Dallas Pkwy., in the space left vacant by Pappas Delta Blues Smokehouse, the upscale barbecue restaurant from Houston-based Pappas Restaurants which closed in 2024 after five years. Shogun, which is no relation to the Shogun in McKinney, or any other Shogun in the DFW area, serves sushi, sushi rolls — with a big selection of both cooked and raw — plus hibachi, hotpot, skewers, tempura, yakisoba noodles, plus favorites like teriyaki chicken and bento boxes. They're part of Shogun group from Houston which has 22 locations across Texas including Houston, Austin, and San Antonio — all cities which coincidentally have CultureMap bureaus as well.

Elm & Good, the restaurant at the historic 1916 Kimpton Pittman Hotel in Deep Ellum, has a new menu from newish chef JV Hernandez, which features a "modern American tavern" identity, with shareable plates and comfort-driven mains. Highlights include koji-aged Manhattan steak, cider-braised pork shank, Texas wild boar bolognese, hamachi crudo, and a warm sticky toffee cake based on his grandmother’s recipe. A native of Puerto Rico native and Dallas-trained chef, Hernandez grew up working on his great-grandmother’s farm, trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Dallas, and cooked in fine-dining kitchens from Maine to Denver to Salt Lake City alongside Michelin and James Beard recognized teams. A signature dish is the Puffy Potatoes — crisp, hollow potatoes with gribiche, parmesan, and chives, designed for the center of the table.

Soy Cowboy, the modern pan-Asian restaurant at Loews Arlington Hotel, has launched a new Dim Sum menu featuring sharable dishes like chicken dumplings, lobster wontons, Wagyu gyoza, crab tacos, Korean BBQ ribs, a variety of sushi rolls, plus sake flights and brunch cocktails available during daytime service.

Mirador in downtown Dallas is debuting new menus for weekday lunch and Saturday brunch which they say have a healthier slant for after the holidays. Highlights include chef’s selection of pickles, Caesar salad, farro bowl, lobster Cobb — although that dish has egg yolks and bacon, so can you really call that healthy? — wild mushrooms, chicken paillard with carrots & pickled golden raisins, ube bowl with fruit, and scrambled eggs with rosemary ham, also not particularly healthy, but whatever.

Grimaldi's, the pizza chain, has a new menu of winter specials, available through March 2 featuring the Duo Pizza with tomato and pesto sauce, topped with pepperoni and spicy cup ‘n’ char sausage; Cherry Pecan Salad with spinach and goat cheese; Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake; and Black Cherry Cheesecake.There are also drinks including a mocktail with cranberry juice, and a black cherry spritz with Aperol and Prosecco.

Mister O1 Pizza, the artisan pizza chain, has teamed up with Terry Blacks BBQ on the limited-edition Terry Black’s Brisket Pizza featuring Mister O1’s signature thin crust topped with brisket, tomato sauce, mozzarella, red onions, jalapeño, dill pickles, barbecue sauce, and cilantro — available at all Texas Mister O1 locations through February 28.

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill has a new limited-edition dish: Loaded Feta Fries, topped with choice of chicken or gyro meat, crumbled feta, and garlic sauce. Available through December 31. The chain has four locations in the DFW area — Lewisville, Fort Worth, The Colony, and McKinney — and is opening two more locations in early 2026 in Burleson and Coppell.

Sunny Street Café launched a new winter menu featuring shareable dishes and seasonal sweets: There are breakfast nachos (housemade tortilla chips with queso, egg, chorizo, & avocado); Queso Breakfast Burrito with cheesy eggs, bacon, potato, avocado, & queso; Turkey Melt with Monterey Jack, cheddar, tomato, & chipotle mayo on sourdough; Maple Pecan Muffin; Butter Pecan Pancakes with caramel sauce; and Salted Caramel Cold Brew with vanilla cold foam. DFW locations include Carrollton, Keller, Little Elm, Haltom City, North Richland Hills, and Weatherford.

Salad and Go has introduced its first sweet treat: a Chewy Marshmallow Bar. They've also added Cold Foam, which can be added to any drink. Plus two limited-edition beverages: Toasted Marshmallow Lemonade and Toasted Marshmallow Cold Brew. Last but not least, they've added pulled chicken which can be added to any salad or wrap.

DQ restaurants in Texas have new breaded chicken tenders, which can be ordered solo or in a new Chicken Tender Country Basket, with fries, Texas toast, and choice of creamy gravy or DQ Texas sauce.

Cheba Hut has a new limited-time cocktail called Sleigh’d and Confused featuring Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka, lemon juice, and Coconut Berry Red Bull, available through December 31 for $10, but $3 off all day on Fridays.

The Salty doughnut shop has holiday doughnuts: From December 22—24, they have a Gingerbread Cheesecake Donut, a 24-hour gingerbread-man-shaped brioche filled with gingerbread cheesecake; and the “Not Little Debbie” Christmas Tree Donut, a 24-hour tree-shaped brioche filled with marshmallow fluff, dipped in white chocolate glaze. Both are $4.95. From December 31-January 1, they have an Espresso Martini Donut for $4.50 with a 24-hour mini brioche dipped in espresso glaze, filled with whipped coffee cream, and topped with dark chocolate drizzle and espresso beans.

Luckys, the diner on Oak Lawn Avenue, will feature a special spiked eggnog the week after Christmas, from December 26-January 1 made with milk, cream, sugar, eggs, Makers Mark, and rum for $9.75.

Frenchie, the bistro at Preston Center, has a new executive chef, Reilly Brown, who was previously executive sous chef at Georgie. His new menu items include Hiramasa crudo, bluefin tuna with tomato-soy glaze, and Castelfranco salad with duck confit, candied walnuts, pickled pear, and shallot vinaigrette.

Eight Beer, the craft beer label founded by Troy Aikman, got a serious shout-out on Landman, the Taylor Sheridan TV show that's been filming around the DFW area. Aikman shared the clip which shows series star Billy Bob Thornton ordering the beer "just out of respect" to Aikman for founding it.

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