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.

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Where to Eat

Where to eat in Dallas right now: 10 new restaurants for October

Photo courtesy of Sophia's

Red snapper ceviche at Sophia's Cantina

CultureMap's monthly Where to Eat column highlighting the best restaurants to try returns for October with a theme of new and diverse. Every restaurant on this list is a recent arrival, including at least one that has been open for only a day. If you want hot, fresh, and new, you've come to the right list.

The list represents an exciting array, encompassing a one-of-its-kind test restaurant, a fashionable coffee shop, steakhouse, Mexican cantina, Italian speakeasy, and not one, not two, but three places to get dumplings.

Here's where to eat in Dallas for October 2026:

Coach Coffee Shop
Unique cafe just opened inside the Coach handbag store at Allen Outlet Malls, one of seven locations across the U.S., including Austin, which opened in 2025. The drink menu features coffee, espresso drinks including cappuccinos and lattes, cold brew, matcha lattes with rotating seasonal flavors, and lemonade. There are two signature items: Tabby Cake — an adorable chocolate treat shaped like Coach’s trademark Tabby bag and Lil Miss Jo Cookie — an edible version of the chain's coffee-cup animated mascot used in company ad campaigns. They also serve pastries such as salted chocolate chip cookies, blueberry muffins, vegan carrot cake muffins, cinnamon rolls, savory scones, ham and cheese croissant, and soft-serve in waffle cones.

Curry Tei & Bar
Hip Asian restaurant comes to downtown Plano courtesy of Michelle Vi Pepping, who also owns buzzy Okaeri Cafe in Richardson. Curry Tei gives her the opportunity to focus more deeply on favorite Japanese comfort foods, especially house-made curry and crispy katsu, along with a full bar featuring sake, Japanese whisky, and handcrafted cocktails. The curry can be ordered over rice or udon noodles, then topped with a choice from 10 proteins: tonkatsu fried pork cutlet, katsu fried chicken cutlet, tofu katsu fried tofu cutlet, shrimp katsu, karaage fried chicken, Japanese sausage, fried potato croquette, sliced beef, hamburger patty, or gyoza dumplings. Their bowls and noodles run the gamut from chicken teriyaki over rice to chilled green tea soba noodles with vegetable tempura. Popular starters include edamame, dumplings, and karaage fried chicken.

The chocolate bag is one of a few too-cute-to-eat treats at Coach Coffee Shop. Coach Coffee Shop/Instagram

Docent Steak
After two years in the making, the newest restaurant from Harwood Hospitality Group is open in the Harwood No. 14 development as a steakhouse with a menu centered on HWD Beef, Harwood’s exclusive beef product. Prime cuts include filet mignon, NY strip, ribeye, bone-in strip, Chateaubriand, and porterhouse. Docent also serves Kobe beef, including A5 Wagyu available by the ounce, and a rotating Kobe flight featuring five cuts. Non-steak options include crab cake, Kobe potstickers, steak tartare sliders, tempura lobster, oysters, spicy tuna tartare, and a seafood tower. As befits a steakhouse, there's a grand wine list, but also a big selection of sake. The main dining room has a white-tablecloth fine-dining ambience, while a lower level has a casual atmosphere with TVs. There's lots of art, a Harwood trademark.

L's Dumplings
Chef-owned Asian spot just opened on the Lewisville/Carrollton border, where it's doing dumplings and Hong Kong-style dim sum. There's an expansive menu with dim sum-style dishes, dumplings, and even Chinese-American staples like General Tso's Chicken. While the restaurant does not have room for the cart service that often goes with dim sum, it does have a dim sum menu with a dozen dishes you'd find at a traditional dim sum brunch: beef tripe, black pepper short ribs, siu mai topped with roe, Chinese broccoli in oyster sauce, steamed pork ribs with garlic, sticky rice chicken, wontons, and chicken feet in black bean sauce. Dumplings are offered in more than a dozen varieties including soft steamed dumplings, pan-fried dumplings with a crispy bottom, and soup dumplings, famous for containing broth inside the wrapper, creating an especially juicy filling.

Momo2Go
Well-regarded dumpling chain from Canada has opened a location in the Preston Lebanon Crossing shopping center, taking over a space previously occupied by Lalo's Cocina Mexicana, which closed in July. Momo2Go specializes in momos — the dumpling that's a foundation of Himalayan cuisine — and is a spinoff of a family-owned restaurant called Himalayan Kitchen, which debuted in Toronto in 2012. Their momos were so popular that they launched Momo2Go in 2016. They now have 10 including one in Irving, which franchisees Karma Gurung and Tashi Chetan opened in 2023. Frisco is their second location.

Veggie dumplings are a favorite at L's Dumplings.Photo courtesy of L's Dumplings

Ono Hawaiian BBQ
Fast-casual Hawaiian plate-lunch chain from California just opened a location in McKinney, specializing in island-style plate lunches that combine some form of meat plus white rice and macaroni salad. Meats include BBQ chicken, Kalua pork, kalbi short ribs, fried chicken katsu, and Spam musubi, consisting of a block of rice topped with a slice of Spam and wrapped in seaweed. A slightly healthier option combines the meats with rice and a side salad. McKinney is the second location in Texas, following Plano which opened in July. If all goes according to their plan, they will soon be ubiquitous, with 10 locations plotted for DFW.

Open House
New restaurant concept being tested by KFC has opened its very first location in McKinney, with a goal to put a modern twist on Colonel Sanders' fried chicken concept. The location has tableside service, touchscreen kiosks, breakfast, boba drinks, and more. New and unique menu items including sides such as Southwest corn, fried green beans, spicy pickles, and rainbow slaw, as well as the first breakfast lineup featuring chicken tenders sandwiches, hashbrown sticks, mini cronuts, brewed coffee, and iced lattes. The McKinney restaurant will serve as a testing ground for KFC, giving them a chance to try new food, drinks, service, and design ideas before rolling them out across the country.

Red: Italian
Unusual new restaurant in Denton is a subterranean spot in the basement of Ruby Rodeo, a bar and live music venue on Denton Square, where it's serving Italian food and speakeasy charm. The 58-seat underground space — which includes 10 seats at the bar — serves Italian classics, priced from $25 to $40, such as spicy sausage lasagna with arrabbiata sauce, cacio e pepe bucatini, chicken piccata, shrimp diablo, and espresso-crusted filet mignon with Italian seasoning. Appetizers include fried mozzarella, stuffed mushrooms, grilled artichokes, bruschetta, meatballs, flatbreads, and a classic Caesar. The concept comes from Victor García and Mike Church, who also own Ruby Rodeo, as well as the similarly-red-named Scarlett Lounge in Deep Ellum.

Sophia's Cocina & Cantina
Mexican restaurant in Farmers Branch is the new home of Hugo Miranda, the well-respected hospitality figure who previously helmed Hugo's Invitados, a Mexican concept that he opened in 2018 with entrepreneur Mark Hulme. Highlights from the menu (which has not yet been uploaded to the restaurant's website nor their Facebook page) include oysters, pork belly chicharron, sopa de Cebolla, mixed grill, ribeye black Angus tomahawk sliced tableside, whole Pacific snapper, crudos, and upscale tacos such as blue crab with spinach; and salads such as red beet carpaccio with arugula, goat cheese, avocado, and pumpkin seeds.

Yo-Chi
Aussie fro-yo chain known for self-serve bowls, bountiful topping bars, and lively vibe has made its U.S. debut in Dallas near Inwood Village, at 5710 Lovers Ln. #101, to be followed by a second location at NorthPark Center. Yay us. Founded in Melbourne in 2012, Yo-Chi first expanded outside Australia in 2025 with a location in Singapore, followed by London. They tout their use of "fresh milk" in their yogurt, with flavors such as vanilla, salted butterscotch, tart, acai, coconut, matcha, and cinnamon banana. Plus 40-plus toppings arranged in a communal, self-serve station, including mini mochi, pistachio spread, cookie dough, sauces, brownies, fruit, and more. In its Down Under home turf, Yo-Chi locations are said to have a club ambience, with people going there on dates and bouncers at the door on weekends.

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