One-off dishes, multicourse menus with wine pairings, and bubbly toasts are a few of the festivities that Bay area restaurants have planned on New Year's Eve, so remember to call ahead for reservations. After the party's over, this celebratory eat-out guide also lists dining ideas for where to recover — whether it be with food or more drinks.
All meals take place on Dec. 31 unless otherwise noted.
Bizou Brasserie A prix-fixe, three-course menu that showcases a Big Easy twist to the Le Méridien restaurant's offerings. The feast starts with a salad, moving onto an appetizer or small plate, and then dinner. Mains include Cajun pasta, Creole crawfish and red fish served over ratatouille. $41-$70. 5-10 p.m. 601 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-221-9555, bizoutampa.com.
The Black Pearl Featuring seven courses, another prix-fixe lineup of special holiday selections. Twelve-grape gazpacho, the fine-dining spot's famous lobster risotto, a sorbet intermezzo, and entrees with bass, chicken and wild boar are among the options. Oh, and guests have four desserts to pick from — along with a surprise parting gift to take home. $125. 5 p.m.-midnight. 315 Main St., Dunedin, 727-734-3463, theblackpearldunedin.com.
Byblos Café Chef David Puatu selects a variety of Mediterranean dishes for the NYE party — including cold and hot mezze, plus kebabs — inside the newly remodeled South Tampa favorite. One drink and a Champagne toast are on the house. $90. 9 p.m. 2832 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, 813-805-7977, bybloscafe.com.
Cafe Hey The fortune-bringing New Year's tradition at this Tampa Heights hangout returns with all-you-can-eat black-eyed peas, collard greens, rice and cornbread (there's a vegan version of every dish as well). Coffee and bottomless mimosas are the drinks on hand. $10. Jan. 1, noon-4 p.m. 1540 N. Franklin St., Tampa, 813-221-5150, cafehey.com.
Caretta on the Gulf Sandpearl Resort's luxurious Caretta offers two meals for the occasion. Early in the day, there's a bubbly brunch, followed by a five-course dinner that awaits in the evening. After dinner, head to the lounge area for dancing with a live band. Bonus: Catch midnight fireworks from the resort's boardwalk. Brunch: $64. 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Dinner: $100, $150 with wine pairing. 5:30-10 p.m. 500 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater Beach, 727-441-2425, sandpearl.com.
Council Oak Steaks & Seafood Pickled grapes salad, crab-stuffed Maine lobster, 60-day-aged bone-in prime rib, and salted caramel-stuffed doughnuts (damn, these sound good), to name a few, are part of this Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino eatery's three-course spread. 5223 Orient Road, Tampa, 813-627-7600, seminolehardrocktampa.com.
Del Frisco's Grille Spotlighting one of the most interesting prix-fixe bills I've seen in a while, Del Frisco's has items like coffee-braised pork shank with house-brewed coffee jus and bacon collards, cheese steak egg rolls, artichoke beignets with a sweet basil dressing, and Nuttela bread pudding in store. The regular menu is on hand, too. $48. Dec. 29-31, 3-11:30 p.m. 4138 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa, 813-878-6890, delfriscosgrille.com.
District Tavern Head to the Channel District on New Year's Day for some brunch classics. After all that revelry the night before, Bloody Mary or mimosa, anyone? Jan. 1, 11 a.m. 116 N. 12th St., Tampa, 813-252-3444, districttaverntampa.com.
Fresh Harvest Inside the Hard Rock, a NYE buffet means diners don't have to decide which entree they want — they can enjoy 'em all. There's pork osso buco, seafood paellea, crab risotto, lobster ravioli and way more. And by way more, I mean a sundae bar (!). $40. 4-10 p.m. 5223 Orient Road, Tampa, 813-627-7625, seminolehardrocktampa.com.
Gengiz Khan A Mediterranean smorgasbord of cold apps, salad, a mixed grill, baklava and a bubbles toast at midnight. Guests enjoy live music, belly dancing and a fire show while they eat. Best part? Booze and food are included in the prix-fixe menu price. $89.90. 8:30 p.m. 3114 Bay to Bay Blvd., Tampa, 813-805-6400, gengizkhan.com.
Ichicoro Ane Check out this newly opened, multiexperience Japanese-inspired restaurant, where you might end up spending the whole evening. The bar kicks off the merriment at 4 p.m., but dinner — including ramen in the main dining room (that menu was previously reserved for those slurping in the ramen shop) — begins at 6 p.m. Secure a table online or by phone. 4 p.m.-2 a.m. 260 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg, 727-300-0281, ichicoroane.com.
Independent Bar and Cafe Bottomless brewed coffee, mimosas and beer-mosas, and beer and wine specials await, in addition to a brunch-style food bar (breakfast goes till 1:30 p.m., when the regular menu kicks in). Patrons are welcome to bring board games and playing cards as well. Jan. 1, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 5016 N. Florida Ave. Tampa, 813-341-4883, independentbartampa.com.
The Little Lamb Gastropub Two meals to choose between: a four course and an eight course. Both menus are surprisingly out-there, with plates like a tartare of hamachi (Japanese fish), smoked veal tongue, and lobster and caviar up for grabs. Four courses: $55, $75 with beer/wine pairing. 5:30 p.m. Eight courses: $95, $135 with beer/wine pairing. 8 p.m. 2475 N. McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater, 727-401-3339, thelittlelambgastropub.com.
Lolita's Wine Market In true Lolita's fashion, a wine dinner that unites five courses with complementary vino. Pairings include caviar with Spanish cava, as well as beef cheeks with cabernet sauvignon. 5 p.m. & 9 p.m. 16 18th St. S., St. Petersburg, 727-505-0503.
Maritana Grille This sophisticated Don CeSar restaurant has four prix-fixe courses planned, including an amuse-bouche, saffron lobster salad, red beet bisque, seared scallops and duck confit pasta. Dinner ends on a sweet note with pumpkin mousse cake. $120, $160 with wine pairing. 5:30-10 p.m. 3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, 727-360-1882, maritanagrille.com.
Mise en Place A five- or six-course feast — you decide — paired with wine and entertainment. $89-$99. 442 W. Kennedy Blvd. #110, Tampa, 813-254-5373, miseonline.com.
Noble Rice In Hyde Park, the American-inspired Japanese izakaya has teamed up with Terroir New Music, a contemporary music series, on this neat food-tunes collab. Expect a five-course spread and free Champagne, alongside a music program produced exclusively for NYE. $100. 6-9 p.m. 807 W. Platt St., Tampa, 813-284-7423, noblericeco.com.
O Cocina Ring in the new year with modern Mexican flavors. Plantain empanadas, pork belly, pan-seared American red snapper, pollo en mole poblano, turtle ice cream cake, and a sorbet and gelato trio are among the South Tampa eatery's many options. $50-$65. 5 p.m. 4110 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, 813-289-0649, ococina.com.
Pelagia Trattoria Executive chef Brett Gardiner's spotlighted dishes, created in honor of the new year, are presented as part of a high-end meal at the Renaissance Tampa hotel. Brandied lobster bisque, seared scallops, osso buco, duck and pancetta ragu, roasted hog snapper, and five kinds of dessert take center stage over three courses. $75. 5-10 p.m. 4200 Jim Walter Blvd., Tampa, 813-877-9200, pelagiatrattoria.com.
The Refinery This four-course evening of elevated delights beckons the adventurous eater in us all. I'm not sure how chef-owner Greg Baker's buttermilk foie gras panna cotta tastes, but I'm down to find out. Other equally fascinating plates are pickled shrimp, veggie bone marrow, stuffed rabbit loin, and Sriracha burgundy snails. $75, $105 with wine pairing. 5-11 p.m. 5137 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-237-2000, thetamparefinery.com.
Rise Kitchen & Bakery The Hard Rock goodness just keeps on comin'. Hit up Rise for an inexpensive two-course meal, picking from the shrimp 'n' grits or beef short ribs entree offerings. There's bananas Foster pie for dessert. $16. Dec. 31 & Jan. 1. 5223 Orient Road, Tampa, 866-388-4263, seminolehardrocktampa.com.
Rococo Steak Peking duck (traditionally served for Chinese New Year), white asparagus, bacon-style octopus, honey lavender crème brûlée, and broken tiramisu await with these four courses. But Rococo is still a steakhouse, so you can order beef — either a 7-ounce, corn-fed filet mignon or an herb-crusted rack of lamb and sirloin duo. $110, $145 with wine pairing. 655 Second Ave. S., St. Petersburg, 727-822-0999, rococosteak.com.
Rooster & the Till There's no way the flavors churning out of this Seminole Heights favorite's kitchen could disappoint on NYE. Tables for this five-course affair will likely fill up, so secure a spot now via phone. $55, $85 with wine pairing (5:30-6:15 p.m. or 10-10:30 p.m.); $75, $105 with wine pairing (all other times). 6500 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-374-8940, roosterandthetill.com.
The Rusty Pelican Welcome 2018 with a seafood-heavy, three-course lineup. Highlights are a jumbo shrimp and crab claw cocktail, stuffed grouper, oysters Rockefeller, stone crab claws and lobster tail. While the food's a la carte (aka the cost depends on what diners order), it ain't cheap — the average entree is $75. 5-11 p.m. 2425 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, 813-281-1943, therustypelicantampa.com.
Sea-Guini This chic Opal Sands Resort restaurant serves up a la carte dishes such as oysters, hogfish, and a lobster and truffle carbonara. Afterward, check out the party favors on the Gulf Lawn, or drink specials and live music at Sandbar. Patrons may also enjoy midnight fireworks and a Champagne toast. 6-10:30 p.m. 430 S. Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater Beach, 727-450-6236, seaguini.com.
Sea Porch Cafe For New Year's Day, a tailgate brunch at the Don CeSar, showcasing unlimited mimosas. Need I say more? $49. Jan. 1, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, 727-360-1884, doncesar.com.
Tryst NYE entrees offered during this eclectic four-course, prix-fixe dinner include pumpkin and pea risotto, thyme-roasted chicken, steak or grilled cobia. Guests choose salad or soup, an appetizer or small plate, and dessert, too. $60. 4-10 p.m. 240 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, 727-821-4567, dinetryst.com.
Urban Brew and BBQ The all-you-can-eat smorgasbord features the restaurant's beloved mac and cheese, black-eyed peas, collards, cornbread, smoked chicken and pulled pork. $13. Jan. 1, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. 1939 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-822-8919, urbanbrewandbbq.com.
This article appears in Dec 21-28, 2017.