Can you believe it? 2018 is right around the corner so if you’re looking for a great restaurant to ring in the new year, check out these options I’ve run into over the past couple of weeks. I’ll be updating this post as we get closer to 12/31 and I’ve included links to my review if you’d like to learn more about the restaurant…
- Bull City Burger and Brewery, Durham
- Counting House, Durham
- Herons at the Umstead Hotel, Cary
- The Lakewood, Durham
- Margaux’s Restaurant, Raleigh
- MOFU Shoppe, Raleigh
- Mulino Italian Kitchen, Raleigh
- Plates Neighborhood Kitchen, Raleigh
- Sullivan’s Steakhouse, Raleigh
- Vidrio, Raleigh
Bull City Burger and Brewery, Durham – 919.680.2333
Delicious four-course, family friendly meal. Dinner begins at 6pm followed by a toast to ring in 2017 around 8pm.
Adults $39+tip+tax | Kids $12+tip+tax | Wine or Beer Pairing $16+tip+tax
Amuse bouche
Pasture-raised, house-made Spanish style Chorizo and farm fresh egg torta skewer finished with olive oil
or
Scrambled egg with red pepper aioli (vegetarian)
First
Vegetarian creamy corn and poblano soup with crispy croutons
(Kids: Cheese Quesadilla)
Second
Mixed greens salad, blue cheese crumbles, pancetta bits, pickled lemon skin and crisp radishes with a balsamic vinaigrette served with house-made crackers
Third
Pasture- raised beef tenderloin with our horseradish sauce, served with collard greens, roasted potatoes, and black eyed peas
or
Vegetarian Shepherds Pie
(Kids: Kid Burger or Moo Melt and fries)
Dessert
Warm bread pudding with house-made vanilla ice cream, barley malt syrup, and fresh whipped cream
Counting House, Durham – 919.956.6760
From 5 to 11pm, four-course prix-fixe menu for $75 per person
START
ROAST DUCK – chestnut, blackberry, kumquat
2014 Left Coast Cali’s Cuvee, Rickreall, OR
SMOKED OYSTER – salsify, mache, hazelnut
2015 Marchetti ’Tenuta del Cavaliere’ Verdicchio, Marche, ITA
TALLEGIO AGNELLOTI – parsnip, orange, shiitake
2014 Colette Regnie Viellles Vignes, Beaujolais, FRA
TASTE
ARTISAN LETTUCE – brussels sprout, pecorino, pomegranate
2014 A. Coroa, Godello, Valdeorras, Galicia, ESP
SUPPER
SEARED SCALLOP – coconut, kohlrabi, black quinoa
2015 Lioco, Sonoma County, CA
PORCHETTA – mustarda, porcini, sweet potato
2015 Maude, Central Otago, NZL
VENISON rutabaga, bacon, thumbelina
2015 Ravines Cabernet Franc, Finger Lakes, NY
ABALONE MUSHROOM
cashew, parsnip, bloomed raisin
2014 Thevenet & Fils “Clos de L’ermitage,” Cuvee Vieilles Vignes, Maconnais, FRA
SWEET
S’MORES
almond brittle, marshmallow
Fonseca 10Yr Tawny
TROPICAL NAPOLEON
kiwi, passion fruit, pineapple
2015 Royal Tokaji Mad Cuvee
EGG NOG CRÉME BRULÉE
short bread, meringue
Herons at the Umstead Hotel, Cary – 919.447.4200
$135 per person, $80 for wine pairings
first
b e e t s – quinoa, black garlic, nigella seeds, lemon, watercress dashi
s a l m o n – coconut, burdock root, hazelnut ,char roe, japanese squash, maple
second
r i c o t t a – black truffle puree, caramelized pumpkin, lobster, toasted pepitas
s c a l l o p – fennel, blood orange, crispy pork, fuyu persimmon, aji dulce broth
entrées
t u n a – masago, nori, radish salad, grilled pineapple, winter roots, ponzu
c h i c k e n – sunchoke, lemon, broccoli, pearl onions, black truffle, green olive
b e e f – black garlic, parsnip, chestnut polenta, brussels sprouts, madeira
dessert
t i r a m i s u – anissette tuille, vanilla ice cream, coffee espuma, kahlua gelée
The Lakewood, Durham – 919.402.8059
$65 per person, $20 for beverage pairings
AMUSE
O’Henry vichyssoise with Kentucky sturgeon roe
Chicken ‘n’ pastry
FIRST
NC Oyster flight: raw/roasted/fried
Fried quail with Texas caviar and queso fresco
Root vegetable tian with smoked double cream
SECOND
Trout with chestnut risotto and leek confit
NY strip, buttery fingerling potatoes, and pickled mustard seed
Roast duck with black lentils on parsnip mash and ham hock demi-glace
DESSERT!
Grapefruit meringue tart, Aperol caramel
Deep, dark chocolate sorbet in coconut ‘snow’
Warm pear and walnut cake with Sauterne sabayon
Margaux’s Restaurant, Raleigh – 919.846.9846
$69.95 Per Person (5:30 to 7:00pm)
$99.95 Per Person (8:00 to 9:30pm) includes champagne toast, party favors & DJ Subjec
First Course (Choose One Item)
*Service of Freshly Shucked Oysters on the Half Shell with mignonette (GF)
*Thai Lamb Satay with roasted peanut tamarind sauce & chili pickles (GF)
*The Dick Clark: Assorted Sushi Service, wasabi & soy sauce (TBD)
*Calabash of Oyster, Shrimp, Calamari with buttermilk slaw, Old Bay remoulade & spicy cocktail sauce
*Artisan Sampler of Meat Charcuterie, Cheeses & cracker points
*Wild Mushroom Strudel with roasted garlic mascarpone
Second Course (Choose One Item)
*Baby Greens with spiced walnuts, provolone picante, shrimp remoulade
& charred lemon verjus (GF)
*Soup of the Moment
*Traditional Caesar Salad with herbed croutons & reggiano sprinkles
Third Course (Choose One Item)
*Margaux’s Surf & Turf of Grilled Filet Mignon & Cold Water Lobster Tail
with red bliss mash, market vegetables & sauce Bearnaise (GF)
*Dijon Rosemary Crusted Rack of Lamb with gratin dauphinoise & mint sauce
*Grilled Yellowfin Tuna with a Vietnamese shrimp & crab spring roll, chili jam, sticky rice & baby bok choy (GF)
*Venison with butternut squash & lobster ravioli, broccoli & red wine reduction
*Shrimp, Mussels, Scallops in a miso broth with rice noodles, shiitakes & broccoli (GF)
*Chick Pea, Mushroom, Leek Risotto topped with vegan cheese & spinach(GF)(V)
Dessert Course
*Salted Caramel Cheesecake
*Margaux’s Creme Brulee (GF)
*Chocolate Chip Tart
*Chocolate Mousse (GF)
*Chocolate Almond Cake with sour cherries (GF)
MOFU Shoppe, Raleigh – 919.301.8465
$88.88 per person
Boodle Fight and Night, a Filipino feast eating standing up with your hands
Communal dinner table: Suckling pigs, roasted duck, grilled lamb, octopus, squid, shrimp
Whole fishes, cheeses, traditional Asian desserts, fruits, chocolates, and more.
Boodles Gin and non-Boodles drinks will also be included!
Mulino Italian Kitchen, Raleigh – 919.838.8595
Passed hors d’ouevres, a carving station in the Palace Room, five drink tickets, and a Lambrusco toast at midnight.
Access to the party with live DJ entertainment!
Plates Neighborhood Kitchen, Raleigh – 919.828.0018
$59 plus tax and tip, with an optional wine pairing flight priced at $19, 6:00 pm or 9:00 pm seatings.
Amuse Bouche
Fried Broccoli and Cheddar Dumpling
(malted mustard sauce)
Complimentary glass of Prosecco
First (choice of one)
New Years’ Soup
(collard greens, black eyed peas, smoked ham hock)
Winter Salad
(Raleigh City Farm mixed greens, winter squash, Grana Padano, chestnut vinaigrette)
Second (choice of one)
Seared Scallop or Confit Parsnip
(butternut squash puree, hazelnuts, sage, balsamic reduction)
Third (choice of one)
Braised Short Rib
(truffle mushroom dauphinoise, asparagus with brown butter and sherry vinaigrette)
Cioppino
(shrimp, mussels, calamari, fingerling potato, peppers, onions, smoked tomato broth)
Housemade Fettucine
(roasted cauliflower puree, brussels sprouts, grana padano, lemon zest)
Fourth (choice of one)
Flourless Chocolate Chambord Tort
(toasted almonds, crème anglaise)
Orange Cream Cheese Flan
(candied hazelnuts, cranberry chutney)
Sullivan’s Steakhouse, Raleigh – 919.833.2888
Four-course menu available for $75
STARTER (SELECT ONE)
CHEESESTEAK EGGROLLS – Sweet & Spicy Chili Sauce, Honey Mustard
LUMP CRAB CAKE – Cabbage Slaw & Roasted Garlic Tartar Sauce
JUMBO SHRIMP COCKTAIL – Cocktail Sauce, Louie Sauce & Lemon
TRUFFLE STEAK TARTARE* – Challah Toast, Cornichons, Pickled Shallots
SEAFOOD SAMPLER – Serves 2. Cracked Stone Crab Claws, Cocktail Shrimp, Alaskan King Crab & Oysters on the Half Shell / +$18
SOUP OR SALAD (SELECT ONE)
SHRIMP & LOBSTER BISQUE – Shrimp, Lobster, Sherry & Cream
MARKET FRESH GREENS – Cherry Tomatoes, Radish, Shaved Gruyère Cheese & Shallot-Dijon Vinaigrette
ICEBERG LETTUCE WEDGE – Vine Ripe Tomatoes, Crumbled Blue Cheese & Blue Cheese Dressing
CAESAR SALAD – Heart of Romaine, Shaved Parmesan, Toasted Crouton, Creamy Caesar Dressing
ENTRÉE (SELECT ONE)
FILET MIGNON*
8 oz. RIBEYE*
16 oz. NEW YORK STRIP*
12 oz. ROASTED BALSAMIC CHICKEN – Wild Mushroom Couscous & Cipollini Onions
SIMPLY PREPARED FISH – Citrus Basil Butter
ENTRÉE UPGRADES | +$20
BONE-IN FILET* 14 oz.
WAGYU BONE-IN STRIP* 16 oz.
DRY-AGED LONG-BONE RIBEYE* 26 oz.
LONG-BONE BERKSHIRE PORK CHOP* 16 oz. Chipotle Peach Salsa
SIDE DISHES (SELECT ONE)
GARLIC HORSERADISH MASHED POTATOES
GRILLED ASPARAGUS
THREE CHEESE MAC
ROASTED CAULIFLOWER – Caper Vinaigrette Drizzle
DESSERTS (SELECT ONE)
NEW YORK-STYLE CHEESECAKE – Graham Cracker Crust & Fresh Strawberries
BANANAS FOSTER BREAD PUDDING – Caramel Sauce & Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES – Crème Anglaise
Vidrio, Raleigh – 919.803.6033
4-Course dinner for $60 +$25 for a special wine pairing
Seatings at 5pm, 7pm, 9pm.
First
Cauliflower Bisque – Bay Scallop Ceviche/Chili/Toasted Pine Nuts/Basil
Warm Ricotta & Olives – House-made Ricotta/Olive Relish/Grilled Levain
Artisanal Greens – Blue Sky Farms Lettuces/Shaved Winter Vegetables/Pomegranate
Second
Warm Winter Vegetable Salad – Roasted Root Vegetables/Walnuts/Ricotta Salata/Curry Dressing
Ravioli di Quaglie en Brodo – Quail Ravioli/Parmesan Brodo/Fava Beans/Cippollini Onion
Insalata di Mare – Chilled Marinated Seafood/Fennel/Focaccia Crisps
Third
Beef Wellington – Braised Short Rib/Foie Gras/Wild Mushrooms/Puff Pastry
Roasted Chicken – Cassoulet Beans/Duck Confit/Rosemary Jus
Surf & Turf – Grilled Petite Filet Mignon/Jumbo Prawn/Pomme Fondant Gratin/Haricots Vert
Bouillabaisse – Jumbo Prawn/Shellfish/Swordfish/Saffron Tomato Broth/Roasted Potato
Fourth
Chocolate Dacquoise
Tiramisu Cream Puffs
Blood Orange Polenta Cake
The Cardinal Bar for Beer, Hot Dogs, and Chill…