It’s the final meal you’ll enjoy in 2014, so why not treat yourself? Connecticut restaurants are pulling out all the stops for lavish New Year’s Eve dining and entertainment, with champagne, premium steaks, lobster and dancing. You can even make an overnight of it, with special accommodation packages at several hotels and inns.
Here’s a sampling of what’s happening this Dec. 31:
>>Infinity Hall & Bistro, 32 Front St., Hartford, hosts Tower of Power for two shows Dec. 31, at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. A “Bistro on the Mezz” package for $195 includes concert ticket, three-course prix-fixe dinner starting at 5 p.m., one complimentary glass of champagne and party favors (plus all taxes and gratuity.) Beverages are sold separately. A $69 package includes concert ticket, one complimentary glass of champagne and party favors (tax and gratuity are separate.)
The Bistro is open at 4 p.m., with a special three-course menu for $59. Entrees include choice of grilled ribeye, crab stuffed salmon, applewood-smoked French-cut chicken breast, black garlic gnocchi and pan-seared pork tenderloin medallions.
In Norfolk (20 Greenwoods Road. W.,) Infinity Hall hosts Jeff Pevar and Friends with the Joint Chiefs at 9 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. for mezzanine dining; a $134 dinner and show package includes concert ticket, 3-course prix fixe dinner, one complimentary glass of champagne and party favors (plus all taxes and gratuity.) Beverages are sold separately. A $49 package includes concert ticket, one complimentary glass of champagne and party favors (tax and gratuity are separate.) Information: infinityhall.com.
>>Hot Tomato’s, 1 Union Place, Hartford, offers a $75 four-course dinner from 7 to 11 p.m. Dishes include pasta, prime rib of beef, baked stuffed shrimp, stuffed chicken breast, vegetable lasagna and assorted desserts.
Kids 10 and under eat free from 4 to 7 p.m., with purchase of adult entrée and First Night wristbands. (one child per adult, featuring full dining menu.) 860-249-5100, hottomatos.net.
>>NIXS Hartford, 40 Front St., Hartford, hosts two dinner seatings, at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. The four-course dinner is $75, with entrée choice of roasted swordfish, braised short ribs or lobster and shrimp skillet roast. A party starts at 10 p.m.; tickets are $30 and bottle service is available. 860-373-9400, nixshartford.com.
>>The Mill at 2T, 2 Tunxis Road, Tariffville, hosts New Year’s Eve dinner with two seatings at 5 and 8:30 p.m. The earlier seating includes prosecco toast, hot popovers and a four-course menu with wine pairings for $75; the late seating includes a six-course menu with wine pairings for $150. Tax and gratuity are extra at both seatings. 860-658-7890, themillat2t.com.
>>Metro Bis, 731 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, offers New Year’s Eve To Go meals for $35. The dinner includes lobster bisque, Caesar salad, entrée of beef tenderloin or crab cakes, parmesan whipped potatoes, roasted root vegetables, and an individual apple tart tatin for dessert. The meal is served with heating instructions and can be picked up between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Dec. 31 at the restaurant. Orders must be placed by Dec. 27. 860-651-7417, metrobis.com.
>>Millwright’s, 77 West St., Simsbury, offers two seatings for dinner. The first seating, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., is $80 per person for 4 courses. The later seating between 7:30 and 10 p.m. is $110 for 6 courses. Only the prix-fixe menu is available on New Year’s Eve. 860-651-5500, millwrightsrestaurant.com.
>>Fleming’s Steakhouse and Wine Bar, 44 S. Main St., West Hartford, offers a $69.95 prix-fixe dinner Dec. 28 through Jan. 1. The menu includes roasted prosciutto-wrapped shrimp, choice of two salads and an entrée of 8-ounce filet mignon and 8-ounce lobster tail. Dessert and wine specials are also available. The restaurant also extends its “5 for $6 until 7” promotion from 4 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 31. 860-676-9463, flemingssteakhouse.com.
>> Besito, 46 S. Main St., West Hartford, offers special empanadas de langosta ($14,) three empanadas filled with Maine lobster, tomato, chipotle and a side of tomatillo habanero salsa. They’ll also host a tequila toasting at midnight. Besito opens for lunch starting at noon, and serves dinner until 11 p.m. 860-233-2500, besitomexican.com.
>>ON20, 400 Columbus Blvd., Hartford, offers two seatings: one from 5 to 6:30 p.m. that features a 6-course menu for $80. (Optional beverage pairings are available for an additional $30.) A later seating, between 7:30 and 9 p.m., features an 8-course menu for $110 with beverage pairings for $30. Courses include poached Dover sole and wood-fired prime rib. Tax and gratuity are extra. Information: 860-722-5161, ontwenty.com.
>> Rooftop 120, 120 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury, offers a la carte dinner specials like crab-crusted beef tenderloin with tarragon butter-poached lobster tail, short rib ravioli, prosciutto-wrapped cod, saffron ricotta gnocchi paella with shellfish and rack of lamb. Dinner seatings start at 5 p.m. After 9 p.m., dancing starts with DJ Tekneek. VIP bottle service is available after 10 p.m., and there’s a champagne toast at midnight. 860-430-9989, rooftop120.com.
>>Cafemantic, 948 Main St., Willimantic, hosts a New Year’s Eve prix-fixe dinner, followed by a Black and Gold Ball to close out the night. The $49 three-course dinner features entrée choices of red wine-braised short rib, herb-roasted fillet of black cod, forest mushroom risotto, crispy duck breast or 28-day dry-aged cote de boeuf (for a $6/person upcharge.)
The Great Gatsby-themed Black and Gold Ball features hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar with specialty cocktails, music and dancing, with suggested 1920s attire. Tickets are $25; the party starts at 8 p.m. Guests who buy tickets to dinner and the ball will receive a complimentary cocktail at the party. 860-423-4243, cafemantic.com.
>>The Willows at the Doubletree Bristol, 42 Century Drive, Bristol, hosts a Bollywood Meets Bristol dinner and dancing event starting at 7 p.m. The Bollywood-themed party with Indian-inspired food features a red carpet and paparazzi arrival, open bar, hors d’oeuvres and raw bar, soup and salad station, plated main course and dessert. Cost is $150, inclusive of tax and gratuity. A special overnight rate of $149, plus taxes, includes breakfast at the Willows. 860-584-7679, willowsbristol.com.
>> Baci Grill, 134 Berlin Rd., Cromwell, hosts a party starting at 8 p.m. with a 5-hour open bar, hors d’oeuvres, dining stations, a dessert table, music, a photo booth and champagne toast at midnight. Cost is $72 a person, plus tax and gratuity. The nearby Cromwell Marriott offers rooms at a $99 rate. 860-613-2224, bacigrill.com.
>> Tuscany Grill, 120 College St., Middletown, serves dinner from 5 to 11 p.m. Specials are available in addition to the regular dinner menu, including Chilean sea bass ($32); grilled filet mignon with caramel brandy and mushroom sauce ($30) and grilled lamb chops with pomegranate sauce and saffron pilaf ($28.) 860-346-7096, tuscany-grill.com.
>> 116 Crown, 116 Crown St., New Haven, hosts a cocktail party starting at 7 p.m. The menu includes an oyster bar, lollipop lamb chops, caviar on fingerling chips, prosciutto-wrapped shrimp, charcuterie, beef tenderloin and a sparkling wine toast at midnight with Stilton and port. Guests go home with a Meat & Co. breakfast sandwich. Tickets are $75. Reservations are required. 203-777-3116, 116crown.com.
>>Water’s Edge Resort & Spa, 1525 Boston Post Road., Westbrook, offers dinner, dancing and overnight options for New Year’s Eve. Early dinner seatings are available at 5 and 5:30 p.m., at $56 per person plus tax and gratuity. A New Year’s dinner and party package, at $149 a person plus tax and gratuity, includes butlered and stationary hors d’oeuvres, premium open bar, a four-course dinner, live entertainment, dancing, and champagne toast and balloon drop at midnight.
A New Year’s overnight package, starting at $589 for double occupancy, includes accommodations for two, dinner and dance party for two, brunch for two and discounts on select spa services. 800-222-5901 or 860-399-5901; watersedgeresortandspa.com.
>>Copper Beech Inn, 46 Main St., Ivoryton, offers a special four-course dinner for $85, with optional wine pairing for $35. Courses include lemon butter poached lobster and zaa’tar spiced lamb loin. The regular menu will also be available from 5 to 10 p.m.
Copper Beech also offers a Ring in 2015 New Year’s package, with overnight accommodations in a super deluxe room, a bottle of French champagne, a four-course dinner for two and gourmet breakfast. Cost is $499, plus tax and gratuity. Information: copperbeechinn.com.
>> Griswold Inn, 36 Main St., Essex, serves a special three-course dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. Entree choices include seared Arctic char, sauteed Long Island duck breast, roasted prime rib and a surf and turf dish with seared beef filet and butter-poached black tiger shrimp. Cost is $58. Live music by Psychedelic 60s starts at 10 p.m. 860-767-1776, griswoldinn.com.
>>Bee & Thistle Inn, 100 Lyme St., Old Lyme, hosts New Year’s Eve dinner with early and late seatings. Earlier seatings, at 6, 6:15 and 6:30 p.m., include a five-course menu for $95 (beverage, tax and gratuity are all extra.) Later seatings, at 8, 8:30 and 9 p.m., include a five-course dinner, dancing and champagne at midnight. Entrée choices include pan-seared grass-fed beef tenderloin, herb-roasted lamb chop or butter-poached lobster. 860-434-1667, beeandthistleinn.com.
>>Engine Room, 14 Holmes St., Mystic, hosts a New Year’s Eve party from 9 p.m. to midnight, with open bar, Prohibition-era cocktails, food, photo booth and a midnight champagne toast. The night features live music by Thor Jensen Jazz Organization and Wild Sun. Tickets are $75. 860-415-8117, engineroomct.com.
>>The Saybrook Point Inn & Spa is offering a 2015 New Year’s Eve Gala and Fresh Salt New Year’s Eve packages. Starting at $623.90 per couple, the New Year’s Eve Gala package includes overnight accommodations, tickets to the New Year’s Eve gala, brunch at four-diamond restaurant Fresh Salt, and a late checkout the following morning. It also includes the gala, which starts at 8 p.m. Dec. 31. An open bar and hors d’oeuvres, buffet dinner and dancing will be featured.
The Fresh Salt New Year’s Eve package offers a romantic getaway to toast to the New Year. Starting at $479 per couple, guests will enjoy dinner at the four-diamond restaurant Fresh Salt with course selections including Maine lobster and pork tenderloin. In addition, overnight accommodations will be provided at the Saybrook Point Inn along with brunch the following morning at Fresh Salt and a late checkout. Guests will also have complimentary champagne and keepsake glasses waiting for them in their room. 800-243-0212 or www.saybrook.com.
>>Barley Vine, 182 Main St., Bristol, offers a steak and lobster dinner with two glasses of wine or beer for $55. The restaurant hosts a DJ starting at 10 p.m. Information: 860-589-0239, barleyvinect.com.
>>Foxwoods Resort Casino’s restaurants offer several New Year’s dining specials.
Al Dente features a $75 three-course prix-fixe menu, with choice of starter, entrée and dessert. Entrée options include veal marsala; zuppa di pesce with cold water lobster tail, shrimp and scallops; ribeye and fettuccine capesante with pan-roasted sea scallops and vodka sauce.
Cedars Restaurant’s $75 three-course prix-fixe includes choice of starter, entrée and dessert, with entrees like double-cut Colorado lamb chops, New York sirloin and jumbo shrimp linguini.
Paragon Restaurant’s “Kings And Queens For An Evening” prix-fixe special, at $200 a person, includes a flute of house champagne, a grand seafood cocktail, truffled risotto, a choice of crab-stuffed lobster or Japanese A5 Wagyu filet and petite “sweet and savory trio” for dessert.
David Burke Prime steakhouse offers an $80 prix-fixe menu, with choice of starter, entrée and dessert. Options include surf and turf dumplings, black pepper crusted Kobe sashimi, slow-roasted prime rib, wild salmon, 12-ounce filet mignon, 18-ounce ribeye and desserts like passion fruit punch and limoncello tiramisu. Additional dishes are available for an upcharge.
Alta Strada offers a $70 three-course prix-fixe in addition to its regular menu.
Information: foxwoods.com/dining.
>>Mohegan Sun’s restaurants feature several New Year’s dining specials.
BALLO Italian Restaurant & Bar offers a surf and turf meal Dec. 24 through 31, with a 14-ounce New York strip steak, 6-ounce lobster tail and brussels sprouts with pancetta and honey for $58.
Seasons Buffet will offer several entrée specials on Dec. 31, including New England rock sole, apple-brined pork chops with winter-spiced chutney, ginger scallion fish, sliced roast pork loin and a raw bar.
Todd English’s Tuscany offers a surf and turf dinner for $75 from 5 p.m. to midnight, with 18-ounce bone-in ribeye and butter-poached Alaskan king crab.
Information: mohegansun.com/dining.
>> Paloma, 15 Harbor Point Rd., Stamford, offers a prix-fixe menu with choice of botana (starter), entree and dessert. Entrees include pan-roasted black bass, slow-cooked goat, pork shank pibil, paella for two and grilled ribeye. Meals include complimentary amuse-bouche and a glass of sparkling wine with dessert. Menu pricing is based on chosen entree; ranges between $75 and $85 (plus tax and gratuity.) Dinner reservations begin at 5 p.m. with the last seating at 9:45 p.m.; an a la carte version of the menu is available at the bar, where seating is first-come first-serve. All sparkling wine is 50 percent off between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. 203-998-7500, palomagrill.com.
