When the bells all ring and the horns all blow, what are you doing New Year’s Eve? It’s the last day of the year and the last day of the decade. This is not an evening to spend in the kitchen. We found many fun experiences in Atlanta to help usher in the roaring 20’s in style. Will we call them that? Guess it depends on how well we ring in the new year.
Chef and current Top Chef contestant, Kevin Gillespie’s Gunshow defies classification with an ever-changing menu and eclectic dim sum style where a cadre of chefs audition their plates for guests. The atmosphere is electric. There are four seatings on NYE: 6:00, 6:30, 8:00, and 8:30 p.m. for a 10-course dinner and expanded cocktail and bubbles list. $125 per person includes a glass of bubbly and an autographed menu.
Gunshow (924 Garrett Street, Glenwood Park; 404-380-1886, gunshowatl.com)
Wear your red underwear. That’s an Italian New Year tradition to bring luck. Celebrate like the Romans at Westside’s new Forza Storico. From 5:00-9:00 p.m. they will be serving their regular menu as well as ½ priced bottles of wine. The party begins at 10 p.m. and continues til 2 AM with an open bar of signature cocktails, wine, craft Italian beer and complimentary bar food while a DJ spins tunes. $125 per person; guests staying after dinner receive a discount.
Forza Storico (1198 Howell Mill Road NW, Atlanta; 404-464-8096, forzastorico.com)
For good luck, the first step you take at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s in Spain needs to be the right foot. Remember this is you choose from the meat and cheese tasting menu at Decatur’s The Iberian Pig. In addition to the regular dinner menu, they will have specials like muscatel filet, Pappy Van Winkle varieties, and wine pairing specials.
The Iberian Pig (121 Sycamore Street, Decatur; 404-371-8800, theiberianpigatl.com)
Want to ring in the new year with indulgence? Upscale steakhouse Marcel is serving the regular menu as well as swank specials such as Osetra caviar blinis and lobster diavolo. Even swankier is the heavyweight menu for $250 per person, including a seafood tower, caviar service, cacio e pepe, foie gras terrine, a 40 oz. porterhouse for two, and baked Alaska.
Marcel (1170 Howell mill Road NW, Atlanta; 404-665-4555, marcelatl.com)
Hot new Beltline spot Cold Beer is throwing a roaring 20s cocktail party and dinner. There are two seating for the 4-course dinner (5:30 and 7:30 p.m.) for $110 per person. Optional beverage pairings are $50. The party starts at 9:30 p.m. with drink tickets, a raw bar, passed hors d’ oeuvres, live big band music, and a Champagne toast. $100 per person; combines ticket $170 per person.
Cold Beer (670 Dekalb Avenue NE, Atlanta; 404-254-1032, coldbeeratl.com)
Perhaps dinner that ends in a speakeasy? Smyrna’s Muss & Turner’s offers their regular menu along with NYE specials. Stay for bubbly and join the party at Eleanor’s with music, special cocktails, late night snacks, and a Champagne toast when the clock strikes twelve.
Muss & Turner’s (1675 Cumberland Pkwy SE, Smyrna; 770-434-1114, mussandturners.com)
We found a great spot to ring in the new year with a blowout buffet spectacular views of NYE fireworks. Not only does New Realm Brewing have a rooftop patio along The BeltLine, they are popping a heated dance tent to boogie with their DJ. The party goes from 7 p.m.- 1:00 a.m. with open beer and liqueur bar and a full dinner buffet with crab claws, smoked shrimp cocktail, tuna poke, deviled eggs, crispy chicken skins, and smoked beef strip loin, among others. An unlimited ticket is $125.
New Realm Brewing (550 Somerset Terrace NE, Atlanta; 404-968-2777, newrealmbrewing.com)
Paint it black at Restaurant Homes. The restaurant makes its home in the historic Jones House and you can make history wearing that little black dress or black velvet sport coat to match the menu. Food and drink specials will include ingredients like squid ink and activated charcoal. The regular menu will be available too. Last seating is at 11 p.m.
Restaurant Holmes (50 S. Main Street, Alpharetta; 678-691-8320, restaurantholmes.com)
Looking for low key at a neighborhood spot? Oak Grove’s Kitchen Six has a 4-course meal with selections like kobocha squash soup, roasted bone marrow, and seared duck breast for $85 per person with optional wine pairings for $23. Service is from 5:30-9 p.m.. Party begins at 11 p.m. with drinks and hors d’ oeuvres.
Kitchen Six (2751 LaVista Road, Atlanta; 404-330-8336, kitchensixoakgrove.com)
Dine at Eater Atlanta’s Restaurant at the Year. Lazy Betty offers a 7 or 10-course chef’s tasting menu featuring caviar and truffles from 5:30-11 p.m.. Petit fours by oastry chef Lindsey Davis will leave a lasting impression. Stay until midnight for a complimentary glass of bubbly.
Lazy Betty (1530 Dekalb Avenue, Atlanta; 404-975-3692, lazybettyatl.com)
Hatsuhinode is the first sunrise of the new year, a Japanese tradition of watching it ensures happiness and good fortune in the year to come. It would be just the way to celebrate after Sushi Hayakawa’s NYE 14-course omakase with premium sake pairings. There is also a 6-course omakase for $115 with traditional Japanese fine dining and sushi bar options.
Sushi Hayakawa (5979 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta; 770-986-0010, sushihayakawa.com)
If you are really feeling like a baller, head to Buckhead. Himitsu, the secret Japanese cocktail lounge, is throwing a 1920’s themed prohibition party with music from DJ London and bottles and bottle of Dom Perignon. Doors open at 11:00 p.m. and 20s themed garb is suggested. Grab a date and $300 gets you in and a bottle of Dom P2, the newly released, “ultra-premium Champagne). $400 includes one bottle and partial seating. $500 snags guaranteed seating and a bottle. Email 202@puraibeto.com for reservations.
Himitsu (Two Buckhead Plaza, Atlanta; puraibeto.com/himitsu)
