Here are eight of the best tables in town for celebrating New Year’s Eve 2014 in good taste. Stop and make reservations now at your favorite local restaurant!
Alchemy
Alchemy in Cooper-Young is going to serve their regular menu until 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. After 10 p.m., the menu will be limited, but the fun will continue into the night until 1:30 a.m. DJ Cosmo starts at 9:30 p.m., and there’s no cover charge. At midnight, a champagne toast will be served to everyone! (After 10 p.m., only patrons who are 21 and older can participate.) Learn more at alchemymemphis.com.
Bari Ristorante
Plan a cozy New Year’s Eve at Bari Ristorante in Overton Square. Enjoy artisan cocktails and a menu of authentic Italian delights. Or start your New Year’s celebration with a wine and cheese tasting with friends at Bari, and celebrate afterwards by enjoying the night life of Overton Square. Wine and cheese tastings require a minimum 24-hour notice and are available year round for $150, which includes 40 different cheeses. Learn more at barimemphis.com.
Ecco
Celebrate New Year’s Eve in the Evergreen Historic District with Ecco on Overton Park. This comfortable, modern setting feels like a private party with a stepped-up menu! On New Year’s Eve, they’ll be serving their regular menu, featuring the delectable Mediterranean flavors they are known for, with cheese plates, house-made pastas, carefully braised meats and boutique wine and beer. There will also be two surprise specials offered for New Year’s, and seating begins at 5 p.m. to accommodate anyone who may have another event to attend later on. Learn more at eccoonovertonpark.com.
Erling Jensen
Erling Jensen is prepping for New Year’s Eve in East Memphis with a four-course menu for $85 per person that will, no doubt, be worthy of celebrating! If you don’t get a chance to plan New Year’s Eve early, or prefer a more casual, impromptu evening, the bar at Erling’s will also be open. Bear in mind, they don’t take reservations in the bar area, and there is always a separate bar menu. Whichever route you take, Erling’s never disappoints. Learn more at ejensen.com.
Itta Bena
Reserve your seat at Itta Bena for New Year’s Eve at the early bird seating from 5 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., or stay up for the second seating, to begin at 9 p.m., and see the guitar drop on Beale. The early seating is $69 for a four-course meal. The later seating, $89, offers a four-course dinner with favors and a champagne toast at midnight. There will also be entertainment by the Susan Marshall Trio. Learn more at ittabenamemphis.com.
McEwen’s
McEwen’s on Monroe downtown has a special, four-course menu lined up for New Year’s Eve. The prix-fixe menu is $70 and features delicious, memorable first courses, like deep sea sweet red crab gratin and apple-braised pulled pork shank with smoky black-eyed peas, collards and Southern-style corn bread. One of the main courses on the menu is a bone-in grilled New York strip with smoked chili chimichurri. And you’ll definitely want to save room for the silky Belgium white chocolate mousse with champagne-macerated cherries and chocolate shavings for dessert. For this special night, reservations must be made by phone. (No online resos for New Year’s Eve.) Follow this link for an entire New Year’s Eve menu at McEwen’s: mcewensmemphis.com
River Oaks
River Oaks in East Memphis is serving up fabulous food and wine from Chef José on New Year’s Eve! A three-course menu, with wine pairings for $100 per person, includes homemade ravioli with lobster beurre blanc; beef tenderloin with seared foie gras, potato, celery root purée and truffle and port sauce; and a delectable dessert made with their famous homemade ice cream. Diners also have the option to order the prix-fixe menu without wines for $65 per person. Their regular menu and full wine list are available, as well. See the entire special prix-fixe New Year’s Eve menu at riveroaksrestaurant.com.
South of Beale
South of Beale downtown is serving a special menu made up of their most popular specials from 2014! The menu at South of Beale changes every few months, so they have listened to what their customers loved most and are now putting it all on their New Year’s Eve Best of 2014 menu! Favorites such as the duck patty melt, Indian taco with flank steak, and pan-fried pork chop with Gouda mac ‘n cheese will all be on the best-of menu this year. They assured us that specialty cocktails will also be plentiful! Find a complete South of Beale New Year’s Eve menu on their website at southofbeale.com.
It will be a happier New Year’s Eve if you make your reservations early!
Looking for the best of the best in Memphis? The SB Memphis Guide is your road map to Memphis’ best, and the SB Guide app is coming soon!
Here’s to a fabulous 2015! Cheers!!
