EATS BEAT: Top picks for New Year's Eve dining

By Bud Kennedy
Published in Dfw.com
December 29, 2008

You can also view this article online.

Don't start the New Year by giving your money away.

At Cafe Aspen in Fort Worth, dinner on New Year's Eve costs the same as every other night -- regular menu, no ripoffs. It's about $30 per person. Look for a coupon on cafeaspen.com.

The New Year's dinner getting the most buzz -- in Fort Worth AND Dallas -- is at Lanny's Alta Cocina Mexicana in the Cultural District. The price is $65, about the same as regular. The entrees include a prime ribeye, rack of lamb or sea bass with black-eyed peas. And the dessert is Kahlua espresso cheesecake with praline sauce.

Down the street, Fred's Texas Cafe is opening its new bar with a $60 dinner. The entree is stuffed prime rib with chili scallops and a jalapeno tzatziki, and the drinks cost about $2.

In downtown Fort Worth, try Ferre, Six 10 Grille at the Ashton or Zambrano's Wine Cellar, all about $60.

In Arlington, Olenjack's Grille is the place -- lamb, seabass or tenderloin for about $40-$50, including a black-eyed pea soup with hamhocks and greens.

There are a couple of good deals in Dallas.

Cafe Izmir on Greenville Avenue has a four-course Middle Eastern dinner for $65 with a guitarist and bellydancers.

But Craft costs $100. Al Biernat's? $115. Dragonfly? Bijoux? Nobu? They're all $125. Nonna at the Anatole has an eight-course dinner with a party. That's $195.

You can see why the best dining deals are usually in Fort Worth.

And my best advice of all is: Book a room.

At Rough Creek Lodge near Glen Rose, dinner for two in that four-star restaurant, plus the party, a room and brunch the next day costs $617.

And at the classic Belmont Hotel near Oak Cliff, you can start a Southern dinner with chicken or pork tenderloin and cheese grits, then join the party and stay overnight for less than $300 per couple.

At the little Hotel Lumen near SMU, a couple can have dinner and stay for $200.

Then, on New Year's Day, try the lunch plate at Joe T. Garcia's. It's $6.50. Or get black-eyed peas someplace like Highland Park Cafeteria or Cousin's barbecue.

Most importantly, have a Happy New Year.