New Year’s Eve 2012: Where to drink and dine

What could be better than ringing in the New Year with your friends and loved ones as well as some amazing dinner and drinks? Not much, in my opinion.

Check out the list and hurry up and make your reservations as time is ticking in 2012!

*No matter where or how you spend your New Year’s Eve, please be responsible.

Thirsty Lion Pub and Grill

Tempe Marketplace
2000 East Rio Salado Parkway #1041, Tempe, AZ 85281
Options: Normal operating hours, live music of Coobee Coo begins at 9:30pm
Menu: Dungeness Crab and Prawn “Martini”; Strawberry Hazelnut Salad; Coconut Glazed Mahi Mahi, Crab Stuffed Atlantic Salmon, Grilled Sirloin & Scampi Prawns or Rock Salt Crusted Prime Rib
Cocktail Specials: Gin Peach Cooler and Pear Cranberry Cooler
Price: Call for details

Mark’s Café

6340 S. Rural Road, Suite 120, Tempe, Arizona 85283
Options: Seating times include 5:00pm, 7:00pm and 9:00pm.
Menu: Appetizer: Crab Cake with Remoulade Sauce, Salad: Mixed Greens Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing and Bread, Choose one Entrée:  Filet Medallions with Cabernet Sauce – $45.00 pp, Baked Almond Crusted Salmon with Amaretto Butter Sauce – $44.00 pp, Chicken Neptune Topped with Crabmeat, Tomato and Swiss Cheese – $42.00 pp or Roast Pork Loin with Peach Mustard Glaze – $40.00 pp, Dessert:Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce
Price: Varies based on entree option but includes beverage (soda), tax and tip.
*Don’t forget, with Marks’ BYOB license guests can bring their own favorite wine/beer along to pair with dinner. Don’t forget your wine glasses!

Monti’s La Casa Vieja

100 S. Mill Avenue Tempe, AZ 85281
Options: Seating times begin at 5:00pm
Menu: Up to 16 ounces of Prime Rib, your choice of 2 sides and up to 2 drinks (some restrictions apply)
Price: $40 per person (does not include tax or gratuity).

Sassi

10455 E. Pinnacle Peak Parkway Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Options: 2 dinner seatings; 5:30pm or 8:30pm
Menu: Early Seating will include a three course dinner of antipasti, secondi and dolce preceded by a cocktail and spuntini reception in the Sassi bar at 5:30 pm, with seating for dinner at 6:15 or 6:30 pm. Prosecco, wine and cocktails during the reception are included in the price for the early seating. Tables for the early seating may be occupied until 8:00 pm,  ample time for a leisurely three course meal. The later seating  menu will include menu includes spuntini, antipasti and primi, followed by your choice of three secondi and ending with a special dolce. Start your celebration with a New Year’s Eve cocktail or glass of Champagne, and enjoy a glass or bottle of wine with dinner from our Wine Spectator Award winning list of over 250 Italian wines. Reservations are available at 8:30, 8:45, 9:00, 9:15 and 9:30 pm.
Price: Early seating is $85 per person plus service charge and sales tax. Late seating is $135 per person plus service charge and sales tax.

ZuZu

Hotel Valley Ho, 6850 East Main Street, Scottsdale
Options: A 6:30pm and 9:30pm seating, with both seatings including a special invitation for a midnight Champagne toast on the rooftop. Guest rooms are also available starting at $289.
Menu: First: crispy oysters, cheese tortellini or shrimp & lobster cocktail. Second: crab bisque or kale salad. Third: tender beef short rib, herb roasted loin of veal or blackened ahi. Dessert: pear fiancier or chocolate creme brulee.
Price: The 6:30 p.m. seating is $100 per person and the 9:30 p.m. seating is $135 per person, plus tax and gratuity.

Kelly’s at Southbridge

7117 East 6th Avenue, Scottsdale 85250
Options: Celebrate the night at the neighborhood pub and eatery for FREE if you get there before 9pm. After 9pm, it will be a $40 cover for men but free for women all evening. All guests will receive a bag of party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. Kelly’s will also be offering a VIP experience as well as the purchase of couch spacing for the night.
Menu: Exclusive Dinner will include lobster bisque, a mixed green salad with your choice of 12oz ninman ranch strip steak and garlic lemon shrimp, lobster risotto with basil pesto, airline chicken breast or mushroom risotto along with a dessert of kelly’s sweet indulgence. The VIP Experience will include lobster bisque, tossed house salad, shrimp bowl, twice baked potato, vegetable medley, 8oz oven roasted chicken breast, 6oz braised short rib and chocolate covered strawberries
Price: Exclusive dinner is $95 per person, VIP Experience is $200 per person and couch prices range from $1500 to $2500 for the evening.

The Herb Box

7134 East Stetson Drive, Scottsdale
Options: A special 5 course prix fixe five course menu will be served from 4pm to close.
Menu: Start the evening with a Yellow Tomato Gazpacho Sip with Jumbo Lump Crab and Micro Celery. A Southern tradition of eating black-eyed peas for the New Year, the salad course is sure to bring prosperity! The Lucky Black-Eyed Pea Salad features organic greens, grapes, avocado, local radish, fried okra croutons, yulu seeds, flower petals, and creamy champagne herb dressing. Enjoy an appetizer of Lemon-Garlic Green Chili Shrimp, served on top of white cheddar grits with candied prosciutto. Served with a glass of champagne, the main course features Fried Chicken and a Sweet Potato Waffle, plus a side of wilted red chard. Finish the dinner with a dessert duo of Pink Champagne Cake and a Pomegranate Liqueur Truffle.
Price: $59 per person, including a glass of champagne

elements at Sanctuary

5700 East McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley 85253
Options: First Searing from 5:30 to 7pm. The second seating from 8-10pm. There is also an option for a private area with live music.
Menu: Choose one from each section.  Starters: scallop & foie gras, ricotta gnocchi, kurobuta pork, ahi tuna tian or billi bi soup. Salads: local farmed greens, crispy kale & salt roasted beets or bourbon cured scottish salmon. Entrees: pepper crusted filet of beef, roasted maine lobster, wagyu beef short rib, bacon wrapped guinea hen or dover sole. Desserts: manjari chocolate mousse, grand marnier pot de creme or passion fruit consome.
Price: $125 per person, first seating plus tax & gratuity, $150 per person, second seating plus tax & gratuity or $200 per person, second seating with entertainment plus tax & gratuity (20% gratuity will be added to parties of six or more)

Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn

5532 North Palo Cristi Road, Paradise Valley 85253
Options: An inclusive NYE package which includes a one night stay for in a Rancho, Casita, Deluxe or Grande Casita, $100 dining credit to LON’s at the Hermosa, the Inn’s Four Diamond restaurant, A choice of one bottle of red or white wine, with a cheese and crackers amenity upon arrival, Enhanced turndown service and $36 breakfast credit to LON’s, available to use either in-restaurant or on the patio. Guests dining at LON’s will also be able to enjoy the music of swing group Forrest Smith and the AZ Alligators, who will begin playing in Last Drop at 9 p.m. A complimentary champagne toast will be served at midnight to ring in 2013, prior to calling it a night at 1 a.m.
Menu:  Options include the following choices for both the three- and five-course menus. Amuse: kumumoto oysters, hamachi crudo or kobe beef carpaccio. Second:  roasted cauliflower soup, wild mushroom risotto or roasted mcclendon beets. Third: mediterranean orata “seabream” or roasted diver scallop. Fourth: “snake river farms” american kobe beef short ribs or roasted duck breast. Fifth: house made chocolate truffles & artisan cheese, chocolate soufflé or champagne tempura pears.
Price:  The three-course menu for $85 (wine pairing – still or sparkling – an additional $30) or a five-course menu for $125 (wine pairing – still or sparkling – an additional $55).

District American Kitchen and Wine Bar

320 N. 3rd St. Phoenix, AZ 85004
Options: First seating is from 5:30pm to 7:00pm and the second seating is from 8:00pm to 10:00pm
Menu: Amuse: Schreiner’s bacon wrapped arizona dates. First Course: Tableside poured indigenous squash soup. Second Course: High Desert Duo – Saddle of Rabbit and Smoked Prairie Quail. Intermezzo: Arizona Sparkling Wine and Arcadia Citrus Tarragon Sherbert. Third Course: Arizona Trio – Arizona Grass-fed Beef Short Rib, Chipotle Pork Tamale and Chuck Wagon Gin Venison. Fourth Course: Dessert – Out With the Old and In With the New.
Price: First seating: $59 for adults and $30 for children 12 and under, Second Seating: $69 per adult (this includes a champagne toast at midnight) and $34 for children 12 and under.

Province

333 North Central Avenue, Phoenix AZ
Options: No specific seating times noted
Menu: Choose one from each section. First Course: Cubano Style Shrimp, Melted Cheese & Chorizo Fundido or Pork Meatballs. Second Course: Pear & Blue Cheese Salad, Chile Spike Caesar Salad  or Butternut Squash Soup. Main: Salmon, Cedar River Farms Beef Filet, Maine Grilled Lobster or Vegetable Paella. Dessert: Coffee & Donuts, Bosc Pear Tartlet or Pumpkin Flan.
Price: $65 per person and an additional $30 for wine pairings

Nobuo at Teeter House

622 East Adams St, Phoenix
Options: Seatings start at 5:30pm
Menu: Special event menu will include hassun, sashimi spoons, lobster tri and dessert with additional items available.
Price: $80 per person

Steve’s Greenhouse Grill

139 East Adams St., Phoenix, Az. 85004
Options: Regular hours – open until 11pm
Menu: Your choice of carved prime rib, surf and turf, grilled vegetable penne pasta, fettuccine chicken alfredo and broiled salmon or grilled tilapia. Every meal includes Champagne or wine toast.
Price: $42.95 for two.

NoRTH Fattoria Italiana

4925 N. 40th Street, Phoenix
Options: Special menu is available from 4:30pm to closing.
Menu: Your choice of one option from each section. Starters: roasted butternut squash soup, heirloom beet salad, fonduta, simple salad, burrata alla panna, italian salad or bruschetta. Entrees: scottish salmon, prosciutto chicken, mafaldine, braised beef short ribs or seared diver scallops. Dessert: tiramisu, butterscotch pudding caramel sauce or bombolini
Price: $40 per person (which does not include beverages, tax or gratuity)

Carefree Station

7212 Ho Hum Road, Carefree 85377
Options: Regular dining hours, live music beginning at 8pm and complimentary champagne toast in every time zone beginning at 10pm.
Menu: In addition to the regular menu you can also select any of the following specialized menus: Lobster Trio: Jumbo cold water Canadian lobster tail, slow poached in white wine and butter, served with overstuffed lobster and mushroom ravioli, topped with a rich lobster sauce. Supreme Oscar: Red Bird free range chicken breast, served with jumbo lump crab, red baby spinach, asparagus, rainbow fingerling potatoes, and béarnaise sauce.
Prime New York Strip: A 12-ounce prime New York Strip is accompanied by a confetti of carved vegetables and potatoes. Surf ‘n Turf: A prime Care-Filet is paired with a half lobster tail, served with roasted fingerling potatoes and a vegetable medley. Party Favor Dessert Platter: Enjoy a variety of holiday indulgences such as Champagne Floats, Gold Dusted Truffles, Pop Rock Cheesecake Lollipops, and more.
Price: Varies based on menu selections.

Z’Tejas

Several Valley Locations
Options: Regular dining hours
Menu: A special menu will be offered with entrees among  southwestern surf & turf, ancho garlic prime rib, goat cheese stuffed chicken and baked halibut. The regular menu will be available as well as drink specials.
Price: Varies depending on menu items chosen.

RA Sushi

All Valley Locations
Options: 7:00pm to close
Menu: RA will feature several specials throughout the night, among those: Firework Shrimp ($8), the “RA”solution Roll ($6), Stroke of Midnight Maki ($5), and Edamame Eve Dip ($4). Some of the drink specials you can expect, along with others, are the Midnight Kiss ($7), dragonberry rum muddled with fresh berries, raspberry liqueur and fresh juices, or $6 Ball Droppin’ Bombers (Kirin/Kirin Light and Sake), with the option to add apple, mango, melon or raspberry flavor for $1. Toast to the New Year with a round of sake for the table! All bottles of sake will be half-off during the party.
Price: Varies based on menu selections