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    New Year's Eve Dining

    Procrastinator's Guide to New Year's Eve Dining: Top choices for a memorable foodie evening

    Eric Sandler
    Dec 29, 2013 | 2:15 pm

    Few nights send more people to restaurants than New Year's Eve. After all, who wants to wake up on New Year's Day to a sink full of dirty dishes, empty champagne glasses and who knows what on the rug? In addition, New Year's Eve is one of those nights restaurant staffs work as a point of pride. They're highly motivated to deliver a great experience to diners.

    But knowing where to go can be tricky. After all, pretty much every high-end place in town will run special menus to celebrate. Consider the options below. They all offer delicious food, smooth service and reasonable value. All prices are independent of beverage, tax and gratuity.

    Where: Free Press NYE Gastrodome

    What: As part of the Free Press NYE concert, eight Houston restaurants will compete in the Gastrodome to demonstrate their twist on classic fair food. Uchi is serving hot dogs, Nara is bringing Korean rice dumplings and Lowbrow will have a twist on Hoppin' John. And George Clinton is playing, which is awesome.

    Cost: $50 for a ticket to the event, food items priced $4 to $10

    Where: The Pass & Provisions

    What: Both of the restaurants under one roof are offering special New Year's Eve Menus. At The Pass, it's a nine-course extravaganza that includes plenty of champagne. At Provisions, there's a four-course prix fixe featuring some of the restaurant's signature dishes.

    Cost: The Pass, $195; Provisions, $75.

    Where: Restaurant CINQ at La Colombe d'Or

    What: Chef German Mosquera will serve his regular ala carte menu with a couple of special New Year's Eve additions: An amuse bouche of langoustine mushroom broth and smoked foie gras; an entree of langoustine browned in layla butter with Petrossian caviar aioli; dessert made with vintage 1990 Crystal champagne.

    Cost: Varies by entree. Expect to spend about $100 per person plus tax and tip, depending on wine.

    Where: Kris Bistro

    What: The restaurant inside the Culinary Institute LeNôtre offers a five course menu of French classics with two seatings. Start with a selection of seafood, continue with beef tenderloin in bordelaise sauce and finish with classic crepes Suzette.

    Cost: $78

    Where: Artisans Restaurant

    What: Six courses of classic French favorites in one of Houston's most beautiful dining rooms. The menu includes foie gras torchon, beef and venison Wellingtons and a classic bouche de Noel.

    Cost: $120

    Where: Danton's

    What: The underrated Montrose seafood spot offers a three-course menu of familiar favorites. Start with a half dozen oysters on the half shell or one of Danton's signature gumbos. Entree options include a 14-ounce ribeye and grilled fish. Finish with white chocolate bread pudding, creme brulee or key lime pie.

    Cost: $62

    Where: Brennan's

    What: This Houston institution will serve a three-course menu of Creole classics and provide some of the best service in Houston. Everyone starts with classic Hoppin' John for good luck before choosing from dishes such as turtle soup, asparagus salad, filet mignon, crabcakes and, of course, bananas Foster prepared tableside.

    Cost: Varies by menu choice

    Where: 60 Degrees Mastercrafted

    What: No $200 burgers on the menu, but chef Fritz Gitschner's tenure at the Houston Country Club ensures he knows how to please a crowd. Both the early and late seatings feature a four-course menu with options that include lobster bisque and Dover sole, but the late seating also comes with live music and goes until 1 a.m.

    Cost: $75 for the early seating, $115 for the late seating

    Where: MKT Bar

    What: This restaurant inside the Phoenicia grocery store downtown is moving the tables out and bringing a dance floor in on New Year's Eve. In addition to light bites and a champagne toast, revelers can groove to the melodic doo-wop sounds of Mad Maude and the Hatters as well as '60s soul, pop and rock 45s spun by DJ Tempty.

    Cost: $30 in advance, $40 at the door.

    Where: The Tasting Room Uptown CityCentre

    What: The three-course menu at this wine bar/restaurant features foie gras torchon to start and butter poached lobster as an entree. Dance until midnight with DJ DelSur. Not hungry? Join in the party and still participate in the champagne toast.

    Cost: $55 for dinner, $20 to party

    Where: Triniti

    What: The elegant restaurant will serve a five-course menu for seatings until 6:30 p.m. and an eight-course menu for seatings after 8 p.m. After dinner, stick around to hear DJ Sun spin starting at 10 p.m. and sip some of the 10 different champagnes that will be available by the glass.

    Cost: $65 for five courses; $120 for eight.

    Where: Sparrow Bar + Cookshop

    What: Party with the Pope at this Midtown restaurant that always features the best locally-sourced ingredients. The four-course menu includes vanilla bean cured salmon, beef cheek tagine, Gruyere beignets, duck "sirloin" and much more.

    Cost: $75 for the meal, add wine pairings for $30.

    Where: Caracol

    What: Hugo Ortega's newly launched Galleria seafood restaurant is already drawing raves. Feel ultra-trendy by going there right now.

    Cost: $85

    Where: Brenner's on the Bayou

    What: This elegant dining room provides the right setting for a top-notch celebration. The four-course menus breaks with the usual steakhouse fare by including lobster rolls, blackened duck breast and chestnut soup.

    Cost: $95

    Where: The Hay Merchant

    What: Keep is casual at this Montrose craft beer bar. Hay Merchant will run happy hour prices all night and will open a nine-liter bottle of Belgian beer St. Feuillien Triple. Champagne toast at midnight.

    Cost: Varies by beer, food, etc.

    60 Degrees Mastercrafted will have live music for its late seating.

    60 Degrees Mastercrafted November 2013 main dining room
      
    60 Degrees Mastercrafted Facebook
    60 Degrees Mastercrafted will have live music for its late seating.
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    Where to Eat Brunch Now

    10 Houston restaurants spicing up brunch with fresh new flavors

    Brianna Griff
    May 16, 2025 | 10:14 am
    Smoked Salmon Latke Kirsten Gilliam Okto Brunch
    Photo by Kirsten Gilliam
    Okto's newly launched brunch features fresh dishes like this smoked salmon latke.

    Houston’s weekend routine just got a jolt of new flavors. From a Peruvian-Vietnamese mash-up to a Mediterranean feast in Montrose and a seafood-driven spread in Autry Park, a wave of both new and established Houston restaurants are rolling out fresh takes on everyone's favorite weekend indulgence. Whether it’s four riffs on eggs Benedict or savoring a foie-gras macaron while being serenaded by a violin, these 10 new options are delivering bold brunches with global influences and tipsy tinctures.

    Alora Restaurant and Bar
    Located in the former Kau Ba space in Montrose, this restaurant touts itself as Houston's only Peruvian-Vietnamese restaurant. For brunch, chefs and married couple Diego Ponce and Makala Ponce have created a menu that fuses the two cuisines — think Lima Hot Chicken and Pandan French Toast ($19) with aji limo pepper balanced by the sweetness of pandan. The Bò Né ($28) is a Vietnamese twist on steak and eggs alongside Comté cheese, pate, and tomatoes, while the salmon on crispy toast ($22) is crowned with guacamole, pickled vegetables, and a passion fruit vinaigrette. Beverages include the Alora Bloody Mary ($15) with pickled quail eggs and green mango. Alora serves brunch 11 am-3 pm on weekends.

    Smoked Salmon Latke Kirsten Gilliam Okto Brunch
      

    Photo by Kirsten Gilliam

    Okto's newly launched brunch features fresh dishes like this smoked salmon latke.

    Chardon
    The Thompson Hotel's fine dining restaurant launched in February, transporting both guests and diners to France with its fare. Chardon has become a destination in its own right, and the addition of weekend brunch makes it even more appealing. Classics like Quiche Lorraine ($18) and Croque Monsieur ($32) sit on the menu alongside creations of delicate Lox et Crêpe with dill crème fraîche ($26) and the Avocado and Haricot Vert Tartine topped with a jammy soft-boiled egg ($17). The Bisous Tower ($23/person) proffers a selection of savory pastries and small bites like foie gras macarons and Texas cornbread madeleines. A violinist sets a soft soundtrack while patrons dine. Brunch is 11 am–3 pm on weekends.

    il Bracco
    The Galleria-area Italian spot just upgraded its weekend offerings with several new bites. Housemade pastries include zeppole with orange marmalade ($10), blueberry focaccia ($9), and an artichoke and arugula scone ($12). The weekend-only bucatini carbonara is now joined by shakshuka alla verde, the restaurant's riffs on eggs in purgatory ($19); frittata with with asparagus, goat cheese, tomatoes, and arugula ($17); and a mortadela sandwich on focaccia ($16). Pair them with a mimosa, espresso martini, or a breakfast martini with a little orange marmalade. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 11 am-3 pm.

    Maximo
    The West U. restaurant's weekend brunch offers a range of masa-based dishes. Consider egg Benedict that swaps the traditional English muffin for masa cornbread or cinnamon-sugar coated masa waffles that are topped with cheesecake whipped cream, Japanese peanuts, and agave syrup. Huevos ahogados, drowned in green tomatillo salsa, are served with a side of corn tortillas to soak up every bite of the mushrooms, greens, and Oaxacan cheese. Pair them with cocktails such as the Java-Horchata Flip (sake, coffee liqueur, horchata, whole egg, peanut chili crisp) and the Sangria Tango (tomatillo, cucumber, coriander, green chili, with the guest’s choice of agave or Mexican gin). Brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am-3 pm.

    Melrose
    Created by CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Chef of the Year Emmanuel Chavez, the Montrose lounge serves clever riffs on enduring brunch favorites. Options include charred tomatillo chilaquiles with poached eggs, an acai bowl served in a half coconut, hanger steak with eggs and chimichurri, and a breakfast sandwich made with scrambled eggs, cheese, and brown sugar-roasted “billionaire’s bacon” on a brioche bun. The Melrose Tower channels New York's iconic Sadelle's restaurant with its house-cured lox, mini bagels, chive cream cheese, and accoutrements. Drink options include a spritz, Bloody Mary, and a michelada verde made with tomatillo juice. Brunch is served on Sunday from 11 am-3 pm.

    MF Lobster and Seafood
    The weekend spread at this Autry Park destination aims to elevate Houston’s brunch offerings. Think Benedicts made with silky hollandaise cascading over lobster, braised bacon, pork belly, or classic Canadian bacon (yes, that’s four varieties of the dish). The indulgence continues with wagyu steak and eggs, buttery Maine lobster popovers, and bagels and lox featuring Ora King salmon and roe. For the sweet tooth, choose a brioche pain perdu with caramelized apples and whipped maple mascarpone, or end the meal with a dark chocolate pot de crème. MF Lobster and Seafood serves brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am-2:30 pm.

    Okto
    Sof Hospitality’s Mediterranean restaurant kicks off Sunday with a late-morning feast of fresh flavors such as pan con tomate salad with grilled sourdough and bruleed burrata ($20) and the rich notes of the beet-cured lox atop a potato apple latke ($22). Other highlights include an omelet with blue crab and mascarpone ($24) and a crepe Suzette ($16) accentuated with Grand Marnier, candied orange, and whipped ricotta. Okto’s spot at the trendy Montrose Collective boasts a spacious patio and ample underground parking (or valet). Brunch is served Sunday from 11 am-4 pm at Okto.

    Relish Restaurant and Bar
    The second outpost of this River Oaks staple opened in Memorial’s Town and Country Village at the end of 2024, but only added brunch to its repertoire at the end of April. Flaky herb biscuits ($9), buttermilk pancakes topped with brandied pecans ($15), and a salmon citrus salad with champagne vinaigrette ($24) are just a few of the dishes available. The Italian baked eggs ($18) in a pomodoro sauce with Italian sausage and grilled sourdough is a highlight of the menu. Diners can take advantage of all-day happy hour deals on select cocktails, beer, and wine, with a full espresso bar for those abstaining or still recovering from the previous night’s festivities. Relish serves brunch from 10 am-3 pm on weekends.

    Santé Lounge
    The Upper Kirby lounge’s patio is sure to be a destination for the posh set this summer. Santé's Sunday Funday Brunch features an elevated twist on classics like Dubai chocolate croissants, the grilled-to-order Santé burger with brioche, and a platter laden with five chilled seafood preparations. Patrons can listen as a live DJ spins tunes while relaxing on the patio with its cabanas, chandeliers, and greenery. Order the deviled egg trio (Nashville hot chicken, Tobiko caviar, and ramen egg) and sangria (with white or red wine) for the table. Brunch at Santé is from 12 pm-4 pm on Sunday, with a required dress code.

    Traveler’s Cart
    The Street Market Brunch is an international affair with cinnamon-dusted Morning Churros ($8), Chinese breakfast dumplings ($12) paired with a sambal-oyster-soy sauce, and charming fish-shaped Japanese taiyaki waffles ($9) with yuzu custard filling. Or dig into Turkish cilibir eggs ($15) seasoned with Aleppo pepper, smoked paprika, and za’atar oil. The global tour continues at the bar with "around-the-world" mimosas, a build-your-own Bloody Mary cart, and Don’t Stop the Carnival ($13), a punchy Brazilian coffee cocktail of rum, sweetened condensed milk, and toasted coconut. Traveler’s Cart serves brunch from 10 am-3 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

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