New Year’s Eve is all about looking ahead, so one can't be blamed for wanting to bid farewell to 2020’s bad juju with a sigh of relief over food and drinks at one of the restaurants below. Prices listed do not include tax or gratuity. Reservations are recommended.
Azabu
161 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach786-276-0520
azabuglobal.com
Azabu offers a prix-fixe menu for the night, starting out with oysters in yuzu salsa, followed by tuna tataki salad and a dish of king kampachi with serrano and ponzu. The meal continues with Wagyu beef gyoza with Japanese sweet potato purée and Wagyu stripling, served with porcini mushroom risotto and red miso demi-glace. End on a sweet note with shibuya toast and Japanese milk bread, strawberries, blueberries, vanilla and matcha ice cream; assorted mocha bites; and Pocky. DInner costs $95 per person. A supplemental premium sashimi platter can be added for $28 per person. Guests can also add a bottle of Louis Roederer Champagne for $100.
Chica
5556 NE Fourth Ct., Miami786-632-7725
chicarestaurant.com
Chef Lorena Garcia has put together a special à la carte menu to ring in 2021. The list of items includes appetizers of black truffle croquettes ($20), a duck foie gras empanada with fig and port wine agrodolce ($25), and Florida stone crab claws (MP). For entrées, choose from a ten-ounce Wagyu churrasco ($62); Iberico pork shank served with cachaca polenta and hibiscus guava demi-glace ($58); and Maine lobster with cotija fondue, hearts of palm and chorizo gremolata ($65). Chica will bring out New Year's Eve maraca piñatas for dessert, made with horchata frozen custard, chocolate snickerdoodle, and spiked dulce de leche ($20).
Diya Sunset Harbour
1766 Bay Rd, Miami Beach305-763-8948
diyasunsetharbour.com
This vegetarian Indian restaurant in Sunset Harbour hosts a special New Year's Eve mask-erade. Admission costs $150 per person and includes a three-course prix fixe dinner featuring dishes such as aloo bravas, vegetarian samosas, eggplant bharta, mushroom matar masala, and ras malai tres leches. Guests will also enjoy a glass of Champagne and complimentary admission to the VIP lounge party with DJ Nano starting at 9 p.m.
Le Jardinier
151 NE 41st St., Miami305-402-9060
lejardinier-miami.com
Chef Alain Verzeroli is putting on a feast at his Design District restaurant. His tasting menu will feature dishes of Maine lobster accompanied by winter vegetables, broccoli, and ginger coulis; a course of filet de boeuf with fingerling potatoes; and an entrée of cauliflower with crustacean consommé and Russian caviar. For dessert: a “Mont-Blanc” tart with cassis compote and rum-flavored chiffon. The first seating is from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. for $125 per person, with a five-course tasting with a $70 wine pairing option available. The second seating from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. will feature a $175 per person, six-course tasting menu, including a Champagne toast, with a $120 wine-pairing supplement.
Photo courtesy of North Italia
North Italia
900 S. Miami Ave., Miami786-475-9100
northitalia.com
Ring in a brand-new year at North Italia with a festive three-course prix-fixe menu. Dinner begins with starter options such as blue crab risotto, Sicilian short rib ragù, and a Parmesan meatball. Follow that up with a main course of grilled branzino with roasted cauliflower; roasted butternut squash agnolotti; or red wine-glazed short rib with mascarpone polenta. Desserts choices are Italian butter cake, salted-caramel buddino, and tiramisu. Dinner costs $65 per person. The menu is also available for takeout and delivery.
Ornos Estiatorio
19565 Biscayne Blvd., Miami786-697-1681
michaelmina.net
Chef Michael Mina’s new restaurant in Aventura will offer a five-course menu of Greek dishes, including surf and turf, jumbo lump crab cake, lamb fricassee, and traditional vasilopita, which contains a coin hidden in the dough. If you find it in your slice, you will be blessed with good fortune for the entire new year! Dinner costs $105 per person.
Public Square
6915 Red Rd., Coral Gables305-665-9661
publicsquarerestaurant.com
Coral Gables' new contemporary American grill offers a five-course prix-fixe menu. For starters: crabmeat terrine with avocado mousse, green tomatillo, and paddlefish caviar; followed by fried oysters in a yucca puree and mango onion mojo. Next on the list is rosemary-scented braised lamb shank with green pea and truffle risotto, along with a dish of slow-roasted prime rib with mashed potatoes, asparagus, and green-peppercorn sauce. For dessert: Nutella chocolate mousse. Cost is $95 per person.
Quinto La Huella
788 Brickell Plaza, Miami786-805-4646
easthotels.com
Gather with loved ones for an Uruguayan feast at this Brickell restaurant. Included in your dinner are starters of lamb lettuce and roasted porcini mushroom or sea scallop and lobster caipirinha, followed by a dish of egg pappardelle with oxtail confit. Then comes a choice of lamb rack provençal, Arctic sea bass, or Wagyu short rib. For dessert, take your pick of pineapple baked Alaska or mellow chocolate delight. Dinner costs $95 per person. The restaurant also offers a menu for children under 12 years old for $35.
R House
2727 NW Second Ave, Miami305-576-0201
rhousewynwood.com
R House offers a four-course dinner menu on New Year's Eve. Served family-style, your meal will include avocado and hearts of palm ensaladita with jalapeño-cilantro vinaigrette, followed by a first course of aji-rubbed grilled octopus, spicy cilantro salsa, and braised prime short-rib empanadas. A second course of black Angus New York strip asada will be served alongside coconut-braised corvina with pineapple-mango-papaya sauce. Dessert will be the chef's choice. Expect entertainment and performances by Roxxxy Andrews. Athena Dion, DJ MoJody, and Juicy Love. Dinner costs $90 per person and includes admission for the show and welcome sparkling wine. VIP packages are available for $190 and $215.
Tanuki
1080 Alton Rd, Miami Beach305-615-1055
tanukimiami.com Celebrate New Year's Eve at Tanuki with a special seven-course Pan-Asian feast. The menu will feature oysters, stone crabs, sushi and sashimi, chilled soba, and dim sum. First seating is from 5 to 8 p.m. and costs $78 per person and a second seating starts at 9 p.m. and costs $108 per person. A beverage pairing is available for $48 per person.
