Highlands Ranch

The South Denver Metro area has a few options to help you ring in the New Year 2015/ 2016
HAPPY NEW YEAR’S!

Parker Garage – As of 12/30/15 had opening at the 5 o’clock time slot and 8:30.. call to make reservations.

MARCO’S COAL FIRED PIZZA – VELAGIO

Marco’s Coal Fired Pizza is offering a special for diners interested in a merry way to celebrate the last night of the year in a more casual setting. For $25, be treated to the Pizza Giada (Bufala Mozzarella, Parmigiano Reggiano, Gran Cru, Caciocavallo, Gourmet Mushrooms, Crispy Pancetta, Fresh Basil, EVOO) and two glasses of Marca – DOC Prosecco for an authentic Napoletana toast.

VINES WINE BAR – PARKER CO NYE BASH

Vines Wine Bar still has some openings, and we have a fun night planned! Early seating (until 8) is dinner only, but after 8 we have either a package for dinner, DJ, dancing, party favors, photo backdrop, midnight toast, and trivia and prizes! Also, you do NOT have to buy the package – if you just want to come for drinks and dancing, you can definitely do that! (per owner 12/31/15)

– Centennial/Aurora
Make Your Reservations Now – 303 400-3166

New Year’s EVE:

Head over to Punch Bowl Social (65 Broadway on New Year’s Eve and celebrate 80’s style. The party gets started at 8pm with DJ Stone, and the 80’s cover band, The Goonies, go on at 10pm. Champagne toast and balloon drop at midnight and best of all — no cover. Don’t forget clean socks to hit the bowling lanes or channel your inner rock star and take to the private karaoke rooms to sing in the new year.  Of course, ping pong, vintage arcade games, shuffleboard and darts are always a hit for year-end celebrating.

On the last night of 2015, drop in to either location of ViewHouse (2015 Market Street and 7101 S. Clinton Street, Centennial), and enjoy the glitz and glamour of “A Midnight Masquerade New Years Eve” at the Ballpark location and ““A Midnight Affair” down south at ViewHouse Centennial.  Both parties begin with mulit-coursed prix fixe dinner with optional pairings, and will include photo booths, balloon drops, two dance floors and a celebratory midnight champagne toast.  The four coursed menu at Ballpark features flavors such Acorn Squash Soup, sesame seared tuna, slow roasted filet and a “Sucre Flight” dessert course, and at Centennial, dig into a five course meal boasting dishes such as lobster bisque, salads, wild mushroom and squash puff pastry with porcini cream and bulls blood salad, Ahi tuna napoleon, a grilled filet with poached lobster and finished with the Sucre Flight.  Dinner packages start at $45 per person at Ballpark or $75 or $150 per couple.

Del Frisco’s Grille (100 St. Paul St.  will be celebrating their first New Years Eve dinner in their sleek new Cherry Creek North location with an special dry aged Prime Rib dinner in addition to regular menu offerings.  This special features hand-mashed potatoes, au jus and complimentary champagne toast at midnight, and you can get the 16oz version for $42, or indulge in the 20oz for $49.  Wash it down with a selection from the 2,000+ bottles of wine on site or sip on one of the Grille’s holiday cocktails, the Cinnamon Apple Mule, a smooth apple bourbon and cinnamon mule or the White Chocolate Candy Cane Martini, a sweet sipper with Stoli Vanil Vodka and Godiva White Chocolate.

Make LoHi’s Postino WineCafé (2715 17th St. your-party stop all day before 5 pm and enjoy $5 wines by the glass or pitchers of beer before you head out to your next stop.  Hungry?  Of course, the signature bruschetta boards are available, including the new seasonal bruschetta of roasted butternut squash, roasted pumpkin seeds, ricotta and fresh chives.  Drizzled with two oils – pumpkin oil and olive oil – it’s a creamy, cozy seasonal delight.

If you are looking for something carefully crafted but still über casual, settle in to a seat at Carbon Beverage Café (1553 Platte St., in a nod to your favorite childhood classics Chef T.J. Bresina is whipping up a special Black Tie TV Dinner that will be served along with a smattering of special cocktails from behind the bar, fully customizable and “carbon-ized” by you.  Regular menu is also available, so If you’re hankering for the Li’l Kim, Green Eggs & Hash or just a platter of Tater/Bacon/Pizza tots with an array of your choice of hits, you can still indulge before you head next door for a buttery brioche doughnut from sister-concept Habit Doughnut Dispensary, which will also be open regular hours and serving holiday coffee alongside the array of creative doughnuts fresh made for the evening.

It’s comfort food with an elegant twist at MAX’s Wine Dive (696 Sherman Street ), where New Year’s Eve special Prix Fixe $50 menu offers an amuse followed by three courses from the talented kitchen headed by Chef Kevin Savoy.  Think along the lines of the MAX’s stuffed pepper to start, followed by a salad of mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, marinated artichokes, parmesan cheese and Champagne vin

.  You’ll enjoy the ribeye Oscar Style, a juicy 12 oz. griddled rib eye steak layered with jumbo lump crab and accompanied by asparagus with house hollandaise
, mashed potatoes and natural jus
.  Round out the meal with Oreo Bread Pudding and vanilla ice cream and salted caramel.  An optional bubbles flight includes Cava, Prosecco, Champagne and Sparkling Rose for $23.

At Argyll Whisky Beer (1035 E 17th Ave – www.argylldenver.com) New Year’s Eve celebrants will enjoy a $50 per person prix fixe menu.  Starting at 5 p.m.(reservations recommended) the specials of the four coursed menu start with an amuse-bouche of roasted baby beets with Jumpin Goat cheese vinaigrette and candied walnuts or foie gras mousse with drunken cherry and brioche.  First course brings your choice of baby greens with blood orange vinaigrette, Point Reyes blue and candied almonds or potato, leek, truffle and chive soup. Mains consist of salmon, brussel sprouts with house-made sriracha and yuzu; green curry with babyAsiann vegetables, almonds and sesame seeds or a decadent red wine braised beef short-rib with yukon gold potato and horseradish puree with baby carrots.  Desserts include traditional bread pudding with whisky crème anglaise, caramel and drunken cherries or a rich chocolate mousse with hazelnuts and raspberry. Pairings include the Valdemar Temparillo for 9$ a glass or 35$ a bottle, or indulge in the Midnight Kiss cocktail, a bubbly pleaser made with champagne, blood orange and elderflower liquor for 8$.

Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Tamayo (1400 Larimer Street) on Larimer Square with modern Mexican cuisine and cocktails.  On Thursday, December 31st, enjoy a New Year’s Eve three-course modern Mexican dinner with a champagne toast for $69.  The New Year’s Eve Menu includes one from each of the following categories: First Course: Roasted Beet Salad, Braised Lamb, Chile Relleno Seafood, Scallops, Braised Pork Quesadillas, Butternut Squash Soup, the Second Course choose from Lobster & Shrimp, Marinated Pork, Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass, Lamb Shank, Tampiquena and for the Third Course choose from Empanada De Platano, Tres Leches Bread Pudding, Pastel De Chocolate.

Rise to the occasion and ring in the New Year at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House (8100 E. Orchard Road) New Year’s Eve celebration. Executive Chef Mario Hernandez will be serving a special entrée including the delicious 8oz Filet and 8oz Lobster tail for $79. The menu also includes a variety of appetizers including shrimp cocktail, crab cake, tuna tartare and much more. A variety of main course dishes are available from the wagyu long-bone ribeye to the sautéed salmon. Add some delectable side dishes including the jalapeno-bacon mac & cheese, chateau potatoes or asparagus. Reservations are highly recommended: 303-796-0100.

Zengo (1610 Little Raven St., Riverfront Park, Denver (www.richardsandoval.com) will be celebrating New Year’s Eve and Chef Robert Juan will be serving two mouth-watering four-course menus. Guests will have the option to chose from two seating times. The first seating offers a unique menu that will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. and is $55 per guest. The first course guests can select either a Thai Seafood Ceviche, vegetarian roll, angry zengo roll or the sea vegetable salad. The second course includes a choice of Thai chicken empanadas, duck confit-daikon tacos, mix grilled satay and Thai shrimp lettuce wraps. The third course includes the choice of lemongrass adobo chicken, crispy skin salmon, short rib udon noodle and crispy tofu. The second seating will be from 7:30 p.m. to close and is $69 per guest. This delicious menu includes a first course with a selection of hamachi ceviche, vegetarian roll, angry zengo roll or a volcano roll. The second course offers a choice of Thai chicken empanadas, Japanese chicken meatballs, shrimp-vegetable potstickers and broiled scallop. The third course includes a Shanghai strip steak, chipotle miso-glazed black cod, chili crab noodle, pan roasted NY Strip or the Chef’s veggie selection. Both seatings include a champagne toast and a choice of the dulce de leche cheesecake or the modern Mexican bar for dessert. Reservations are recommended 720.904.0965.

Look to La Biblioteca (1610 Little Raven St., Riverfront Park, Denver New Year’s Eve Bash where unlimited is the keyword! Let the fun begin starting at 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Each guest receives unlimited passed appetizers and select cocktails for $64 per guest. Passed appetizers include spicy tuna roll, volcano roll, vegetarian roll, Thai chicken empanadas, grilled chicken satay, shrimp-vegetable potstickers and a few other additional selections. Unlimited cocktails include the traditional margarita, house-infused margaritas, well cocktails, blanco and tinto sangria, house red and white wine and draft beer.

Don’t forget to figure out your Designated Driver before you go out to celebrate. There are options for free rides listed here.

With the holidays fast approaching, I just wanted to take a moment to send information about New Year’s Day brunches around town for your consideration.  Ours is a brunching town; what better way to kick off the new year than with that curious combination of breakfast and lunch that feels so uniquely Denver?

New Year’s Day Brunches:

Celebrate the first day of 2016 at Punch Bowl Social (65 Broadway with an over-the-top New Year’s Day brunch and award-winning bloody mary bar, starting at 8 am. The mega buffet features a prime rib carving station, omelet and egg stations, charcuterie platters, fresh fruits, buttermilk biscuits, croissants, club sandwiches, multiple salad selections and mini pop tarts and mini cupcakes among the dessert choices. Adults are $35, kids under 5 eat free and kids 12 and under are $10. After the feast, check out the private karaoke rooms for some new year singing time. Other favorite activities include skee ball, ping pong, retro arcade & pinball games, shuffleboard, corn hole, darts and the brand new giant foosball table. Call 303-765-2695 for reservations.

Whether you’re hung over or just hungry, both ViewHouse locations (ViewHouse Ballpark (2015 Market Street – www.viewhouse.com) and ViewHouse Centennial (7101 S. Clinton St. – www.viewhouse.com)) have the answer with regular brunch menu offerings, including Crab Cakes Egg Benedict, French Toast with salted caramel bananas and the ViewHouse breakfast burrito, stuffed full of spicy chorizo, green chile, pico de gallo, sour cream and eggs, and loaded up with guacamole.  Finish strong with the ViewHouse Bloody Mary (you can make it bottomless!) or sip on a Whiskey Kiss, with Leopold’s small-batch whiskey and St. Germain, fresh strawberries, mint and lemon juice.  Both ViewHouse locations will be open regular hours on New Year’s Day – drop in any time from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.

The just-opened Del Frisco’s Grille (100 St. Paul St. – www.delfriscosgrille.com/cherry-creek) in Cherry Creek North will lure New Year’s Day brunchers with the promise of an “anytime eats,” upscale, casual menu of brunch comfort food designed and built for sharing, indulging and enjoying. Craveable dishes like Red Velvet Belgian Waffle with whipped vanilla bean-spiked cream cheese and thick cut hickory smoked bacon, or the crabcake benedict with poached eggs, asparagus and toasted focaccia and a spicy fresh Cajun lobster sauce.  Wash it down with the hangover-busting Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary that arrives at your table with house-made Bloody Mary Mix, Tito’s Vodka and a hefty plate of “fixin’s.”  If you’re still celebrating, stay simple with the House mimosa of champagne and fresh squeezed orange juice, available by the glass or in a carafe, as are all the Grille’s brunch cocktails.

Postino WineCafé (2715 17th St.) is ringing in the new year by offering the unique Postino brunch – the compact and craveable menu is expanded for brunch to include scratch offerings from the kitchen such as Walnut Toast with triple crème brie and tartly sweet house-made berry preserves, or the Ciabatta French Toast with the house made berry preserves, almonds and vanilla crème Fraiche to finish, or the B.E.L.T., a hearty and filling breakfast panini on soft ciabatta with applewood smoked bacon, scrambled eggs, dijonnaise, lettuce and tomato. Naturally, the signature bruschetta boards are available, including the roasted butternut squash bruschetta with roasted pumpkin seeds, ricotta and fresh chives. Wash it down with a selection from the eclectic and approachable wine list where any glass of wine is $5 until 5 p.m., and the fresh housemade mimosas are also $5.

Habit Doughnut Dispensary and Carbon Beverage Café (1553 Platte St.) are both open at 7 a.m. on New Year’s Day, and brunchers can grab a doughnut on-the-go at Habit or indulge at Carbon with a hangover-helper Devil-Fried Chicken and Waffles, with the aptly named devil-fried chicken with sriracha maple, creamy whipped butter over almond waffles or buttery brioche doughnut; or start the new year’s right with a healthy bowl of the Tree Hugger Grains with carbon coffee muesli over housemade yoghurt,with a sprinkling of chia seeds, pepitas, toasted nuts,honey and tart fresh blueberries.  Sip on one of the many adult-beverage options like the ever-customizable sangria, with options of red, white, rosé, Prosecco or even kombucha or the Metal Sangria with Trve American Stout.  Fresh OJ is on tap for a simple, customizably-infinite Mimosa experience with your friendly tap tender behind the bar.

MAX’s Wine Dive (696 Sherman Street), the cozy casual complement to our craft-brewing-beer-crazy town offers a comfort-food take on brunch for New Year’s Day, including the special for the day, the must-have Prime Rib Hangover Fries, with tender prime rib, healthy dose of cheese, scallions and bacon all topped with jalapeños, Cheese, Scallions, Bacon, Jalapenos, Sunny Side Up Eggs and Spicy Lemon Hollandaise. Splurge on the Bottomless Mimosa for $15, or a Wine Dive Sangria with house red or white wine and brandy, seasonal fruits and a bit of cane sugar.

Duck into Argyll Whisky Beer (1035 E 17th Ave – www.argylldenver.com) for a hearty New Year’s Day Brunch from the new brunch menu.  Served until 3 p.m., start with an order of bottomless mimosas for a bit of the hair of the dog if you celebrated a bit much the night before.  Maybe you’ll try the Traditional Corned Beef Hash with poached egg, greens and a spicy mustard sauce, or you’ll opt for the Crayfish & Artichoke Stew, enhanced by rice and a fried egg.  Feeling especially hungry?  Tuck into the city’s best take on the English Breakfast, with house-made sausage, fried egg, tomato, mushrooms and beans.  Delicious food, drink and service with just a hint of British cheekiness.  There’s a Scotch Egg here with your name on it.

Zengo & La Biblioteca (1610 Little Raven St., Riverfront Park, Denver  will be serving up their bottomless brunch on New Year’s Day from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For $39, each guest enjoys unlimited small plates and free flowing brunch cocktails, including a Build Your Own Bloody Bar (Maria or Mary) with over 30 fixings to make it to your liking.  A taste of what’s on the menu includes Chorizo Benedict (Photo in dropbox link), spicy tuna roll, shrimp vegetable potstickers and bacon fried rice. Reservations are recommended: 720-904-0965.

Tamayo (1400 Larimer Street) on historic Larimer Square will be featuring the New Year’s Day bottomless brunch, the perfect hangover cure. Unlimited small plates and free-flowing cocktails for $39 from10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Happy hour menu available from 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.and dinner menu beginning at 5:00 p.m.