Celebrate New Year's Eve with a steak dinner to go from Pappas Bros. Steakhouse. Photo by Julie Soefer.
With many restaurant and bar owners having long planned in-house celebrations for welcoming 2022, there aren’t many ready or able to pivot for to-go orders this year. On the other hand, many diners want to celebrate, don’t want to cook and also don’t want to be out in the crowds while omicron is still spreading around. (The problem is bad enough that many places have had to shut down , either temporarily or indefinitely, and then test all staff members before reopening.)
The good news is that there are some excellent establishments ready to serve customers that want to celebrate at home. We found a little of everything, including restaurants ready and willing to pack outstanding, multi-course New Year’s Eve feasts to go, specialty food stores with everything you need to make your own New Year’s magic at home, cocktails, wine and beer to go and even some to-go New Year’s Day brunch options.
We would like to continue adding to this list through Thursday, December 30, so if you’d like your restaurant or bar included, please email us .
Great barbecue is now all over Houston, and most places are open on New Year’s Eve, which falls on a Friday this year. Laying out a feast of brisket, ribs, sausage and sides is a great way to celebrate at home. Just make sure to pre-order if possible, and if not possible, stop in as early as you can on Friday, as many places sell out by the afternoon. For ideas on where to order from, check out this list of Texas Monthly’s picks for the best barbecue joints in Houston.
Dario’s Steakhouse & Seafood, 14315 Cypress Rosehill: This long-running, fine-dining restaurant in Cypress is offering a special New Year’s Eve menu that’s available for both dine in and to go. (Must pick up; delivery is not available.) Each of the three-courses offer choices. Just a few selections include an appetizer of braised Akaushi short ribs, filet mignon Oscar-style as the main course and Baked Alaska for dessert. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, but the special menu starts being served at 3 p.m. Call (281) 304-1825 to place a take-out order or check for available reservations. Dario’s is also open on New Year’s Day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Casa do Brasil, 2800 Sage: The churrascaria (Brazilian-style steakhouse) has a number of delights on its to-go menu, including butcher cuts of lamb chops, pork ribs and prime picanha (rump cap, a prized cut in Brazil) ready to grill at home. Those cuts are also available pre-cooked and ready to go. Pao De Queijo (Brazilian cheese bread) makes an addictive starter, so order extra, and there are plenty of other options, too. The Casa’s Signature Margarita, Caipirinha and Sangria are all also available to go, and each container makes six to seven drinks. Go online to view the full menu and order.
Harold’s Restaurant, 350 West 19th: The restaurant in a historic building boasting a second-story terrace is offering three different meals to go over the holiday weekend: New Year’s Eve brunch, New Year’s Eve dinner and New Year’s Day brunch. Online ordering is available and includes a wide selection at different price points of sparkling wine and Champagne. Just a few of the Southern-style entrées to consider include KG’s Buttermilk Brined Fried Chicken with Texas cheddar mac and cheese and braised Atkinson Farm’s greens and bacon-wrapped Gulf shrimp over grits with sautéed mushrooms and onions. Scroll down to our section about New Year’s Eve brunch for more details on that.
Phat Eatery, 23119 Colonial Parkway: This popular eatery at Katy Asian Town has brought back its annual Chinese-American menu, and it is only available until January 2. So, New Year’s is pretty much your last chance to have it until the end of 2022. The dishes include Beef & Broccoli, Kung Pao Chicken, General Tso’s Chicken and Malay Sweet + Sour Chicken. In addition to meals, you can also order party trays online that feature beef rendang, chicken curry, roti, satay skewers, sizzling tofu, stir-fried noodles and more. Phat Eatery is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on New Year’s Day.
KP’s Kitchen, 700 Town & Country: This restaurant’s prime rib feast for four was so popular for Christmas that it’s offering the deal again for New Year’s. It includes a boneless, three-pound Certified Angus Beef Prime Rib that’s pre-seasoned, tied and ready to cook, mashed Yukon Gold potatoes, macaroni and cheese made with selections from Houston Dairymaids , Herbed Butter Green Beans, Parker dinner rolls from Bread Man Baking Co. , Ancient Grain Salad with Crispy Artichokes and Pecan-Apple Crumble for dessert. Call (281) 974-5366 to pre-order.
Soto, 224 Westheimer: This recently opened Japanese restaurant featuring the work of executive chef Yoshi Katsuyama (formerly of Uchi Houston) makes even some of its most prized dishes available for to-go orders. A few items that would make for a covetable New Year’s Eve feast include edamame accented with fresh truffle, uni pasta and soft shell crab tempura. and the chef’s 10-piece sushi selection. Go online to view the full menu ; ordering in advance is recommended.
Backstreet Cafe, 1103 South Shepherd: Not only is the New Year’s Eve menu available to go, but H Town Restaurant Group beverage director Sean Beck says that dinner for two even comes with a bottle of bubbly. The multi-course New Year’s Eve prix fixe is $79 per person, excluding tax or gratuity, and includes dishes such as Gulf Coast Beignets, Lobster Chowder, Duck Confit with dried fig red wine sauce and creamy polenta and Brussels sprouts alongside, and Espresso Chocolate Cake for dessert. It’s also serving New Year’s Day brunch with a cocktail special. Scroll down to that section of this article for the details. Visit on New Year’s Day for the Return To Texas Life Bloody Mary’s that are $5 in house and $20 for pints to go.
Ouisie’s Table, 3939 San Felipe: The respected, long-running Southern restaurant is offering an elegant New Year’s Eve feast to go. The three-course meal costs $120 plus tax and includes a bottle of Champagne. Start with Vegetables & Chipotle Shrimp Soup or Pecan Salad, then move on to entrées of Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Breast or Braised Short Rib Au Jus. For dessert, enjoy Vanilla Mixed Fruit Cake or Pecan Cobbler. To order, call (713) 528-2264.
Scott Gertner’s Rhythm Room, 5535 Memorial: Known for its local live music, the venue also has a full-fledged menu of Louisiana classic dishes, and these are available to go until midnight on New Year’s Eve. That includes boudin balls, Rhythm Room Trash, or blackened catfish topped with shrimp, crabmeat and cream sauce served atop a bed of rice and the vegetable of the day, Scottie Hottie Wings and red beans and rice. View the menu online (scroll down to the bottom of the page, and note that it’s a two-page menu) and call (832) 804-9046 to order.
Cru Wine Bar, 2800 Kirby at West Ave and 9595 Six Pines at Market Street: It’s hard to find this advertised anywhere, but we received info that the wine bar locations are offering an exclusive New Year’s Eve to-go meal for two for $125. It includes lobster bisque, a 16-ounce chateaubriand stuffed with wild mushrooms and herbs, family-style sides of black truffle potato gratin and haricot vert, and chocolate mousse cake for dessert. To order, call your location of choice by 4 p.m. on Thursday, December 30. Pick up on New Year’s Eve from 1 to 3 p.m. (Thanks to our writer Ryan Kasey Baker for the intel!)
Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, 5839 Westheimer and 1200 McKinney: If USDA Prime steaks are your idea of the perfect New Year’s Eve meal, this legendary Houston steakhouse is offering its four-course prix-fixe to go. Other entrée choices include lamb chops, a veal chop or Ora King salmon with jumbo lump crab and shrimp topping. Each meal also has an appetizer, salad, vegetable and dessert. The cost for this luxurious steakhouse dinner is $129.95 before tax, alcohol or gratuity. View the full menu online .
13 celsius, 3000 Caroline: Wine and beer aficionados in Houston should know that this beloved Midtown bar sells to go bottles at 20% off retail. To order, browse the current selection online (you’ll have to scroll down a bit), then place an advance order via email . In a hurry? Stop by in person; phone orders are not accepted during peak hours. 13 celsius is open on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Lei Low, 6412 North Main: Due to the spread of omicron, the well-regarded tiki bar in the Heights is closed for indoor service until January 4. However, it’s got a great selection of cocktails to go. These include classics, such as the ’44 Mai Tai for two, and seasonal cocktails, including Santa Is My Co-Pilot with blended dark rum, amaretto, cinnamon, lime, grapefruit and absinthe for four to six people. You can even buy little umbrellas for your drinks. To comply with state law, a food order is also required, so there’s a small selection of snacks from which to choose. Order the drink pack online .
BB’s Tex-Orleans: All locations of the casual Cajun eatery are serving a special Good Luck Meal on New Year’s Day. It includes black-eyed peas, collard greens and fried fish. You can read about the history of the meal and the meaning of each dish on the BB’s Tex-Orleans blog .
Backstreet Cafe, 1103 South Shepherd: New Year’s Eve revelers might need a little help the next day, and for that reason, H Town Restaurant Group beverage director Sean Beck is offering his Return To Texas Life Bloody Marys for only $20 per pint to go. (That’s two 8-ounce drinks.) For food to go alongside the drinks, the regular brunch menu is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Bistro Menil, 1513 West Alabama: Chef and owner Greg Martin hosts brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and New Year’s weekend is no exception. Just a few of the dishes that would look nice on anyone’s brunch table include the Brunch Galette with scrambled duck eggs, wild mushrooms, bacon, gruyère, roasted tomatoes, and arugula, and the Eggs Lyonnaise; two eggs over easy with gruyère, jamón serrano, frisée and Lyonnaise sauce atop toasted brioche. Order online or view the website menu and call (713) 904-3537.
Harold’s Restaurant, 350 West 19th: New Year’s Day brunch is not only available to go at this esteemed Heights restaurant, but also for delivery, and it’s free if you live within five miles. The brunch menu is available online, and just a few of the favorites include the New Orleans Style Beignets with café au lait anglaise — which would make a wonderful starter — and the Big Nasty Biscuit piled high with a buttermilk brined fried chicken breast, cheddar and sausage gravy. Call (713) 360-6204 to order.
Press Waffle Co., 26435 Kuykendahl, Spring: Located in the Creekside Park West shopping center, this small restaurant chain’s claim to fame, besides getting a deal on Shark Tank , is its authentic Belgian-style waffles made with liége, or pearl, sugar. The sugar caramelizes as the waffle bakes, making tiny pockets of sweet, gooey goodness throughout. In addition to sweet concoctions, such as its bestseller with fresh strawberries, cookie butter, Nutella and housemade whipped cream, there are savory takes, too, such as chicken and waffles and The American topped with cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, maple syrup and the diner’s choice of a fried or scrambled egg. Everyone in the family can get one to go for an at-home New Year’s brunch. Normally, the shop opens at 7 a.m., but for New Year’s Day, it’s opening a little later, so expect to place orders around 9 a.m. Online ordering for pickup or delivery is available.
Rainbow Lodge, 2011 Ella: This elegant restaurant in the Timbergrove area is ideally suited for to-go orders thanks to the convenient, semi-circular driveway in front of the entrance. For New Year’s Weekend, it is offering a special a la carte brunch for both dine in and to go on Saturday, January 1 and Sunday, January 2 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dine on traditional dishes such as Black Eyed Peas simmered with ham hocks, or opt for festive entrées such as Lobster and Caviar with brioche bread pudding and Braised Bison Short Rib Benedict with jalapeño hollandaise. Pair dishes with an assortment of craft cocktails and wine. View the menu onlin e, then call (713) 861-8666 to order.
Trash Panda Drinking Club, 4203 Edison: This Northside bar and eatery is offering its brunch to-go for New Year’s weekend. Some of the more interesting dishes include Waffles & Lollies, two chicken “lollipops” tossed in gochujang and honey alongside a savory waffle, and the Trashy Tots topped with a fried egg, cheese, bacon, guajillo-sriracha aioli and green onion. The drinks include a variety of mimosas, bellinis and a Bloody Mary with vodka, Clamato, miso (for some extra umami), celery salt, sriracha and lime.
These specialty markets sell everything you need for a terrific celebration at home.
DR Delicacy, 4120 Directors Row, Suite A: Create your own decadent brunch at home with specialty products at this surprisingly well-stocked store near the Spring Branch and Lazybrook/Timberwood neighborhoods. Choose from a selection of caviar to pair with Champagne, get a fresh truffle or two to shave over eggs or pasta, then delve into some of the hearty meats, such as Wagyu New York strip steaks or rack of lamb . Some of the specialty vegetables, such as haricot vert and Parisian carrots , would go perfectly alongside. There are also plenty of specialty olive oils and condiments to accentuate your cooking. View the selection online , or visit the store in person. (Note that DR Delicacy is closing at 2 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and on holiday break for a few days after that. In addition, the shop is warning that certain items, such as foie gras, could sell out before then.)
Houston Dairymaids, 2210 Airline: A plethora of cheeses, snack packs and accoutrements are available for online ordering from this premier cheese shop. One example is the Dairymaids Favorites Box with five cheeses: Trillium Triple Cream Brie, Hoja Santa, Spycher Gruyere, Pitchfork Cheddar and Bay Blue. Add the Accompaniment Bag for a full spread. It includes two Olympia Provisions Salamis a 3-ounce pack of sliced Casella Prosciutto, a jar of cornichons, an 8-ounce package of Marcona almonds and a box of Potter’s Crackers. Note that the hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., so plan your pickup accordingly.
Urban Harvest Saturday Farmers Market, 2752 Buffalo Speedway: This popular market near both the Upper Kirby, Greenway and River Oaks neighborhoods is open on New Year’s Day from 8 a.m. to noon. That’s a perfect reason to pick up some special items for your at-home New Year’s Day brunch or dinner. Of course, there are plenty of locally grown fruits and vegetables from multiple vendors, but in addition, you can find prepared specialty items such as margarita mix from Acasa, Mexican pastries from Papalo Mercado, creamy goat cheese from Blue Heron Farm, pimiento cheese from Words & Food and macarons from Maison Burdisso, just to name a few. In addition, chef Monica Pope’s Sparrow Cookshop has dips, crackers and bake-at-home scone dough, which is all perfect for brunch. Please note that due to the holiday, some vendors may not be there. (Thanks to our associate editor David Leftwich for his recommendations.)