Celebrate New Year's Eve at these Jersey Shore restaurants
For some, New Year's Eve is a time to stay home, play board games, snack all evening and watch the ball drop.
Others like to get dressed up and spend the night on the town, with champagne in hand and live music for dancing.
If you are the latter, there are plenty of restaurants with New Year's Eve festivities planned. From a five-course dinner and after-party to a pajama brunch on New Year's Day, here are 10 Shore restaurants where you can end the year with a bang.
21A On Broadway, Long Branch
Get the city vibe without the crowds at 21A on Broadway's New Year's Eve bash.
The festivities start at 8 p.m. with a special three-course menu, live music, DJ entertainment and a bottle of Spumante ($125 per person). Dishes include lamb sausage with tahini labneh, mussels in lemon butter mustard cream sauce, angry lobster, Wagyu skirt steak with za'atar potatoes, and cannoli.
Go: 202 Broadway; 732-483-6067, 21aonbroadway.com.
Gabriella's Italian Steakhouse, Middletown
For a New Year's Eve any foodie would love, reservations at Gabriella's are a must.
The restaurant, which will have DJ entertainment in the evening, has a menu filled with celebration-worthy dishes like the Grand Tower, a seafood tower stacked with crab, shrimp, oysters, clams and a whole lobster; caviar with chive blinis; prime beef carpaccio with crab and black truffle aioli; and a 50-ounce tomahawk steak for two with truffle steak sauce ($150 per person minimum after 8 p.m.)
Go: 447 Route 25, Middletown: 732-456-699, gabriellasnj.com.
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Hotel LBI, Ship Bottom
Channel your inner Jay and Daisy for a Great Gatsby-themed New Year's Eve soiree at Hotel LBI.
The night begins at 8:30 p.m. and includes a four-course dinner featuring filet mignon and lobster tail, premium open bar, midnight champagne toast, party hats, noisemakers, a DJ and live entertainment ($175 per person).
Go: 350 W. 8th St., Ship Bottom; 609-991-8004, hotellbi.com.
Dolce Liberta, Stafford
Dolce Liberta has big plans for its first New Year's Eve, just before its one-year anniversary arrives in January.
The evening starts with a five-course dinner of antipasto, pasta, salad, an entree and dessert. Dishes include sausage and ricotta-stuffed mushrooms, tortellini alfredo, osso bucco and tiramisu, among others.
There are two seatings: 3 to 5:30 p.m. ($64.99 per person) and 6:30 to 9 p.m. ($79.99). The latter includes admission to the restaurant's after-dinner party, which goes until midnight ($15 per person without a dinner reservation). DJ entertainment, light refreshments and mixers will be provided; the restaurant is BYOB.
Go: 100 McKinley Ave.; 609-549-3532, dolcelibertanj.com.
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Laylow, Asbury Park
Make your way to the underground cocktail lounge below Reyla for a "chill holiday party."
Tickets include two drinks, a champagne toast and DJ entertainment from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. ($50 per person; tickets are required). Doors open at 5 p.m.
The next morning, come back to Reyla for a pajama brunch with a DJ (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.).
Go: 603 Mattison Ave., Asbury Park; 732-307-9640, laylowap.com, heyreyla.com.
B2 Bistro + Bar, Berkeley Township
New Year's Eve is made for dancing, and that's what you'll be doing at B2 Bistro + Bar.
The Bayville location will host a party featuring the band 80s Revolution, plus DJ, food and signature cocktails ($40 admission; $90 includes open bar). The fun starts at 8:30 p.m.
Go: 125 Bayview Ave., Bayville section of Berkeley Township; 732-269-3000, b2bistro.com.
618, Freehold Borough
End the year with a four-course meal at 618, where New Year's Eve dishes include short rib ravioli, wild mushroom Bourguignon, fresh cavatelli with shrimp, New York strip steak with au poivre sauce, and pistachio olive oil cake ($139 per person).
For an additional $49, you can add wine or cocktail pairings.
Go: 618 Park Ave., Freehold Borough; 732-577-0001, 618nj.com.
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Proving Ground Waterfront Dining, Highlands
Order from a special New Year's Even menu and enjoy live music at Proving Ground, which sits along the Shrewsbury River.
The menu, which will be served a la carte, includes oysters Rockafeller, a charcuterie board, prosciutto-stuffed pork chop, grilled veal chop, cioppino and beef Wellington, among other dishes. The restaurant's regular menu also will be available.
Go: 56 Shrewsbury Ave., Highlands; 732-872-2266, theprovingground.com.
Daddy O, Brant Beach
Party into the morning at Daddy O, which will have live music until 1:30 a.m., a special dinner menu, a champagne toast and noisemakers.
Return in the morning for pajama brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (wear your pajamas for happy hour drink prices). Go: 4401 Long Beach Blvd., Brant Beach; 609-494-1300, daddyolbi.com.
Seaside Social House, Seaside Heights
Help this newcomer celebrate its first New Year's Eve with an evening that includes an open bar from 8 p.m. to midnight, plus a champagne toast.
The restaurant, formerly Jax Garage, will serve its regular menu of dishes like zucchini fritters, housemade meatballs, carne asada pizza, balsamic steak salad and cheesesteak.
Go: 116 Sumner Ave., Seaside Heights; 732-250-0011, seasidesocialhouse.com.
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Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com, follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore restaurants to visit on New Years Eve
