Where will you be at midnight on New Year’s Eve?
Some like to stay in and watch the ball drop, but others want to party outside the house. If you prefer the latter, then say hello to 2025 with these Central Jersey restaurants and events.
From fine dining to comedy to a classical music concert, here’s where to go in Central Jersey on Dec. 31.
The Bradford, Bridgewater
The Bradford is a bar and restaurant on top of the AC Hotel in Bridgewater.
The Bradford, a rooftop lounge on the top of the AC Hotel by Marriott Bridgewater, is hosting its annual New Year’s Eve party with dancing, cocktails and a DJ.
The chic venue is offering several packages beginning at 9 p.m. The $150 Gold Ticket includes open bar from 9 p.m. to closing, standing room only and a champagne toast at midnight. The VIP Experience is a $175 per person minimum spend on food and beverage with a VIP table from 9 p.m. to closing, champagne toast at midnight and party favors. Or, pay a $30 cover charge for standing room only.
Valet service is available and a dress code is enforced.
Go: 600 Somerset Corporate Blvd. 7th floor, Bridgewater; 732-384-6831, thebradfordrooftop.com/new-years-eve/.
Catherine Lombardi and Stage Left Steak, New Brunswick
Sister restaurants Catherine Lombardi and Stage Left Steak will be open for New Year’s Eve dinner in New Brunswick with 4 to 11 p.m. seatings. At midnight, fireworks will go off outside the windows at Monument Square Park.
Stage Left Steak will also offer private dining with two seatings in the 16-seat wine cellar. The 5-9 p.m. seating has a $3,500 food and beverage minimum while the 9:30 p.m. to midnight seating has a $5,000 food and beverage minimum.
Both seatings can add on experiences like truffles and Champagne or a wine tasting. To book the wine cellar, email parties@stageleft.com.
Go: 3 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick; 732-296-9463, catherinelombardi.com.
Fireworks, New Brunswick
New Brunswick will host fireworks for the 15th year, produced by Francis Schott and Mark Pascal, owners of Catherine Lombardi and Stage Left Steak restaurants.
Between 11:30 p.m. and midnight, a DJ will spin tunes before fireworks are shot off the roof of The Heldrich Hotel. Many of New Brunswick’s bars and restaurants will be open late for a post-fireworks nightcap.
Go: Monument Square Park, 2 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, beginning at 11:30 p.m. with fireworks at midnight.
The Frog and The Peach, New Brunswick
The Frog and The Peach will “Jazz in the New” with two seatings and special prix fixe menus for New Year’s Eve, along with jazz by the Curtis Lundy Ensemble for the later seating.
The Frog and The Peach, an innovative New American restaurant, will offer two seatings to “Jazz in the New” on Dec. 31. The $95, three-course prix fixe seating is at 5 p.m. and the $165, four-course seating is at 7 p.m., the latter which includes a champagne toast and live jazz from the Curtis Lundy Ensemble.
Items on the menus include pumpkin ricotta gnocchi, 10-ounce pan-seared ribeye, Long Island duck breast, eggnog panna cotta, and crème brûlée.
Plus, the local New Year’s Eve fireworks will be visible from outside of the Dennis Street restaurant.
Go: 29 Dennis St., New Brunswick; 732-846-3216, frogandpeach.com.
More: Have you tried these new NJ restaurants that opened this year?
Garlic Rose Bistro, Cranford
Fare from the Garlic Rose in Cranford.
The love of all things garlic will continue to be a staple in the New Year at the Garlic Rose Bistro in Cranford, and the restaurant invites revelers to enjoy garlic on Dec. 31 without the hassle of cooking.
The eatery is offering catering of garlic-enhanced Italian eats, with small pans ideal for 8-10 people and large pans ideal for 15-20 people.
Diners can choose from dishes such as garlic shrimp; sausage, peppers and onions in garlic and oil; penne carbonara; and the Garlic Rose Bistro’s renowned bistro dip and roasted garlic bulbs.
Orders must be picked up by 2 p.m. Dec. 31. All food will be delivered cold with reheating instructions. Catering pans are available.
Order: 28 North Ave. West, Cranford; 908-276-5749, garlicrosecatering.com/holiday-catering-at-home/.
Holiday eats: These NJ restaurants are open Christmas Eve, Christmas Day
Maize Cocina & Cocktails, Westfield
Dishes at Maize Cocina & Cocktails.
Maize Cocina & Cocktails, a new Mexican fusion restaurant in the historic Westfield train station, is offering revelers two options for the “Last Stop Party” on New Year’s Eve.
The four-course prix fixe menu, which includes one complimentary cocktail, is $99 per person and has 5-6:30 p.m. seatings.
The six-course prix fixe menu is $149 per person and has 9-10 p.m. seatings. It includes one complimentary cocktail, a champagne toast at midnight, party favors, and live entertainment until 1 a.m.
Bar seating is also available for walk-ins with a la carte options from the prix fixe menu.
Go: 301 North Avenue West, Westfield; 908-936-4050; maizewestfield.com.
Orchard Park by David Burke, East Brunswick
Surrounded by its landscape of twinkling lights, Orchard Park by David Burke is sure to bring that extra sparkle to New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Surrounded by trees covered in twinkling lights, Orchard Park by David Burke will bring a sparkle to New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
The New American restaurant on a 15-acre French country estate is offering two New Year’s Eve seatings. The 4-7 p.m. seating includes a $98 three-course prix fixe menu with options like beef carpaccio, filet mignon and hazelnut tiramisu.
The 8-11 p.m. seating includes a $155 three-course prix menu with additional options from the prior seating like scallops Benedict, veal chops and key lime pie. Plus, it includes a live DJ, photobooth, party favors and a champagne toast at midnight.
On New Year’s Day, Orchard Park is open for brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. Diners can order from the a la carte menu that will feature additional holiday specials.
Go: 670 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick; 732-554-5714, orchardparkbydb.com/newyearseve.
Red Horse by David Burke, Bernardsville
The Red Horse by David Burke at Bernards Inn is offering two seating options for diners on New Year’s Eve.
Celebrity chef David Burke’s restaurant at the historic former home of the Bernards Inn will offer two seating options on New Year’s Eve in the main dining and bar/lounge area.
The 5-7:30 p.m. seating will offer the a la carte menu with holiday specials. The seating at 8 p.m. through the last seating at 10:30 p.m. in the main dining room offers a prix fixe menu for $135. This includes a midnight toast and the option to join in for dancing in the Fenwick Ballroom.
Another option is the $95 New Years Eve Party in the Fenwick Ballroom starting at 8:30 p.m. It includes an upscale dinner buffet with options such as Champagne poached shrimp, California rolls, miso cod, and prime rib as well as live music with the “You May Be Right” Billy Joel tribute band, party favors, champagne midnight toast and dancing.
On New Year’s Day, the Red Horse will be open 4-10 p.m., its regular dinner hours, with the a la carte menu and specials.
Go: 27 Mine Brook Road, Bernardsville; 908-766-0002, bit.ly/46OX5zy.
Salute to Vienna concert at State Theatre, New Brunswick
Ring in 2025 with soaring arias, romantic duets, and festive overtures, courtesy of the “Waltz King,” Johann Strauss Jr. with the annual “Salute to Vienna” at the State Theatre New Jersey on New Year’s Eve.
Ring in 2025 with romantic duets and festive overtures, courtesy of the “Waltz King” Johann Strauss Jr., as the Strauss Symphony of America is back at the State Theatre for its Salute to Vienna 5 p.m. New Year’s concert. It also features dancers from the Budapest Ballet and international ballroom dancer champions.
The concert has entertained New Brunswick audiences for more than 15 years. As dancers enliven timeless melodies, including the “Blue Danube Waltz,” the Maestro regales the audience with stories − and a joke or two − from the conductor’s podium. This musical celebration evokes the enchantment and grandeur of Vienna’s Golden Age with a new cast and musical program each year. Tickets are $39-$129.
Go: 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick; 732-246-7469, stnj.org/events/detail/salute-to-vienna.
Saly G’s, Warren
Upscale Italian eatery Saly G’s will host its annual New Year’s Eve party with a $125 four-course prix fixe menu with seatings at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. alongside musical entertainment.
Diners will choose from items such as crab and shrimp cocktail, truffle gnocci, “Angry” chicken Parmigiana, flounder francese, and tartufo.
Go: 169 Washington Valley Road, Warren; 732-667-7400, salygsrestaurant.com.
The Sergeantsville Inn, Sergeantsville
The dining room at the Sergeantsville Inn.
The historic Sergeantsville Inn, which has a new chef at its helm who was formerly the head of a Michelin-starred New York City restaurant, is offering a $110 prix menu menu on New Year’s Eve.
Options include game bird consommé, raw fish with Meyer lemons and winter radishes, agnolotti with mushrooms in a vin juane sauce, rib roast, and chocolate torte.
Go: 601 Rosemont Ringoes Road, Sergeantsville; 609-397-3700, sergeantsvilleinn.com.
More: This 300-year-old Hunterdon restaurant has a new chef from a Michelin-starred NYC spot
Stone House at Stirling Ridge, Warren
Inside the Stone House at Stirling Ridge, Warren.
The Stone House at Stirling Ridge is a popular venue to celebrate weddings and special occasions − and New Year’s Eve is no exception.
The upscale New American restaurant will offer two seatings. A $95 three-course prix fixe menu is available 5-8 p.m., while a $125 four-course prix fixe menu is available 9 p.m. to close with a champagne toast at midnight.
Options include chestnut soup, duck a la orange, black sea bass, and warm pineapple tarte.
Go: 50 Stirling Road, Warren; 908-754-1222, stonehouseatstirlingridge.com.
Stress Factory Comedy Club, New Brunswick
The Stress Factory Comedy Club’s annual New Year’s Eve show will see Isiah Kelly and Carie Karavas bring the chuckles. The $60 7 p.m. show includes a buffet while the $110 10 p.m. show includes an open bar, buffet and champagne toast at midnight.
Table seating is first-come, first-serve and all patrons must be older than 16.
Go: 90 Church St., New Brunswick; 732-545-4242, newbrunswick.stressfactory.com/events/103466.
The Summit House, Summit
The Summit House.
The Summit House invites diners to ring in 2025 with a prix fixe menu in the dining room, while the bar will offer a limited a la carte menu.
The $149 five-course prix fixe menu is available 4:30-10 p.m. with options like roasted pumpkin bisque, bay scallops, wagyu New York strip steak and vanilla cheesecake.
Go: 395 Springfield Ave., Summit; 908-273-6000, summithousenj.com/menus.
Summit House news: NJ fine dining restaurant to offer Hanukkah dinner for the first time
email: cmakin@gannettnj.com
Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@gannettnj.com or @CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: New Year’s Eve in NJ: Restaurants, events to celebrate at on Dec. 31
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