Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar, 1287 Gruene Road in New Braunfels, 830-606-1287, is preparing a 12-ounce New York strip served with salad and a side of your choice, $19.99. Warm up with one of the spiked coffee drinks. Then, head to Gruene Hall for a festive New Year’s Eve celebration with Cody Canada & The Departed (advanced tickets recommended). For more information, go to GristmillRestaurant.com.
Leather booths and white linen tables remained mostly empty at dinnertime on a Thursday night. Minimal decor, featuring only a Heineken neon wall hanging, exaggerated the emptiness of the dining area.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House, 7720 Jones Maltsberger Road, 210-821-5051, and 1170 E. Commerce St., 210-227-8847, is offering a four-course dinner menu with choice of appetizer, soup or salad, choice of entrée, choice of side and symphony dessert, $89 plus tax and gratuity. It says the fireworks from the Palace Floor Balcony at the downtown location may be the best-kept secret in town.
Tre Trattoria in Alamo Heights, 4003 Broadway, 210-805-0333, will feature a six-course prix fixe menu featuring lobster bisque, smoky beer-braised cabrito taliatelle and house-made porchetta. The menu is $65, or $85 with Italian wine pairings. Open 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Dinner reservations required. For more information, go to facebook.com/tretrattoria.com; twitter: @tretrattoria.
Stone Werks Big Rock Grille at the Vineyard, 1201 N. Loop 1604 W., Suite 101, 210-764-0400, at the Rim, 5807 Worth Parkway, 210-558-9898, and at Lincoln Heights, 7500 Broadway, 210-828-3508, is offering a five-course prix-fixe dinner that includes a glass of Champagne, $53.95. Regular menu also available. Live entertainment and complimentary Champagne toast at midnight. Visit stonewerks.com for more information.
Forget rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. We had leftover chicken after sampling our extensive to-go dinner at home. I kept finding myself diving into the fridge to grab hunks of it. I didn’t bother to heat it. It was delicious cold, and worth the $7.95 price at It’s Ribs. The mustard potato salad was reminiscent of my mom’s and I really can give no higher compliment than that.