Looking for somewhere special to enjoy dinner this holiday season?
Local restaurants and inns offer numerous options, whether you’re interested in a Christmas Eve dinner, a Christmas Day buffet or a New Year’s Eve celebration.
Here are a few of the area’s offerings:
Hare & Hound Pub
The Hare & Hound Pub in Landrum will offer a New Year’s Eve celebration featuring the music of Special Edition from 8 p.m. to midnight. The Hare & Hound is located on the corner of Rutherford and Trade streets in downtown Landrum. Call 864-457-3232 for more information or reservations.
La Strada
La Strada Restaurant at Lake Lure, N.C., will feature a special holiday dinner buffet on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve from 5-8:30 p.m.
The buffet will include a range of appetizers, salads and side dishes; entrée options including lasagna, chicken parmagiana, baby back ribs, fresh grilled Atlantic salmon and more and tiramisu, cheesecake and other dessert choices. Reservations are recommended; call 828-625-1118. La Strada is located at 2693 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, N.C.
Larkin’s Carolina Grill
Larkin’s Carolina Grill will feature a special New Year’s Eve menu with champagne. The restaurant, located at 155 W. Mills Street in Columbus, will be open until 10 p.m. For reservations or more information, call 828-894-8800.
Orchard Inn
Orchard Inn in Saluda offers special dinners both on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. On Christmas Eve, the inn will serve a traditional Austrian Christmas Eve dinner, featuring goose with dumplings, red cabbage, winter vegetables and a Sacher torte for dessert. In addition to hors d’oeuvres, the four-course meal includes soup, salad, the main course and dessert. For those who aren’t partial to goose, other options will be available, including trout almondine. The meal will be served at 6 p.m.
Orchard Inn’s New Year’s Eve will begin with hors d’oeuvres at 7 p.m. A sit-down dinner of seven courses will begin at 8 p.m., ending with a complimentary glass of champagne while watching the ball drop at midnight. Black tie optional. A two-night minimum stay in the inn is required. The weekend package includes brunch and dinner on New Year’s Day.
For more information or reservations, call 828-749-5471. The Orchard Inn is located on Hwy. 176 just south of Saluda.
Purple Onion
The Purple Onion in Saluda will offer two seatings this year for New Year’s Eve. For those who prefer an earlier, quiet dinner, join us at 5:30 for a special New Year’s Eve a la carte menu and Fred Whiskin on piano. The second seating will begin at 8 p.m. and will feature a four-course dinner and champagne toasts at midnight. Music will be provided by the Scoot Pitman Trio from 9 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. The Purple Onion is located at 16 Main Street in Saluda. Call 828-749-1179 for more information or reservations.
Zenzera Restaurant Coffee and Wine
Landrum’s Zenzera Restaurant Coffee and Wine will hold “Bling in the New Year” on New Year’s Eve, Saturday, Dec. 31, beginning at 8 p.m. The event will feature musical entertainment by Blues Underground, a buffet dinner, two drinks of choice plus a champagne midnight toast. Reservations are required by Dec. 28. Zenzera is located at 208 E. Rutherford Street in Landrum. Call 864-457-4554 for more information.