New Year's Choices Abound in Lake Zurich

If being part of the Times Square New Year's Eve throng isn't your speed and neither is staying home with a warm cup of cocoa on Dec. 31, check out some of the options available right here in Lake Zurich.

Revelers can clink champagne glasses at midnight in a swank French bistro, toast in the New Year with Latin-style seafood dishes, dine on German cuisine, enjoy an American menu featuring hearty steaks, or go the pizza-and-beer route while bowling in the dark.

The first stop on our tour is the , a fine dining establishment that's been serving up French cuisine for 23 years.

The restaurant, at 466 S. Rand Road, will have three New Year's Eve seatings – one at 5:30 p.m., one at 7:30 p.m. and one at 9:30 p.m., the party seating.

"It's a very upscale menu," said owner Dominique Legeai. "We use a lot of local products, when they're available. It would say it's French, updated."

Legeai said the food, prepared by D & J's Japanese chef, reflects a number of influences.

After dinner, the party kicks into higher gear when a disc jockey starts the music about 11 or 11:30 p.m. in the Provence Room, transformed into a cabaret.

"At midnight, we give a glass of champagne and then we boogie, boogie," Legeai said.

At , sometimes referred to as Julio's Cantina, dinner is served beginning at 5:30 p.m., with seatings continuing every 30 minutes until 9:30 p.m., said owner Julio Ramirez.

"The menu is a combination of our best items from our menu and special items for New Year's Eve," he said. "You can eat and drink as much as you like."

Choices will include salmon, rack of pork, Chilean sea bass, shrimp and New York strip steak with a tomato-based salsa with cilantro and onions, Ramirez said.

The evening will include a guitarist providing live entertainment, dancing and party favors at the 19-year-old restaurant located at 95 S. Rand Road.

Ramirez said Julio's and the , at 197 S. Rand Road, are partnering to offer a New Year's Eve package that includes shuttle bus transportation and a hotel breakfast on Jan. 1.

At , 377 N. Road Road, the menu and prices are identical to this German-themed restaurant's daily fare.

"We have our regular menu and our regular prices," said Peter Tschurtz, who owns Fritzl's with his brother, Robert Tschurtz.  "People really have to know that it's the same as always. Every favorite is available at the usual price that they're used to."

Fritzl's kitchen will close on New Year's Eve at its usual time for a Friday night, 10 p.m., but the restaurant will remain open for those who want to see the new year in after dinner.

Tschurtz said champagne and party favors will add to the festivities.

The last seating for dinner at , 763 S. Rand Road, is at 10 p.m., though that time may be slightly extended based on the size of the dinner crowd, a Beelow's employee said. Guests will receive complimentary party favors . And, of course, champagne will be served.

The restaurant features New York strip, rib eye, Porterhouse and skirt steaks, in addition to chicken, pork, lamb and seafood dishes.

The 40 lanes at Brunswick Zone at Deer Park, 21080 N. Road Road, will offer New Year's revelers a relaxed, fun way to bid 2010 adieu and welcome the arrival of 2011.

All day on Friday, Dec. 31, the facility offers two-hour packages that include bowling, pizza and party favors.

The last package of the day has a 9:30 p.m. starting time, said employee Jo-Anne Mason-Briggs and features three-and-a-half  hours of bowling. Packages include bowling, pizza, soda, party hats, party favors, shoe rental and cosmic bowling in the dark, with glow-in-the-dark accessories.