Looking for new years eve dinner ideas for two that feel a little more special than your usual dinner? Think mushroom pasta, golden scallops or a board filled with your favorite cheeses.
There’s plenty to choose from here, whether you want a plated main or something to share.
You can keep things simple or go all out. These pictures include starters, mains, dessert and a table-decor idea too.
Pick the parts you love rather than trying to fit everything into one evening!
Dinner ideas for a New Year's Eve at home
steak with mushrooms and sauce
We’re starting off strong with this gorgeous steak topped with mushrooms. I love the pale sauce spilling over the sides and the little herb sprig on top.
If you want to follow this presentation, leave plenty of space around the steak on each plate. You could serve your sides separately.
golden lobster tails
How good do these lobster tails look? The browned tops, glossy golden sauce and chopped green garnish are such a pretty combination.
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For your own dinner, try serving a lobster tail on each plate with lemon alongside it. I’d add a simple green salad rather than another big main.
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scallops with golden edges
I am obsessed with the golden tops on these scallops. The sliced garlic and scattered herbs look lovely against the browned pan juices.
This is a nice starting point if you want seafood without a whole sharing platter. You could pair your scallops with rice or a small portion of pasta.
gold bows for the table
This one is table inspiration rather than a dinner dish. The tall gold-colored holders and oversized pale bows are so pretty together.
Want the same look for your dinner? Choose flameless tapers if you’re adding ribbons like these.
Keep decorative bows well away from any real flame.
mushroom ribbon pasta
If you are looking for a pasta-centered dinner, this one is for you. Wide ribbons sit among sliced mushrooms with a pale sauce, grated topping and little green snips.
I especially love the deep brown bowls. Try serving yours in two matching bowls with extra grated cheese on the side.
surf and turf spread
Can’t decide between steak and seafood? This spread brings them together with lobster tails, shrimp and little scored potatoes.
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The pictured tray is a generous spread, so I’d borrow the combination rather than the quantity. For two, choose your favorite seafood and pair it with steak and potatoes.
lattice pastry parcels
How pretty is that pastry lattice? These individual parcels are pictured before baking, with a shiny coating being brushed over the front one.
The filling isn’t visible, but you can borrow the presentation for a savory pastry dinner. Choose a tested individual Wellington recipe with a filling you both enjoy.
shrimp cocktail cups
I love this shrimp cocktail presentation. The shrimp sit around the rim of a footed glass with red sauce in the middle and a lemon wedge tucked on top.
Try two smaller glasses if you want an individual starter for each place setting. There’s no need for lots of extra decoration.
mushroom risotto bowls
This mushroom risotto may just be one of my favorites here. I love the mix of golden and brown mushroom pieces across the rice, plus those thin green strips.
Keep the mushrooms visible on top when you serve your own bowls. They’re much too pretty to hide.
fondue and a sharing board
If you like a little bit of everything, then this one is for you. A red fondue pot sits among bread cubes, sliced steak, potatoes, apples and little pickles.
You don’t have to copy the whole board. Pick a few favorite accompaniments and arrange them around your fondue for a smaller dinner-for-two version.
lamb with green herb sauce
This is such a lovely way to present lamb. The cut sides face upward with the bones pointing out, while a green herb sauce pools underneath.
I’d keep the simple plate and add potatoes in a separate serving dish. The lamb already has plenty going on with its sauce and herb garnish.
oysters on ice
The lemon slices down the middle are my favorite part of this oyster platter. The open shells form a ring around them with little green sprigs tucked between.
For a smaller starter, borrow this arrangement on a compact tray. If you’re serving raw oysters, follow safe handling guidance; cooked oysters are the safer choice, especially for anyone at higher risk of foodborne illness.
salmon in golden pastry
I am obsessed with how this salmon looks inside the golden pastry. The cut slices show off a thick pink center above a layer of greens and pale filling.
If you’re planning a pastry-wrapped salmon main, save this picture for serving inspiration. A cut portion shows those layers much better than a whole parcel.
sushi and a night in
Don’t want a formal sit-down dinner? No problem!
This setup pairs boards of sushi with two garnished drinks, candles and sweets beside the TV.
You could order your favorite rolls and arrange them on a board at home. I love that dessert already has its own little spot.
chicken with lemon and capers
If you’d rather have chicken than steak, save this one. The golden chicken sits in a pale sauce with capers, lemon slices and chopped herbs scattered around it.
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For your menu, a lemon-caper chicken recipe would be a lovely direction. I’d serve it with rice to soak up some of that sauce.
Read also: 20 Make Ahead Meals and Prep Ideas for Your Weekly Menu
cheese and fruit board
There’s so much to love on this board, from the blue-veined cheese wedges to the green grapes and halved passion fruit. The sliced white-rind cheese in the middle looks especially pretty.
Try a smaller version with a couple of cheeses, crackers, olives and fruit. Add folded salami if you want to follow that part of the spread too.
steak fries and salad
Sometimes steak and fries are exactly what you want, right? This platter has sliced steak down the middle, golden fries on one side and a leafy salad on the other.
I love the thin radish slices in the salad. Serve your own version on a shared platter if you’d rather skip separate plating.
chocolate dip and strawberries
How cute is this little dessert plate? A bowl of chocolate dip sits between strawberries and cubes of golden cake, with a pale swirl across the top.
This is a lovely idea if you want a dessert to share. I’d keep both the fruit and cake so you have a little choice with each dip.
crab cakes with remoulade
These crab cakes look so good with their browned edges and orange-colored remoulade on top. The little chopped green garnish is a pretty finishing touch.
You could serve crab cakes as your starter or make them the main with a salad alongside. I’d keep the sauce in small dollops like this.
creamy pasta with a crumb topping
Last but definitely not least, we have this gorgeous skillet of creamy pasta. I love the curly noodles, pale crumb topping and scattered green herbs.
If you want to take your own mac and cheese in a seafood direction, try a tested lobster version. Choose a smaller baking dish for two rather than copying the full skillet.