In Tacoma, there may be no finer way to spend New Year's out with a date than at Pacific Grill. Drink, dance and eat your way through the evening.

The Pacific Grill in downtown Tacoma offers two uber-classy ways to spend your last hours of 2011 ... or, if this 2012-End-of-the-World stuff is legit, last New Year's Eve ever.

If you want to spend New Year's Eve over a delectable dinner, the restaurant on Pacific Avenue is open for dinner with the last seating at 10:45 p.m. - with reservations strongly suggested. The menu features plates ranging from $20 upward, with entrees featuring an array of seafood, steak and more, in an intimate and romantic atmosphere  - highlighted by Aqua Creations by Ayala Serfaty. These lit forms look much like sea creatures and are created from resin-coated silk.

"We are pretty busy on New Year's Eve, as everyone wants to celebrate the New Year with steak and lobster." says Jacob Rose, Pacific Grill's marketing director.

But if you want to get your party on with a little more than just great food, make reservations for Pacific Grill Presents New Year's Eve with Chris Anderson. This ritzy, glitzy event takes place at the Cascade Ballroom at the Courtyard Marriott. Starting at 8:30 p.m., enjoy cocktails from a cash bar and an appetizer spread that is a worthy last meal.

Rose lists off appetizers that are slated to be on the buffet including chilled prawn cocktail, prosciutto wrapped grilled asparagus, smoked salmon display, goat cheese and ratatouille tartlets, chicken satay, vegetable spring rolls, shrimp potstickers, meatballs and Szechuan pepper prawns.

That doesn't even include dessert.

Along with drinks and food, this event will bring in the New Year with a show by local crooner Chris Anderson as well as Jeremy Ryan & The A List.

"This will be Chris Anderson's third New Year's Eve with us," says Rose. "In 2010, he also performed in a Valentine's event in the Pacific Grill Events Center. He has a Sinatra/Rat Pack sound with some Michael Bublé thrown in."

The show will go from 9:30 p.m. until midnight, and the party will go on until at least 1 a.m. Expect to hear many great standards by singers from Frank Sinatra to Bobby Darin. Anderson hails from Eatonville, and is just 21, but has a voice and style that come straight out of another era.

"Who wouldn't want to spend their last moments dancing to this talented singer, drinking drinks, and eating delicious Pacific Grill food?" asks Rose.

Wait. Did he say "last moments?"

"Tickets are selling a lot faster this year than last year," Rose warns. "Usually people wait until after Christmas, but we have had good sales since opening sales in early November."

Tickets for the show and champagne toast run $35. Tickets for the show, champagne toast and appetizer buffet are $60.

If you don't want to worry about driving home, the Courtyard Marriott will have a deal on rooms going for $99 for the evening.

Pacific Grill

1502 Pacific Ave., Tacoma
253.627.3535

pacificgrilltacoma.com