Eats Beat

So many restaurants and only one New Year's Eve 2010. Still undecided on where to celebrate? Here are some varied takes on the theme.

* Spice up the night with salsa and meringue dancing, plus an a la carte menu of small plates, $5 margaritas and discounted tequila flights (from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.) at Verdad Restaurant & Tequila Bar (818 W. Lancaster Ave., 610-520-9100).

* Roll a pack of smokes in your T-shirt sleeve and slide on over to the first New Year's Eve Roadhouse Pig Roast at MidAtlantic Restaurant and Tap Room (3711 Market St., 215-386-3711). Besides the vintage jukebox, pool table and ping-pong - and the pig, of course - there will be $3 canned beers, buckets of shrimp, lots of housemade condiments and sides, plus cream pies for dessert. Seatings from 6 to 11 p.m., $65 a person.

* New Year's Eve and karaoke? That's the fun option at Tavern 17 (220 S. 17th St., 215-790-1799), where a DJ will spin from 9 to 11 p.m. (The karaoke machine then tunes up till 1:30 a.m.) A four-course menu will be served from 6 to 10 p.m. for $50 a person. And should you find yourself partying elsewhere till dawn, brunch service here starts at 7 a.m. New Year's Day.

* It's the classic dinner and a glass of bubbly at Sonata Restaurant (1030 N. American St., 215-238-1240). But what a meal executive chef/owner Mark Tropea has created. The five-course, $55 per person feast includes sunchoke soup with foie gras croquette, olive-oil-poached arctic char, seared beef tenderloin and a walnut tart with cardamom ice cream.

* It's New Year's Eve in the 'burbs, too. Head to the picturesque former train station in Ambler that's home to Trax Restaurant & Cafe (27 W. Butler Ave., Ambler, 215-591-9777). Chef/owner Steven Waxman's cozy BYO has planned a four-course meal with lots of choices for each course at $50 (early seating) and $60 (second seating). No corkage fee, either.

Send food and restaurant info to Laurie T. Conrad at

conradl@

phillynews.com.