Best NYC restaurants for New Year’s Day Brunch
Just because you made a few foolhardy resolutions about eating better and drinking less and not having any fun in 2016 doesn't mean you have to start all of that right away. And definitely NOT on New Year's Day, when there's champagne still to be drunk (also: several Bloody Mary's) and heavy, hangover-helping brunch food to be had. And then go home and fall asleep in front of the TV. Why not? You've still got all weekend to start getting in post-holiday shape before it's back to work on Monday! Anyway, there are many, many options for New Year's Day brunch this (next?) year, but here are a few favorites….
The Meatball Shop, all locations
Especially if you have a big crew and/or kids, Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow's Meatball Shops are an excellent choice for packing in lots of wonderfully greasy calories and Bloody's at a price you won't regret when the check hits the table. The Meatball Shop brunch menu–which is basically meatballs plus eggs served in a variety of ways–will be up and running until 4:00 p.m. on Friday at all locations, including the Upper West and Upper East Sides, Chelsea, the West Village and the Lower East Side.
Clinton Street Baking, Lower East Side
Normally, recommending you go eat brunch at the great Clinton Street Baking (top), home of some of NYC's best pancakes (among other delights), is basically like telling you to go stand on the sidewalk for an hour and a half. And that's probably true on New Year's Day as well… except that Neil Kleinberg and DeDe Lahman are extending their brunch-menu hours until 11:00 p.m. on Friday, so if you can wait until 4:30 or 5:00 to get your pancakes and eggs (and homemade sausage), you just might be able to waltz right in.
Bubby's, both locations
Another low-key (though high-energy) crowd-pleaser serving New Year's Day brunch is Bubby's, both the original location in Tribeca and the newer, more touristy spot near the base of High Line in the Meatpacking District. The food here is fine, not spectacular, but the menu has lots of lunch-y items as well as eggs, and the thick, sweet milkshakes will go down (and stay down) nicely if you've already had enough champagne toasts the night before to last an entire year.
Dovetail, Upper West Side
If you want something fancier (MUCH fancier), Chef John Fraser's Michelin-starred Dovetail is serving a special, amazing-sounding three-course brunch on Friday only. Your table gets an assortment of canapes to start things off (sweet and savory breads, caviar croquante, cranberry yogurt tartlet, etc.), you choose an entree (I'll have the Crab Benendict, please… or maybe the Lobster Omelet?), and dessert (definitely that dark chocolate one), and drink as much champagne as you want, all for $68.
Dimes and Pies n Thighs, Lower East Side
Finally, two of my favorite spots of 2015 will be open on New Years Day, serving really different sorts of food within a couple of blocks of each other, but since both are the best, you really can't go wrong. The awesome and fabulous Dimes (above) will open later than usual, at 11:00, and is offering its breakfast and lunch menu. Everything is fantastic here, so order with confidence whatever mood your in. If Dimes has too long a wait (or if you'd just straight-up prefer to start your year with fried chicken rather than chia seeds), Pies n Thighs (below) will be doing their first-rate brunch menu on Friday. Again, it's all delicious, so you can't go wrong.
Posted in Downtown, manhattan living, NYC Dining, Other Neighborhoods, Upper East Side, Westside |
