5 Best New Year's Day 2015 Brunches In NYC
What better way to kick off the new year than with a leisurely brunch? Among our top choices for this important meal are Southern, French, Italian, Indian, and all-American spots in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Read on for details about where, and what, to eat on Jan. 1. By Jessica Allen.
Beloved Brucie gets your 2015 off to a delicious start with its Italian-leaning specialties. This Cobble Hill restaurant draws fans from across the five boroughs and beyond. The brunch menu includes "grits," creamy polenta served with greens, olive oil, and meatballs; French toast with pistachio, honey, olive oil, and mascarpone; and a pork-belly sandwich tarted up with yogurt, a fried egg, and Sriracha.
Consider just staying out all night in order to snag a good spot at Clinton Street Baking Co. & Restaurant, on the Lower East Side. Brunch will be served all day, beginning at 9 am and running until 11 pm. The waits are as legendary as the pancakes (pictured), but you can put your name on the list and be notified via text when your table is ready. Speaking of the pancakes, they're worth every buttery, moist, rich bite.
Perhaps the most romantic spot on this list, Le Barricou bathes diners in a warm golden light. Fresh foliage decorates the long bar. Waiters bustle between the long tables. Even at brunch you'll feel loving and loved. Here, all really is right with the world. Although this Williamsburg bistro offers classic French specialties, the brunch menu includes all-American pancakes as well as steak and eggs (served with pomme frites, naturally).
For years, we were loyal patrons of Surya, an Indian restaurant in the West Village. So we were overjoyed to learn that its chef/owner had moved on after Surya closed to open Savoury, on the Upper West Side. Beginning at 11 am on New Year's Day, you can construct your own prix-fixe brunch, including an appetizer (we recommend the Delhi papri chaat [pictured], a main course, and a drink, along with rice, naan, and a complimentary dessert.
At Wilma Jean, in Brooklyn, you can usher in 2015 with a big plate of Southern goodness, comforting, deep-fried goodness. The "chicken bucket," for example, includes 12 pieces of chicken, rolls, and coleslaw, in addition to your choice of such sides as cheddar cheese grits, crispy okra chips, or braised collards seasoned with country ham. Consider starting with a basket of fried pickles (pictured).
