Brasserie 8 12/ which I mentioned up above has one of the few buffet brunches if that's what you want. But if you liked the Water Club, how about trying the River Cafe in Brooklyn facing the NYC skyline? Very nice brunch.

Serendiptiy is more a family place with lots of kids. Not a 30th kind of place imo.

If you want a hotel, I'm sure any of the top ones do a decent brunch. Some like the one at the Waldorf. Cafe Botanica at the Essex House is nice.

thanks mclaurie...i'll check out brasserie and river cafe!

It's Braserie 8 1/2 that has a buffet, Otto. The Brasserie is another rest. It's good but not imo special enough for a b'day celebration and it doesn't have a buffet.

mclaurie...right, i see by another one of your posts you suggest "five points", i'll check that out as well. thanks!

The Kitano Hotel 66 Park Ave has breakfast buffets everyday!

If you want to chow down, maybe you can try lunch at Churrasceria Plataforma, an all-you-can-eat Brazilian place on West 49th Street. They open at noon and have a long buffet area with all kinds of salads, seafoods, etc, and also roving waiters with lots of cuts of meats. It's fun and lots of food.