My husband and I will be in NYC over New Year's, and I'd like to go somewhere for brunch. I assume that even though New Year's Day is a Tuesday, many restaurants will have brunch? Will the prices be way inflated because it's New Year's Day? (In other words, are we better off going to brunch a couple of days before on Sunday?) What brunches do you recommend? (We are staying at The Carlyle, so I'd prefer a restaurant in that general area.) Thanks!

Where are you NeoPatrick? I know you will have some good advice! Anyone?

I'm here. But I don't know why I'd have any good advice. I've never been in NYC on New Year's Day.

But you might look at Open Table for starters putting in something like noon of January 1. Then you can click to the websites of those which offer reservations to see if they list anything special.

My experience has been though that New Year's Day is NOT a busy time much of anywhere. So I doubt that there will be a lot of special offerings or at least not at inflated prices.

See if any of the following are open on New Year's Day

Blue Ribbon Bakery
Zoe's
Five Points
9th Street market
CLinton St Bakery
I Coppi

Second Tier
Cafe Deville
Veselka, an Eastern European spot that is anything but upscale

These are all popular spots and are very crowded on an ordianry weekend.

What timing! Here's an article from TODAY'S NYTimes about the topic:

http://tinyurl.com/3yvvnw

I'd opt for the Boathouse in Central Park of the choices it lists.

Of those cited in the article where we have eaten I would rank them as follows:

Capsouto Freres
Mesa Grill
Les Halles
Odeon
Blue Water Grill

I like the brunch at Artisanal. And it's an unbeatable place to go if you'd like to try a delicious fondue.

wow, weird link - the article is dated to say the least! - dated 1999! 5 of the 11 restaurants are gone!

I was doing a doubletake too. It's an article from 1999.

Published: December 31, 1999


Try Orsay, Becca.

Duh. My apologies. I googled and that NY Times article popped up at the head of the list. I saw today's date at the top of the header and thought it was from today's paper -- no wonder it was so odd that they'd be doing such a list two months before New Years!

Sorry -- scratch that article!!!

Well don't feel too bad - 6 of the restaurants are still there, and those aren't bad suggestions - so combined with the other posters' suggestions, it's a good list. Not sure what will be open, though . . .

Maybe check out Payard, too.

www.menupages.com

www.opentable.com

Blue Ribbon is really good and I also love The Cupping Room. Both in the West Village.

For Upper East Side, I've had good brunches/lunches at Atlantic Grill, Orsay, and Lenox. Cafe de Soleil is also very good, and pretty.
If you want to come farther downtown, the Water Club does a nice lunch (as does the Carlyle for that matter.)and I second the nomination for Artisanal. Even farther downtown, I love Balthazar for a weekend brunch/lunch.

Make sure these will be open on New Year's Day.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

I've just remembered there's more than one NYC restaurant with "Soleil" in its name.
The one I've been to is at 1016 Second Avenue between E 53rd and 54th St.