We'll be visiting NYC in May. My wife will be celebrating her birthday (won't say which one) on the Sunday we are there. Looking for somewhere nice to have dinner or brunch.

Not sure what we are looking for. Don't need trendy, but something nice. The last and only time we were there (Thanksgiving 2001) we had a brunch at the Waldorf and she thought it was cool, more for eating at the "Waldorf" versus the food.

We also ate Thanksgiving dinner at the Sea Rock I think it is called, overlooking the skating rink at Rockefeller Center. Again, the food was pretty good, but the atmosphere was real cool.

So I guess, after writing this, we are more looking for someplace special versus who has the best food. Make sense? Rather eat in a cool place with good food versus awesome food in a back street restaurant.

Staying at the Marriott Marquis for the first night then plan on using Priceline for the other 3 nights, so I don't know where we will be on Sunday.

I hope I made sense.
Thanks,
Duane

A few blocks from your hotel is the Blue Fin. Excellent restaurant with a great brunch. Here is the website:
http://www.brguestrestaurants.com/re..._fin/index.php

My husband and I recently dined at Brasserie 8 1/2 with out of town guests. The room is cool, and the brunch, although buffet, is posh-ish. The tables are well spaced and the service was excellent. The best part was that it only cost around 27 dollars a person and it included carved to order meets, custom egg bar and dozens of tiny desserts. Also, it was not a zoo like some of the trendier brunch places. Good Luck and enjoy your trip!

I would recommend Balthazar in Soho for brunch. Great-looking space, excellent food, but you need to reserve in advance. Oh, and it has the "cool" factor.

For brunch I would suggest either the River Cafe (awesome views of NY skyline from Brooklyn side) or the Boat House in Central Park which sits on the lake where people rent row boats. You could also do dinner at the River Cafe.

If you decide to do dinner, consider also Asiate in the Mandarin Oriental hotel (assuming you like Asian/fusion cuisine) on the 35 floor of the Time Warner building with great views.

I agree with most of the other suggestions made already, but none have the view or famous"ness" you seem to be looking for.

Go to www.chowhound.com.......click on Go To The Chow.........then scroll down to map of U. S. and click on New York then Manhattan. Put your name in a message and ask this question........you will get some great immediate responses........

I would also recommend the Brasserie 81/2 brunch, if you like buffets. This is a classy one with really great food and is one of the true bargains in New York. Angelaa is so right about the spaciousness -- this place probably has more space around tables than just about any other place in NYC.

Something really elegant and wonderful? The brunch at Aquavit is great. It's more pricey that the one at Brasserie 8 1/2, and is not geared to "stuffing yourself", but still you choose from elegant tables of delightful Scandinavian type foods -- salmon more ways that you knew possible.

Lively and trendy. You can't beat Balthazar, and the sister restaurant, Pastis, in the meat-packing district is cool too, if not overly crowded and way too noisy (unless you like that).

On a nice day, it's kind of hard to beat that atmosphere of The Boat House. But we invariably have the worst service there and were served cold food, including congealed eggs benedict I had to send back and finally came again pretty much the same way. They always seem so understaffed or out of sync there. But enjoy the setting.

I've never had brunch at the Bryant Park Grill behind the library, but again a wonderful outdoor setting and usually has great food and friendly service. Any comments anyone?

My only comment is that neither The Boathouse nor the Bryant Park Grill have very good food.

For a special brunch, I love Cafe des Artistes, followed by a nice walk in the park, which is just across the street. Love the decor, murals, romantic touch, quiet enough for ice conversation and have never been disappointed in the meal or service. - you can look at menus/prices on this site:
www.cafenyc.com/cafedesartistes/html/index2.htm

Agree that Cafe des Artistes is excellent. Also, Brynat Park Grill has recently not been up to its initial standards.

Great Suggestions. I will check them all out.
Thanks,
Duane